WHEN CSYC Core Choirs rehearse once a week, beginning the 2nd week in September, and 3rd week in January. All singers (PK-12th grades), are divided by age into three groups: PK-2nd (Elementary Choir), 3rd-6th (Progressing Choir) and 7th-12th (Upper Choir). No auditions. Ever.
WHERE Weekly rehearsals meet in two convenient locations, and combine for performances:
CSYC Fan meets on Tuesdays evenings (Fall 2026 times are under revision) at 2709 Monument Avenue, in the facilities of Richmond’s First Baptist Church.
CSYC Chesterfield meets on Thursday evenings at 4101 Fordham Rd, North Chesterfield the facilities of St. Luke’s Methodist Church. (Location opening Fall 2026!)
COSTS $460/Full Season or $310/Semester for 1 Singer Family discounts & needs-based tuition relief available on our enrollment page.
COMMITMENT Weekly rehearsal, weekly at-home practice assignments, required rehearsals, and concerts. At-home practice consists of singing with assigned audio guides weekly 20 min for Elementary Choir, 30 min Progressing Choir, 45 min Upper Choir. Attendance Policy is on p. 2 of our Parent/Singer Handbook.
CHECK OUT current CSYC programs via our Instagram!
*4 year-olds often participate in our Elementary Choir evening rehearsals (5:45-7:15), but the meeting time is too late for some. Those interested in an earlier meeting time for 3-5 year olds, please complete this Earlier Time Interest Form, and we’ll reach out.
What can I expect?
CSYC instruction includes:
weekly Tuesday meetings with the best in voice instruction, social bonding, and arts education.
weekly audio lessons for home practice assignments, in small chunks of time, designed for each age group.
high quality concerts
CSYC focus includes:
high quality music experiences and skill building taught by youth voice experts
building community between our singers in a positive environment
providing broadly diverse musical material from around the world and across the ages, in multiple languages and styles.
Who can join City Singers? Any kid who loves to sing will find a happy musical home with City Singers. We believe in the nurturing power of music, and so we invite singers ages 5-18 years (and as young as 4) to be a part of CSYC. We are proud of our education philosophy and practices which foster every level of musicality, and as the youngest are welcomed, our more experienced singers in middle and high school are energetically challenged to develop their skill. Singers are placed in their ensemble(s) based upon age/grade: Elementary Choir (K-2nd), Progressing Choir (3rd-6th), and Upper Choir (7th-12th).
How do I know if my singer is ready for CSYC? Two ways to sample City Singers:
Register as a Sampling Singer to participate in our first 3 Core Choir rehearsals for free.
Enroll in our FREE, short-commitment CSYC Caroling Choir and CSYC Service Choir, designed to welcome new singers and to sample what it’s like to be in City Singers!
Our rehearsals are active and fun, but also require attention, following directions, and teamwork. Young singers who are able to follow instructions, take turns, and regulate actions in a group setting are ready for CSYC. It is notrequiredthat youngest singers have beginning reading skills. Contact us to ask specific questions about your singer.
What if my singer has ADHD, autism, anxiety….? Many singers with learning differences and other factors which may impact their learning (autism, ADHD, anxiety, speech disorders, dyslexia, and more) have participated fully in CSYC, and we believe that full inclusion of all learning styles is core to our mission. In order for preparations to be made for your singer’s success, please ensureinstructors are made aware of your child’s needs ahead of time via our enrollment form. Unsure if CSYC will be the right fit? Register as a Sampling Singer to participate in our first few rehearsals for free.
What is the cost of City Singers?
$460/Full Season or $310/Semester for 1 Singer + $50 registration fee
$760/Full Season or $510/Semester for 2 sibling Singers + $50 registration fee
$860/Full Season or $610/Semester for 3 or more sibling Singers + $50 registration fee
These are difficult times for many and tuition assistance/installment payments are available via the Financial Aid Application.
At time of enrollment, pay $50 registration (per family enrollment) By Sept 30 (Fall Session) or Jan 31 (Spring Session) pay Tuition + Uniform costs ($50-70).
Tuition covers approximately one half the cost of running the choir and the remaining CSYC budget is provided by charitable donations, both monetary and in-kind, from community members, businesses, charitable funds, and grants.
