Special Projects

 

Artistic Performances & Events

Concert Underwriting

18th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Virtual Tribute Concert: Born on the Water
January 17, 2021 | 4:00 pm | Live.bostonchildrenschorus.org 

Join us in support of the 18th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Virtual Tribute Concert: Born on the Water for an evening of transformational stories, music, and community to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MLK Tribute Concert will be an exciting and uplifting virtual in-home event.

Drawing upon a rich artistic legacy, BCC's Born on the Water shares music that underscores the history of the African American experience and reflects on the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King believed that all people – regardless of their race, gender, or immigration or economic status - be treated equally and humanely, and have equal access to justice, education, government resources, and economic opportunities. Featuring performances by our singers, joined by superstars Andrea Baker and Rollo Dilworth, the MLK Tribute Concert unites voices to honor the resilience of a people that have formed the backbone of this country's cultural heritage.

 

 

Special Events 

Join Boston Children's Chorus for events that celebrate musical excellence and commit to social inquiry in Greater Boston's vibrant cultural landscape!

BCC has impacted thousands of individual singers from Greater Boston with our award-winning and innovative choral programs. Children who participate in BCC grow in their musicianship, gain a sense of belonging, and work towards a more just and equitable future. Our special events, like the Youth Leadership and the Arts Benefit Breakfast and the Hubie Jones Award Reception, celebrate our commitment to harnessing the power and joy of music to help young people transcend social barriers and celebrate our shared humanity. All proceeds from each event go directly to Boston Children's Chorus!

 

We are excited to launch a new commissioning project, Opus Nuovo, which affirms our commitment to diverse and inclusive choral programming.  Opus Nuovo commissions will broaden the landscape of choral repertoire for both student and professional choirs. Over the next three years, our singers will collaborate with ten global composers to facilitate the creation of a collection of new choral works which, aligned with BCC's vision of cultural equity, represent a truly diverse spectrum of global musical styles and approaches. This fall, our upper choir singers will work with Jazzmeia Horn, Sydney Guillaume, and Layth Sidiq to produce three new works for the BCC Opus Nuovo composition initiative; Lower choir singers will collaborate with composers Omar Shahryar and Manuel Garcia-Baro in student-led songwriting projects.

 

Master Artists 

To provide enriching choral opportunities, BCC has engaged a stellar line-up of Master Artists, giving singers the experience of performing alongside and learning from industry leaders. Master Artists for the season include Gregory Porter, Andrea Baker, Jazzmeia Horn, and Rollo Dilworth. Master Artists will collaborate with BCC singers in innovative online performance settings. Performance collaborations offer singers the chance to participate in musical productions at the highest professional level.

 

Educational Programming

In the Spring, we launched this new, masterclass program as a commitment to creating broader access to private voice instruction and to developing strong musical leaders. This program will continue in the fall through our online programming as a series of one-on-one vocal coaching sessions. BCC will offer individual attention to members of its middle school and high school-aged choirs or advanced choirs as an attempt to even the artistic playing field among singers. Equity and access are vital for the empowerment of a diverse body of voices. 

 

Tuition Replacement

Boston Children's Chorus never turns a child away because of financial circumstances. Tuition is on a sliding scale, with 80% of singers receiving financial aid. Our integrated music and social justice education curriculum, both on stage and in our communities, is made possible only through the investment of generous members, like you. BCC aims to keep tuition as low as possible, especially for families whose annual income level is below $25,000. Your gift today ensures that tuition payments are not a barrier to access.

 

Musical Excellence, Music & Technology

Conductors and Accompanists will stream each session from BCC HQ from fully equipped studios to provide the best audio and video streaming. Boston Children's Chorus is leading the way in rehearsal innovations, with each teaching studio offering synchronous delivery of piano and voice. Each choir will be divided into smaller cohorts to maximize their learning experience, provide an opportunity for more one-on-one interaction, and help facilitate a meaningful social connection.

Support is needed to continue to deliver excellent, high-quality programming to students in their homes, despite the COVID pandemic.

 

BCC School Programs

As the impact of the pandemic continues to ravage our communities, BCC stands prepared to fill the inevitable gaps created by a dearth of arts education offerings. BCC is offering an easily customizable 5-6 week module, culminating with an expertly curated virtual chorus to schools in Boston and beyond. This will allow BCC to partner with music teachers in public schools to continue to provide meaningful music education, whether schools are entirely virtual or hybrid.

 

Herbert R. Kiser Memorial Scholarship

Every year senior singers can apply to the Kiser Scholarship. Allan Kiser, Chairman of the Board, and his wife Rita Kiser have developed this scholarship to be a significant impact on our singers going off to college.  The Kiser scholarship is awarded to individuals each year who exemplify what it means to be an all-around good person.  In memory of Herbert R. Kiser, recipients of this scholarship have demonstrated their devotion to making their community better. With your help, we can offer significant funds to help ease the immense costs of attending college for our singers.

 

Social/Connection

         

Community leaders and topic area experts are invited for a fireside chat to share their lived experiences and perspectives on BCC's season theme and current events. Some of this season's Listen In speakers include Maureen Alphonse-Charles (Managing Director, Koya Leadership Partners); Amanda Fernandez (CEO, Latinos for Education); Yusufi Vali (Director, Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement); Carol León (Program Manager, Mayor's Office for Immigrant Advancement); and representatives from our Season Partner, Sociedad Latina, including Alexandra Oliver-Dávila (Executive Director, Sociedad Latina).

For additional information, please contact Andrés Holder, Executive Director at aholder@bostonchildrenschorus.org.