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General
What is the Santa Barbara Children's Chorus?
The SBCC is a vocal performing arts academy located in Santa Barbara,
California.
What is your mission
statement?
To inspire and develop the natural musicality of children and youth
of diverse cultures and economic backgrounds through artistic choral
performance.
Are you a nonprofit?
Yes, we are organized as a 501(c)(3) corporation. Our federal nonprofit
exemption number is 77-0329835.
What ages do you teach?
We teach children in 1st grade through seniors in high school. Because
all our choirs use the treble repertoire, boys are graduated automatically
when their voices change.
Are you a religious
choir?
No. As a community-based academy, we emphatically refrain from taking
any religious positions. While we do use music from many religious
faiths (it would be impossible to teach choral music without doing
so), we make it clear to our choristers that such music is chosen
for its artistic merit and not any religious meaning. We are careful
to place all music we use in its historical and musical context
to ensure that our performances are an enriching educational experience
for all our choristers.
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Placement Inverviews
When do you hold interviews?
We hold Primary Placement Interviews in late May for the following
season beginning in September. We also hold limited auditions each
fall and winter.
Where are interviews held?
We have interviews in our usual rehearsal space at the First Presbyterian
Church at State & Constance in Santa Barbara.
What will we do at an interview?
The interview will take ten to fifteen minutes and will be conducted
privately with the Director, chorister and parent. The interview
consists of simple vocal exercises demonstrated by the Director,
a check for pitch accuracy, an evaluation of vocal range for part
placement and a written music theory assessment to assist in musicianship
class placement
Do I need to prepare anything
for interviews?
You do not need to prepare any music, as it will not be used. You
do need to complete the Registration form prior to the interview.
How is my child placed?
Our Artistic Director places choristers according to their age,
vocal development and mastery of music theory with the goal of ensuring
a positive choral experience. Promotion to an upper choir is based
on the same principles and is not automatic.
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Commitment
What does the program
cost?
Tuition covers approximately one-half
the cost of running our program and runs between $6.00 and $9.00
per hour depending on the chorus level.
Early Childhood Division Performing Chorus
Division
For our youngest children in this non-performing
division, tuition is $100 per semester plus a $25 yearly registration
fee.
Performing Chorus Division
For older choristers, annual tuition depends on the choir: $450
for the Jubilate Choir, $550 for the Bel Canto Choir and $750 for
the Lyrique and Cantabile Choirs. The yearly registration fee is
$50 for all Performing Chorus Division choirs. There is a reduced
rate for siblings.
Can I make payments?
Yes. While each chorister is charged the full seasonís tuition
at the beginning of the season, you may pay it in advance or in
eight monthly payments due the 10th of each month from September
through April.
What does it cost if
I enroll in January?
Choristers enrolling in January will pay one-half the yearly tuition
amount and may pay in four monthly installments due the 10th of
each month from January through April. Choristers enrolling in January
pay the full $50 registration fee to cover instructional materials
and registration costs.
Why is there a registration
fee?
We charge a one-time-per-season, nonrefundable registration fee
upon acceptance/registration to reserve a spot in the Chorus for
a chorister, to cover general administrative overhead and to allow
us to purchase music theory materials, choral octavos and other
instructional materials in appropriate quantities for each choir.
Are uniforms required?
Yes. Because performance is an integral part of our upper-division
curriculum, all performing choristers must purchase a uniform. The
Chorus sponsors a ìuniform swapî at the beginning of
each season to assist in providing new and used uniforms as the
children grow.
What do the uniforms
cost?
In 2005, the costs were as follows:
Jubilate: $60 Bel Canto: $80 Lyrique: $90 Cantabile: $100
What is the
rehearsal commitment?
The rehearsal/performance season corresponds to the academic school
year, with 5-10 performances per season.
Early Childhood Division Performing Chorus Division
Our youngest children in this non-performing division meet once
a week for 45 minutes each.
Performing Chorus Division
Jubilate Choir: 60 minutes once per week
Bel Canto Choir: 60 minutes once per week
Lyrique and Cantabile Choirs: 90 minutes twice per week
What is the performance
time commitment?
In addition to the rehearsal commitment, we perform between three
and seven times per year. All performances are announced at the
beginning of the season and are mandatory.
What is the fundraising
commitment?
We host two fundraisers per year: the Poinsettia sale each December
and a variable fundraiser each Spring. In 2003 we held a "nonfundraiser"
in April where each family simply donated $25 in lieu of an actual
fundraising event.
For our touring choirs we also provide the optional opportunity
to earn money toward touring expenses by working in our Fiesta Booth
with the Santa Barbara Host Lions Club.
Where can I get more
information?
You can find contact information for the Santa Barbara Children's
Chorus on our Contact Us page.
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