BYC is a nonprofit youth choral program creating a joyful, inclusive community through music. We offer high-quality training, friendships, and exciting performance opportunities.BYC is a nonprofit youth choral program creating a joyful, inclusive community through music. We believe every young person deserves a place to belong, grow, and be heard. We offer high-quality training, friendships, and exciting performance opportunities.

Bellevue Youth Choirs is designed as a full-season experience rather than a drop-in or month-to-month class. Like a team sport or performing arts program, our choirs build skills, relationships, and repertoire over time. Each singer plays an important role, and consistent participation helps the group grow together musically and socially.

Throughout the season, choristers move through several learning cycles as they prepare for concerts, community performances, and shared experiences. Rehearsals are thoughtfully planned to develop musicianship and ensemble balance, and every voice contributes to that process. Many choristers describe BYC as a place where they feel a deep sense of belonging and connection that grows over time.

To support families, we structure the season in two semesters (September–December and January–June), with transition points for joining or stepping away. Prelude choristers participate on a more flexible, month-to-month basis in the fall (September–December) before transitioning into concert preparation in January.

Because our program is ensemble-based, mid-season or mid-month changes can impact both the group and planning. We encourage families to plan for the full season whenever possible. Requests for schedule adjustments or leave of absence outside of the mid-year transition window (December–January 15) must be approved in advance. If your family needs support, we’re always happy to connect and explore options together.

We welcome singers from age 4 through young adulthood (up to age 24). Placement is based on age, grade, and—starting in 3rd grade—musical readiness.

Enrollment for the new season opens on June 1st. Enrollment then continues until the end of September.

We have a second enrollment window for choristers to join throughout January before we close enrollment for the remainder of the season.

Prelude (PreK–K, must be 4 by Sept. 1) has continuous open enrollment through January as they do not perform in our December concert.

These open enrollment windows are structured around our Mainstage Concerts to ensure choristers have enough time to prepare for upcoming performances.

All choirs rehearse at:

Cross of Christ Lutheran Church
411 156th Ave NE,
Bellevue, WA 98007

Placement depends on both age/grade and musical development. Our youngest choirs (Prelude and Prima) are strictly grade-based. Starting with Intermezzo (3rd–6th grade), we also consider maturity, ability, and readiness.

Every choir is multi-age by design. Choristers typically spend at least two years in each level—first as a learner, then as a leader. This helps children build confidence, leadership, and strong musical foundations.

This structure helps choristers grow in both confidence and leadership over time.

• Prelude
  
  • PreK–K (must be 4 by Sept. 1).
  • 45-minute rehearsals focused on joyful singing, rhythm, and movement.
    
• Prima
  
  • Grades 1–2.
  • 60-minute rehearsals with more structured singing, literacy foundations, and ensemble skills.
  • Strictly grade-based. Children spend two years in Prelude/Prima combined.
• Intermezzo
  
  • Grades 3–6.
  • 90-minute rehearsals with part-singing, sight-reading, and independence.
  • Placement considers age, maturity, and ability. From here, you’ll notice grade overlap.
• Lyrica
  
  • Grades 5–8.
  • Intermediate ensemble focusing on vocal technique, literacy, and leadership.
• Cantare
  
  • Grades 7–12.
  • Advanced ensemble with challenging repertoire and leadership opportunities.
• Voce (coming soon!)
  
  • Grades 11–college age 24.‍
  • Chamber-style ensemble for advanced young adult singers.

Not at all! Our teachers use a rotating curriculum—so songs, activities, and repertoire are always fresh. In Intermezzo and above, choristers revisit solfege, rhythm reading, and vocal technique at progressively deeper levels to strengthen musicianship.

Every choir is multi-age by design. Choristers typically spend at least two years in each level—first as a learner, then as a leader. This helps children build confidence, leadership, and strong musical foundations.

We’re often asked this—and we get it! Wanting your child to be challenged is a wonderful thing. However, chorister placement is not optional or parent-selected. For our younger choirs (Prelude and Prima), placement is based solely on age and/or grade. For our older choirs (Intermezzo and up), placements are determined through a vocal placement and ongoing evaluation by teaching staff.

Requests for early advancement are extremely rare exceptions. We’ve learned that moving too soon often leads to frustration. Staying in a choir where a chorister can lead and thrive builds confidence and skills that serve them far better in the long run. Trust us—we’re planning for their growth every step of the way.

Starting in 3rd grade, all singers take part in a 10–15minute vocal placement. For elementary and middle schoolers, this is not an audition—no preparation is needed!

Placements help us get to know each singer’s voice, learning style, and needs so we can best support their growth. Choristers will:

• Sing simple vocal exercises
• Sing a short well-known song (ex: Happy Birthday, Row Row Row Your Boat)
• Chat briefly with a director about their musical experience

This process ensures each child is placed in the right choir level for their current needs where they will grow and thrive musically and socially.

Weekly on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, depending on choir. See the choir page for exact times.

For all choirs, rehearsals are drop-off only. Parents and caregivers do not stay in the classroom during rehearsal time.

For our youngest choirs (Prelude and Prima), an adult is required to walk the chorister into the building and stay with them until teachers greet the group and begin class. After drop-off, caregivers are welcome to wait in the lobby during rehearsal but are not required to stay on site.

To help choristers stay focused and successful, we ask that caregivers do not linger at the windows or doors during rehearsal—this can be distracting for our youngest choristers who are learning how to focus and work independently.

We do love having you involved! Throughout the season, families are invited to join us for a special 15-minute "Choir Connection" at the end of class, where choristers perform and share what they’ve been learning. Additionally, Prelude choristers have "mini-recitals" about once per month where families are invited into the last 15 minutes of class with their chorister.

