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 a full-season ensemble program, not a drop-in or month-to-month class. Like a team sport or other performing arts program, our choirs build skills, relationships, and repertoire over time. Each singer plays an important role, and consistent participation helps the entire group grow musically and socially.

The season runs from September through June and is divided into two concert cycles:

• Fall semester: September through December
• Winter and spring semester: January through June

During each cycle, choristers prepare for Mainstage concerts, community performances, and shared musical experiences. Families should plan to participate through the end of each semester. Choristers remain enrolled through June unless BYC receives written notice of withdrawal according to the policy below.

At the end of the season, all choristers are automatically removed from the Parent Portal and must register again if they wish to return the following year.

BYC has two primary enrollment periods:

• Fall enrollment: Registration opens June 1 and continues through September 30. Rehearsals begin in September.
• Winter enrollment: Registration opens in December for choristers beginning in January and continues through January 31.

These enrollment windows give choristers enough rehearsal time to learn their music and participate successfully in the upcoming concert cycle. With the exception of Prelude, we generally cannot accept new choristers after the enrollment window closes.

Because Prelude does not participate in the December Mainstage Concert, we may be able to accept new Prelude choristers during October and November if space is available. Please contact us to ask about availability.

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When space is available, prospective choristers may attend a no-obligation trial before enrolling. Trials must be arranged with BYC in advance so the teacher and front desk know to expect the chorister.

Here is how trial attendance works:

• If your chorister tries the class and does not continue: You will not be charged a registration fee or tuition.
• If your chorister tries the class and then enrolls: The trial becomes their first class and is included in that month’s tuition. It is not an additional free class.
• If you enroll before the trial to reserve a spot: The nonrefundable registration fee and current month’s tuition apply, even if your chorister decides not to continue after attending one or two classes. You will not be responsible for the remainder of the semester if you withdraw within the introductory window.

A scheduled trial does not reserve a place in the class. Registration is the only way to secure a spot. Because some classes have substantial waitlists, particularly our younger choirs, trials may not be available when a class is full or nearly full.

If you are unsure which option is best for your family, please contact us before registering. We are happy to explain availability, trial options, and the financial commitment.

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The BYC Parent Portal keeps choristers enrolled through the end of the season in June. Enrollment does not automatically end after a concert, at the end of a month, or between semesters.

To withdraw, a parent or guardian must notify BYC in writing by email. Telling a teacher in person, stopping attendance, or removing a payment method does not complete the withdrawal process.

Tuition is based on enrollment, not attendance. BYC does not provide refunds for registration fees or tuition that has already been paid.

Families joining during an open enrollment period may attend up to two classes and withdraw if the program is not the right fit.
In that situation, families are responsible for the nonrefundable registration fee and the current month’s tuition but are released from the remaining semester commitment.

Withdrawal Timeline

• If written notice is given by August 30th, the family is only responsible for the $60 nonrefundable registration fee.
• If written notice is given between September 1st and September 15th, the family is responsible for the $60 nonrefundable registration fee and September tuition.
• If written notice is given between September 16th and December 15th, the family is responsible for tuition through December.
• If written notice is given by January 15th, the family is responsible for tuition through January.
• If written notice is given after January 15th, the family is responsible for the remainder of the season through June.

*Families joining after the season begins are not responsible for tuition from months before they enrolled.

These deadlines determine how much of the season a family is responsible for. They are not refund deadlines for tuition that has already been paid.

Because BYC is an ensemble-based nonprofit, confirmed enrollment determines staffing, rehearsal space, music purchases, class availability, and concert planning. A reserved place may also prevent another interested chorister from enrolling, particularly in classes with waitlists. Consistent enrollment allows BYC to keep tuition below the full cost of the program and provide financial aid to families who need it.

We understand that significant and unexpected life changes can occur, including relocation, job loss, or serious illness. Families experiencing substantial hardship should contact BYC so we can discuss their circumstances.

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.

All choirs rehearse at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 411 156th Ave NE, Bellevue,WA.

Concerts and outreach are at various locations around the Eastside and Seattle.

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.

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

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

• ‍Prelude: PreK–K (must be 4 by Sept. 1)
• ‍Prima: Grades 1–2
• Intermezzo: Grades 3-6‍
• Lyrica: Grades 5-8‍
• Cantare: Grades 7-12‍
• Voce: Grade 11 - Age 24

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.

It’s tempting, but moving up too soon often backfires. Older choristers benefit frombeing leaders in a multi-age group, and the next level always brings longer rehearsals and higher expectations. We very rarely make exceptions, and only when a child is clearly developmentally ready.

All prospective choristers entering third grade or above complete a brief vocal placement before enrolling. Placements are approximately 15 minutes and are held with BYC’s Executive and Artistic Director, Kayla Johnson.

A vocal placement is not intended to be a stressful audition. It gives us an opportunity to meet each singer, learn about their voice and musical experience, and determine the choir where they are most likely to feel comfortable, challenged, and successful. Placement recommendations consider age, grade, vocal development, musicianship, maturity, and ensemble readiness.

During the placement, choristers may be asked to:

• Sing vocal warmups so we can hear their range
• Try simple pitch-matching or rhythm exercises
• Sing a short portion of a familiar song so we can hear their individual voice
• Talk briefly about their previous musical experience

Elementary and early middle school singers do not need to prepare a formal song. They may sing something familiar, such as “Happy Birthday” or “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” and are welcome to sing with the director if that helps them feel more comfortable.

High school and young adult singers are encouraged to prepare a short selection that showcases their voice. Depending on the desired choir level, they may also be asked to sight-sing.

There is no fee for a vocal placement. Before scheduling, please complete the BYC Interest Form by selecting Get Started on our website. After the placement, we will recommend a choir and provide information about attending a trial or completing enrollment.

Vocal placement appointments often fill completely. Please honor your selected appointment time and provide at least 48 hours’ notice whenever possible if you need to cancel or reschedule. This allows us to offer the appointment to another prospective singer.

Weekly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays (Voce only), depending on choir. See the particular choir pages for exact times.

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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! There are many opportunities throughout the season to volunteer and be part of the process.
Prelude choristers also 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. Community events are optional but highly encouraged and one of the ways we are part of the community and strengthen our own community.

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 60-70% 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.

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.

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

Lyrica, Cantare, Voce (Grades 5–college age): 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 either 10 equal monthly payments (Sept–June), two semester payments, or an annual payment. Some months have more rehearsals than others, but tuition is averaged so families always pay the same amount. If you have more than one chorister in your family, a 10% sibling discount is provided to the younger sibling.

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.

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.

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 commits and participates fully.

To support this and ensure our program sustainable, 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 securing venues, hiring teaching staff, purchasing music and materials, and preparing performances based on ensemble size. Because tuition covers only about 60-70% of our costs, consistent enrollment helps us keep the program as affordable and accessible as possible.

We do our best to offer flexibility where we can. Families may adjust class sections if space allows, and we offer a mid-season transition point for families to join or drop after the December concert to accommodate schedule changes. Leave of absence requests may also be considered when communicated in advance.

At the same time, mid-season withdrawals can impact both the ensemble and the planning involved, and many of our choirs operate at or near capacity. For these reasons, families remain responsible for tuition outside of designated withdrawal windows.

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 provided over $24,000 in scholarships to make choir accessible for all and supporting over 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.