Berkshire Children's Chorus

ABOUT BCC

Our Mission • Auditions • Triumphs • Staff & Board Members • Nancy Loder

Berkshire Children's Chorus, founded in 1990, is an independent, community chorus comprised of students from Berkshire and surrounding counties who are interested in working on the finest treble choir music available. The repertoire of the chorus is not replicated in the schools, making it possible to expand the children’s horizons to more classical and challenging musical experiences. Students must audition and are selected regardless of their ability to pay tuition. In addition to the Berkshire Children’s Chorus for students in grades 6 through 9, BCC offers an apprentice chorus, Start Up, for students in grades three through five, and the Coda chorus for BCC graduates in high school.

Berkshire Children's Chorus is comprised of three choruses:

Berkshire Children's Chorus

• 6th - 9th grade students
• Finest and most challenging treble choir repertoire
• Weekly rehearsals: 5:30-7:30 pm Wednesday in Sheffield, MA
• Community performances
• Music Festival performances
• U.S. and International travel
• Performance-based music education
• Personal and artistic excellence
• Lifelong friendships

Start Up

• 3rd - 5th grade students (exceptional students in 2nd grade are sometimes asked to join)
• Apprentice chorus
• Weekly rehearsals: 5:00-6:00 pm Tuesday in Sheffield, MA
• Beginning choral techniques
• Fine beginning children's chorus literature
• Community performances

Coda

• 10th - 12th grade students
• Advanced chorus
• Weekly rehearsals: 6:30-8:00 pm Tuesday in Sheffield, MA
• Excellent 2-5 part choral repertoire
• Community performances
• U.S. and International travel
• Music Festival performances

BCC's Mission

“To provide students with musical experiences that develop personal and artistic excellence, support the growth of positive values, and enrich our community.”

Auditioning

Auditions are held twice a year, in the spring and fall, and are open to students in grades 3 through 11. 

As part of the audition, students will be asked to sing an ascending and descending scale, a warm up exercise taught by the Director, a round with the Director and a selected song, unaccompanied.

Students are accepted regardless of their ability to pay tuition. Eligible families can receive partial or complete tuition assistance through BCC’s Scholarship Fund. 

To schedule an audition, contact Nancy Loder at (413) 229-2465 or email voices@berkshirechildrenschorus.org.

Triumphs Over Time

In the last 12 years, the chorus has earned national medal rankings in four adjudicated choral festivals; has performed with the Berkshire Bach Society, Berkshire Choral Festival, and Berkshire Opera Company; participated in the Third Tuscany Children’s Chorus Festival in Italy; performed twice at Carnegie Hall; participated in an International Children’s Chorus Festival in England & France; and, most recently, performed at the Inauguration of Governor Deval Patrick, both in Boston and in Pittsfield.

Highlights include:

2009/2010 Board of Directors and Staff

About Nancy Loder

Nancy Loder is the founder and Artistic Director of the Berkshire Children’s Chorus. She is also the Choral Director for the Southern Berkshire Regional School District. Mrs. Loder has many years of choral directing behind her, both in schools and in churches. She holds a Masters Degree in Music Education from Central Connecticut State University and has received a diploma in Choral Music Experience (Levels I-III) from Hartt School of Music. In addition to her work with the original Berkshire Children’s Chorus, Mrs. Loder also directs the Start Up and Coda choruses.