When and where do you meet? We meet at 2709 Monument Avenue (Richmond’s First Baptist Church) on Tuesdays from September through May, 5:45-7:30pm (Elementary Choir release is 7:15).
What are the expectations and commitments of participating in City Singers Youth Choirs?
Weekly at-home practice: <20 min for elementary ages, <30-45 min for mid/high ages.
Weekly Tuesdays rehearsals during the school year
Performances & Required Rehearsals are announced by June 30 on our singer events calendar for the next school year, generally 3-5 events per semester. Of these, the major concerts are on the first Saturday of December and the first or second Saturday of May. Calendar is published by June 30 for the following season. Enrolling singers commit to every event, except for those conflicts registered by Sept 30/Jan 30.
There are three fundamental considerations upon which CSYC attendance policy is based:
A positive CSYC experience depends upon singers being present at concerts and required rehearsals.
Unexpected absence from concerts or required rehearsalsunfairly burdens present singers & sick singers.
We are strict in the big things so we can be flexible in the smaller things: City Singers Youth Choirs does not require perfect attendance, and does not apply attendance policies in a no-exceptions framework. CSYC is able to be flexible because singers and families behave with consideration toward fellow singers and staff by following our notification policies. Read more.
How do singers learn their music?
We teach every note of our music during rehearsals.
Singers learn how to read notes on a page, follow a score, and sing by rote.
Singers are provided with weekly home practice recordings for independent learning.
What does City Singers teach?
We teach voice-science-based, age-appropriate vocal techniques which carry singers through a lifetime of singing, through every genre. Our staff maintains up-to-date expertise in voice pedagogy best practices, and are experts in youth voice development.
We teach singers to explore the full palette of their voices–head voice, chest voice, belting– in a multitude of styles, and in ways which are developmentally appropriate.
We teach holistic music literacy, using eyes, ears, and bodies: singers learn to sight-sing notes on a page using solfege syllables and coordinating hand signs, improvise melodies and harmonies by ear, clap and move to the beat, then on to more advanced body percussion and movement.
In short, City Singers teaches a holistically designed musicianship with a high priority on teaching skills to last a lifetime.
In addition to musical skills, we teach artistry, community building, and collaboration; we craft an environment where singers and staff are safe to admit mistakes and correct them.
Is City Singers a church choir? Is City Singers an “inner-city” choir? No. We are a community choir, and all are welcome! We do meet in a church’s building, and benefit from using church spaces at no charge, but we are a secular organization devoted to arts education and are independent of any faith-based agenda or management.
Do singers audition for City Singers? No! Singers of all experience levels are welcome, and every singer is sorted acording to age/grade, not experience.
Why choir instead of private lessons? This is not an “either-or” situation: for high schoolers preparing to major in voice, private lessons are necessary. However, for most singers, especially those younger than 8th grade, a group setting in a quality choir provides the ideal environment for voice education, in a joyful, supportive, and cost-effective environment.
Eek! My kid loves to sing, but can’t carry a tune in a bucket! Sign them up for City Singers! Singing is a learned skill, and CSYC staff specialize in teaching that skill!
We analyze the singing habits of each individual singer in Voice Inquiries regularly to assist them in developing their full range throughout the vocal change and to individually monitor for healthy voice production (all kids experience vocal change during pre-adolescence through mid-twenties and beyond) and to empower each singer with knowledge about their own vocal development.
What is the most advanced choir? CSYC is grouped by age, not ability, and singers learn from each other quickly, giving more advanced singers many leadership opportunities. Upper Choir performs the most advanced music, because they are the most mature. For singers who desire extra performance opportunities, we also provide opportunities for solos and small group singing.
What kinds of music do the CSYC choirs sing? CSYC sings music created for youth voices from around the world and across the ages.
Artistic staff choose music of historical, cultural, or literary significance which meet these requirements at the highest caliber: 1) inspire a sense of wonder, 2) are developmentally appropriate to our singers, 3) are of historical, literary, or cultural significance, 4) demonstrate the diversity of the world, 5) possess historical integrity and cultural authenticity.
The music chosen for our singers will stay with them for the rest of their lives, through aging and even memory loss. We take this responsibility very seriously and strive to give our singers a musical feast to last a lifetime.
