Join
The Choir
The Durham Children’s Choir is comprised of three groups, Vivace – our introductory choir, Cantare – our preparatory choir, and Bel Canto – our performance choir. All groups meet at the Durham Arts Council on Mondays, Vivace from 4:00 – 4:45pm, Cantare from 5:00 – 6:00pm and Bel Canto from 5:00 – 6:30pm.
Vivace
Vivace is an introduction to music for children in kindergarten and 1st grade. This group will learn to use their singing voices and will explore musical concepts by moving, dancing, playing rhythm instruments and listening. Focus will be placed on beginning rhythm and tonal reading as well as positive social interaction with other singers.
The Vivace season will begin on Monday, September 18th and will run through the school year. Total cost is $275, which includes a $25 non-refundable registration fee. If you would like to register your child for the 2023 – 2024 season, please click on the button below. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Parham at susan.parham@durhamchildrenschoir.org.
Cantare
Singers entering grades 2-4 do not need to schedule an audition. The purpose of our Cantare division is to prepare students vocally to join our performance choir, Bel Canto. We are committed to growing DCC by developing young singers who can grow individually and as choral ensemble musicians. Since this is a preparatory choir, the emphasis is on a joyful atmosphere of music-making, allowing each child to develop confidence as a singer and musician. Cantare typically has two performances during the season.
If you would like to register your child for the 2023 – 2024 season, please click on the button below. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Parham at susan.parham@durhamchildrenschoir.org.
Bel Canto
Bel Canto is our performance choir, open to singers with treble voices in 5th grade and up. The choir generally participates in 9 – 12 performances each year. Singers must audition for this group.
TO AUDITION:
If your child is interested in joining the choir, please schedule an audition with our Artistic Director, Dena Byers, by e-mailing denabyers@durhamchildrenschoir.org. For other questions or for more information, please contact Susan Parham at susan.parham@durhamchildrenschoir.org.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available on a need-basis to help Durham Children’s Choir (DCC) families cover the costs of their singer’s participation in DCC programs. Financial assistance awards are limited to the funds available each year. Financial assistance applications are reviewed in confidence and need-based awards are granted at the discretion of the DCC Board of Directors.
The Durham Children’s Choir is a professional, non-profit organization. It is our policy not to discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or national/ethnic origin.
Repertoire and Curriculum
The Durham Children’s Choir is a special learning environment designed to provide a rich and rewarding musical experience for each child. The choir studies and performs a variety of music from all styles and periods of music history, including sacred and secular, folk, popular, gospels, spirituals and patriotic music. The music chosen is from many religious and secular traditions, and since the repertoire is not selected to intrude upon anyone’s personal or family beliefs, it is essential that all singers be willing to sing all repertoire.
Concepts about music (melody, rhythm, harmony, dynamics, form and style) and musical skills (vocal, theoretical, sight-reading) are taught throughout the rehearsals. Choir members are taught the use of their vocal instrument through exercises, posture, breathing and tone production. Our goal is to form the foundation of a life-long relationship with music for the singers and their families.
The Durham Children's Choir is supported by generous grants from:
Upcoming Performances
To the Stars!
Please join us for our Spring Concert on
Saturday, May 20th at 3:00pm
Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church
1902 Perry Street, Durham, NC
Admission:
$12 - Adults
$10 - Students and Seniors
Free for children 5 and under
Join the Choir
2023 - 2024 will be the 20th season for the Durham Children's Choir and auditions are being held this spring! If your child is interested in participating in the choir, please click on the "Learn More" button below.
Auditions are required for Bel Canto, our performance choir for singers with treble voices in grades 5-12.
No audition is required for Cantare, our preparatory choir for children in grades 2 - 4.
Financial assistance is available.
Support Us
We are a non-profit organization that provides high quality music education and performance opportunities for a diverse group of young singers from the greater Durham area. Your gift not only helps us bring beautiful music to our community, it also helps provide need-based tuition scholarships that ensure all children can sing and grow with us.