Cambridge Children's Chorus
Location:
St. James's Episcopal Church
1991 Massachusetts Avenue
North Cambridge
Ages:
Age 4 - Grade 9
Programs:
- Kodály Singing Class (ages 4-K)
- Melody Makers (Grades 1-2)
- Training Chorus (Grades 3-5)
- Cantare (Grades 6-9)
Cambridge Children’s Chorus, a division of Boston City Singers, provides music and youth development programming for age 4 through 9th grade. This division was founded in 2012 by Wendy Silverberg, Director of Early Childhood Education and Cambridge resident and Jane Money, Founding Artistic Director at the urging of neighborhood families to replicate Boston City Singers’s music and youth development programs headquartered in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood. Each child is supported by seasoned artistic and administrative staff with the assistance of Cambridge-based teen mentors and graduate student teaching fellows from local conservatories.
Mission
Cambridge Children’s Chorus’ mission is to provide the highest level of creative youth development opportunities to underserved youth, ages 4 - 9th grade, in the very community in which they live. Our programs inspire personal journeys, bridge opportunity gaps, celebrate diversity, and foster goodwill. Our strengths lie in an unwavering commitment to social justice and acceptance of differences across socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and gender preference.
Cambridge Faculty
Wendy Silverberg
Director of Early Childhood Education and OperaKids
Read bio >
Jamal Fairbanks
Conductor
Cambridge Cantare
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Debbie Slade
Programs Manager
Cambridge Choruses
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Eileen Huang
Cambridge Training Chorus Accompanist
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Cambridge Children's Chorus Programs
All programs benefit from the support of graduate level Teaching Fellows from Boston Conservatory at Berklee, New England Conservatory and Longy School of Music at Bard College.
KODÁLY SINGING CLASSES (ages 4 - K)
| Director: | Wendy Silverberg |
| Program Manager: | Debbie Slade |
| Tuition: | $400 per year |
| Day/Time: | Monday, 4:00 - 4:45 |
We return to in-person rehearsals with songs from around the world. We will connect directly with each child to enable all to participate in our beloved activities, from singing to movement and dance. We will be sharing beautiful story songs for listening and improvising our own verses.
MELODY MAKERS (Grades 1 - 2)
| Director: | Wendy Silverberg |
| Program Manager: | Debbie Slade |
| Tuition: | $450 per year |
| Day/Time: | Thursday, 3:45 - 4:30 |
Our Melody Maker songbirds will develop their musicianship through singing rounds, beginning two-part music and partner songs. Our classes allow children to connect with each other and develop their skills as individual singers.
TRAINING CHORUS (Grades 3 - 5)
| Director: | Wendy Silverberg |
| Program Manager: | Debbie Slade |
| Tuition: | $550 per year |
| Day/Time: | Thursday, 4:45 - 5:45 |
Our Training Chorus teaches singers to read music, and play complex rhythmic patterns, and learn music in three parts. The wide-ranging repertoire includes music in multiple languages and working with composers. Performances take place at local events, neighborhood concerts and in staged productions.
CANTARE (Grades 6 - 9)
| Director: | Jamal Fairbanks |
| Program Manager: | Debbie Slade |
| Tuition: | $800 per year |
| Day/Time: | Tuesday, 4:30 – 6:30 |
Our weekly, 2-hour intensive classes concentrate on music literacy and vocal coaching in collaboration with Teaching Fellows from the Longy School of Music. Singers prepare music in three-four parts in multiple languages. They often perform at six+ regional events, festivals and concerts, including those with full orchestra.
Registration
It is necessary for all returning and new singers to register annually.
No child is denied the opportunity to register and join a program for lack of family funds. Please complete the Financial Aid section of the Registration Form to apply for assistance.
Ways To Register:
Online - please click HERE to be taken to the Registration Form.
To receive a paper registration, please email info@bostoncitysingers.org or call 617-825-0674.
Payment and Account Statements
HOW TO MAKE A PAYMENT:
The first tuition payment is after you complete the Registration Form.
- If you are paying by check or money order:
Please make your check or money order payable to "Boston City Singers" and send to our mailing address at Boston City Singers, 17 Waldeck Street, Dorchester, MA 02124. Include your child's name and program in the memo line.
- FULL ANNUAL PAYMENT
If you wish to pay online with a credit or debit card AND are paying the full tuition for the year, click on the link and follow the prompts for the specific program your child attends
- PARTIAL PAYMENT OR IF YOU RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID
If you wish to pay online with a credit or debit card AND are paying a portion of the tuition for the year, click on the link and follow the prompts for the specific program your child attends
- Do not send cash through the mail.
If you are unable to make a tuition payment as agreed, please contact your Program Manager or the Managing Director - melissagraham@bostoncitysingers.org / 617-265-6700. All information is kept strictly confidential.
Should your circumstances change and you do not need the financial assistance awarded, please contact your Program Manage or the Managing Director.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to be in touch with Managing Director Melissa Graham at melissagraham@bostoncitysingers.org
Ensuring Access
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, financial aid funds have been provided to meet the needs of our families. When determining each award, we consider family income and adverse circumstances such as divorce, job loss, illness, and number in the household.
All families receiving SNAP benefits need only pay $50 per semester for Early Childhood and Elementary Age Programs. Should that pose a hardship, please contact your program manager.
Tuition for Teen Programs is based on a sliding scale.
To apply for aid, please complete the Financial Aid section of the Registration Form. Your request will be promptly reviewed. You will be notified as soon as possible.
All information is kept strictly confidential.
Joining Mid-Season
Singers who join after November 1 will have their tuition adjusted accordingly.