We intend the processes and performances offered by City Singers Youth Choirs to be counter-cultural: through meaningful, communal music-making, we disrupt short-attention economy in the BEST ways.
Mimicry versus Artistry We strive to provide music which permits our singers to be free to engage artistically and not be constrained by mimicking a well-known version of a song or artist.
Honor vs. Appropriation When studying music of minority, oppressed, or colonized cultures, great care is taken to go beyond the common historical narrative to unearth the truth of the music’s origins. We consult music and culture experts from within the culture we wish to study, and defer to their guidance on the appropriateness of the material for our performance. Our goal is always to honor the music and the people who first created it.
Do you have performance uniforms? Yes! We have two uniforms: the polo/dress/vest uniform and the tshirt uniform. Polos, dresses, vests, & tshirts are ordered through the choir, and assistance is available to those who require it. View our Uniform Guidelines.
Do City Singers travel internationally? We have standing invitations to perform internationally, and summer tour plans are forming for 2028.
What is the time commitment for my child in CSYC? Weekly rehearsals meet on Tuesdays from Sept-May for about 1.5 hours. We strongly recommend that singers do not engage in any other evening activities on Tuesdays. Additional weekly home practice sessions will total 20 minutes for elementary singers, and 30-45 minutes for middle/high singers.
Required performance events are published by June 30 the previous school year, and required dates are never added to this calendar. We average around 8 performance events per school year (3-5 per semester); of these, two are ‘major’ concerts and the rest are community events. Elementary & Progressing Choirs have slightly fewer performances. While we ask that enrolled singers commit to attend all required performances, we have an accessible absence notification policy (p 2) which makes missing a performance possible–as long as notification deadlines are met; bringing music into our community is essential to our mission!
One of the most cited qualities that parents love about City Singers Youth Choirs is that we do not monopolize all our choir families’ time—we want choral music to be accessible to the busy, well-rounded student. For our advanced singers heading to college music programs, the danger of vocal overuse is very real, and City Singers purposefully leaves room for the demands of private voice training.
FAQ
CSYC Core Choirs at-a-glance:
*4 year-olds often participate in our Elementary Choir evening rehearsals (5:45-7:15), but the meeting time is too late for some. Those interested in an earlier meeting time for 3-5 year olds, please complete this Earlier Time Interest Form, and we’ll reach out.
What can I expect?
Who can join City Singers?
Any kid who loves to sing will find a happy musical home with City Singers. We believe in the nurturing power of music, and so we invite singers ages 5-18 years (and as young as 4) to be a part of CSYC. We are proud of our education philosophy and practices which foster every level of musicality, and as the youngest are welcomed, our more experienced singers in middle and high school are energetically challenged to develop their skill. Singers are placed in their ensemble(s) based upon age/grade: Elementary Choir (K-2nd), Progressing Choir (3rd-6th), and Upper Choir (7th-12th).
How do I know if my singer is ready for CSYC?
Two ways to sample City Singers:
Our rehearsals are active and fun, but also require attention, following directions, and teamwork. Young singers who are able to follow instructions, take turns, and regulate actions in a group setting are ready for CSYC. It is not required that youngest singers have beginning reading skills. Contact us to ask specific questions about your singer.
What if my singer has ADHD, autism, anxiety….? Many singers with learning differences and other factors which may impact their learning (autism, ADHD, anxiety, speech disorders, dyslexia, and more) have participated fully in CSYC, and we believe that full inclusion of all learning styles is core to our mission. In order for preparations to be made for your singer’s success, please ensure instructors are made aware of your child’s needs ahead of time via our enrollment form. Unsure if CSYC will be the right fit? Register as a Sampling Singer to participate in our first few rehearsals for free.
What is the cost of City Singers?
When and where do you meet?
We meet at 2709 Monument Avenue (Richmond’s First Baptist Church) on Tuesdays from September through May, 5:45-7:30pm (Elementary Choir release is 7:15).
What are the expectations and commitments of participating in City Singers Youth Choirs?
There are three fundamental considerations upon which CSYC attendance policy is based:
We are strict in the big things so we can be flexible in the smaller things: City Singers Youth Choirs does not require perfect attendance, and does not apply attendance policies in a no-exceptions framework. CSYC is able to be flexible because singers and families behave with consideration toward fellow singers and staff by following our notification policies. Read more.