Please email BYC if your chorister will be absent so we can make a note and support their progress.

Choristers should stay home if they have a fever, cough, or other contagious symptoms. If you're unsure, we recommend erring on the side of caution or having your chorister wear a mask.

For Mainstage concerts, singers typically have 9–12 rehearsals to prepare. If a chorister in Intermezzo or older misses 3 or more rehearsals, a teacher will reach out to schedule a quick “part check” to ensure they’re feeling confident and prepared. If a chorister misses 5 or more rehearsals, they may be asked to sit out of the performance.

Our goal is always to set choristers up for success while honoring the work of the full ensemble.

Yes—a $25 fee applies if pick-up is more than 5 minutes late.

Yes—every voice matters! All choristers are expected at MainStage concerts and community events.

At BYC, concerts aren’t just performances—they’re celebrations of belonging. We include singalongs, invite families into rehearsals, and create space for connection so every singer and parent feels part of our musical community.

Tickets go on sale about a month before each MainStage concert on our website. Community events are usually free.

Tickets for our Mainstage Concerts follow the following costs:

• $20 General Admission
• $10 Discounted Admission for Seniors, Students, Military, the un(der)employed, and the differently-abled
• Free for children age 6 and younger

Tuition helps make our program accessible and sustainable, but it does not cover the full cost of producing concerts. In fact, at this time tuition accounts for about 80% of our overall program expenses.

Concerts involve many additional costs, including venue rental, instrumentalists, music and arrangements, videography and photography, printed programs, and more. Ticket sales help offset these expenses, though concerts often do not fully break even.

To keep BYC accessible to as many families as possible, we work to keep tuition as affordable as we can and rely on grants, sponsorships, and fundraising to support the full program.

We are also committed to making concerts accessible by offering reduced-cost tickets, free tickets for volunteers, and free livestreams with an optional pay-what-you-can donation. Recordings are shared with families after each performance so everyone can experience and revisit the music.

Thank you for helping us sustain and grow this community.

Currently, “concert black” (black dress shoes, pants/skirts/dresses, shirts, socks/tights). BYC also provides a T-shirt for outreach events as part of every chorister’s registration fee.

All choristers perform in three MainStage concerts each season:

• December (Winter Concert)
• March (Spring Concerts)
• June (End-of-Year Concert)

Exception: Prelude (PreK–K) does not perform in the December MainStage concert but does participate in festive December outreach events.

2025-2026 Concert dates:

• December 6th at First Free Methodist - all choirs except Prelude
• March 14th & 15th - Lyrica & Cantare
• March 21st - Prelude, Prima & Intermezzo‍
• June 6th - all choirs

Yes! In addition to MainStage concerts, every choir shares music with the community:

• December:‍
  
  • All choirs perform in local community settings (retirement homes, libraries, etc.).
• June:
  
  • New this season: all choirs will share music in the community as part of our year-end celebrations.

• Intermezzo (Grades 3–6)‍
  
  • one-day tour in the spring.

• Lyrica, Cantare, and Voce (Grades 5–college age 24)‍
  
  • overnight tours each year.
We are developing a rotating cycle of local, national, and international tours to give choristers unforgettable opportunities to grow as musicians, leaders, and global citizens.

Yes! We are proud to support choristers who wish to audition for national honor choirs such as OAKE. Our staff helps with the application process, audition preparation, and even learning the repertoire if a chorister is selected.

We also share information about unique performance opportunities in the region that may enrich our singers’ growth beyond BYC.

Yes! High school choristers may volunteer within BYC, helping with younger choirs, events, or community engagement.

Tuition varies by choir (see choir page for details) and is split into 10 equal monthly payments (Sept–June). Some months have more rehearsals than others, but tuition is averaged so families always pay the same amount. A 10% sibling discount is provided.

We hope choristers will commit to the full season (September–June), as consistent participation supports both musical growth and ensemble connection. That said, we structure our program in two semesters—September–December and January–June—to offer flexibility when needed. Prelude choristers are enrolled on a month-to-month basis through January.

For choristers in Intermezzo and older, we can occasionally accommodate a leave of absence. If your family needs to make adjustments, please reach out—we’re happy to help explore options.

Please note: Choristers remain enrolled in our system for the full season unless we receive written notice to withdraw.
Once the current season ends in June, all choristers are dropped and must re-enroll for the new season if they wish to continue.

Because BYC is a full-season program, enrollment and tuition are structured around semester commitments. See below for details on changes during the season.

BYC is designed as a full-season experience, where choristers grow musically and build meaningful connections over time. Like a team or performing ensemble, each singer plays an important role, and the experience is strongest when everyone participates consistently.

Our planning and budget are based on enrollment at the start of each semester. Once enrollment closes, we commit resources for the full term—including hiring staff, securing venues, and preparing music and performances based on ensemble size. Because tuition covers only about 80% of our costs, this structure allows us to keep the program accessible while sustaining the full scope of what we offer. Like many nonprofit arts organizations, BYC depends on a combination of tuition, fundraising, and community support to make this work possible and ensure that programs like ours continue to serve young people and families in our region.

We do offer flexibility where we can, including a mid-season transition point after the December concert through January 15th, class section changes when space allows, and leave of absence requests when communicated in advance.

Outside of these transition points, enrollment is considered a semester commitment, and families remain responsible for tuition through the end of that semester.

If your family is experiencing a significant change in circumstances, we encourage you to reach out—we’re always happy to connect and explore options together.

Yes! For the 2025–2026 season, BYC is providing over $23,000 in scholarships to make choir accessible for all and supporting 10% of families with financial aid. Families may email info@bellevueyouthchoirs.org to apply.

Donations directly support chorister scholarships, tours, and performances. Many employers also match gifts or volunteer hours. Make a gift here.