How do singers learn their music?
What does City Singers teach?
Is City Singers a church choir? Is City Singers an “inner-city” choir?
No. We are a community choir, and all are welcome! We do meet in a church’s building, and benefit from using church spaces at no charge, but we are a secular organization devoted to arts education and are independent of any faith-based agenda or management.
Do singers audition for City Singers?
No! Singers of all experience levels are welcome, and every singer is sorted acording to age/grade, not experience.
Why choir instead of private lessons?
This is not an “either-or” situation: for high schoolers preparing to major in voice, private lessons are necessary. However, for most singers, especially those younger than 8th grade, a group setting in a quality choir provides the ideal environment for voice education, in a joyful, supportive, and cost-effective environment.
Eek! My kid loves to sing, but can’t carry a tune in a bucket! Sign them up for City Singers! Singing is a learned skill, and CSYC staff specialize in teaching that skill!
We analyze the singing habits of each individual singer in Voice Inquiries regularly to assist them in developing their full range throughout the vocal change and to individually monitor for healthy voice production (all kids experience vocal change during pre-adolescence through mid-twenties and beyond) and to empower each singer with knowledge about their own vocal development.
What is the most advanced choir? CSYC is grouped by age, not ability, and singers learn from each other quickly, giving more advanced singers many leadership opportunities. Upper Choir performs the most advanced music, because they are the most mature. For singers who desire extra performance opportunities, we also provide opportunities for solos and small group singing.
What kinds of music do the CSYC choirs sing? CSYC sings music created for youth voices from around the world and across the ages.
Artistic staff choose music of historical, cultural, or literary significance which meet these requirements at the highest caliber: 1) inspire a sense of wonder, 2) are developmentally appropriate to our singers, 3) are of historical, literary, or cultural significance, 4) demonstrate the diversity of the world, 5) possess historical integrity and cultural authenticity.
The music chosen for our singers will stay with them for the rest of their lives, through aging and even memory loss. We take this responsibility very seriously and strive to give our singers a musical feast to last a lifetime.
We intend the processes and performances offered by City Singers Youth Choirs to be counter-cultural: through meaningful, communal music-making, we disrupt short-attention economy in the BEST ways.
Mimicry versus Artistry We strive to provide music which permits our singers to be free to engage artistically and not be constrained by mimicking a well-known version of a song or artist.
Honor vs. Appropriation When studying music of minority, oppressed, or colonized cultures, great care is taken to go beyond the common historical narrative to unearth the truth of the music’s origins. We consult music and culture experts from within the culture we wish to study, and defer to their guidance on the appropriateness of the material for our performance. Our goal is always to honor the music and the people who first created it.
Do you have performance uniforms? Yes! We have two uniforms: the polo/dress/vest uniform and the tshirt uniform. Polos, dresses, vests, & tshirts are ordered through the choir, and assistance is available to those who require it. View our Uniform Guidelines.
Do City Singers travel internationally?
We have standing invitations to perform internationally, and summer tour plans are forming for 2028.
What is the time commitment for my child in CSYC?
Weekly rehearsals meet on Tuesdays from Sept-May for about 1.5 hours. We strongly recommend that singers do not engage in any other evening activities on Tuesdays. Additional weekly home practice sessions will total 20 minutes for elementary singers, and 30-45 minutes for middle/high singers.
Required performance events are published by June 30 the previous school year, and required dates are never added to this calendar. We average around 8 performance events per school year (3-5 per semester); of these, two are ‘major’ concerts and the rest are community events. Elementary & Progressing Choirs have slightly fewer performances. While we ask that enrolled singers commit to attend all required performances, we have an accessible absence notification policy (p 2) which makes missing a performance possible–as long as notification deadlines are met; bringing music into our community is essential to our mission!
One of the most cited qualities that parents love about City Singers Youth Choirs is that we do not monopolize all our choir families’ time—we want choral music to be accessible to the busy, well-rounded student. For our advanced singers heading to college music programs, the danger of vocal overuse is very real, and City Singers purposefully leaves room for the demands of private voice training.