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. We offer open enrollment at the start of each semester, with new choristers joining through the end of September and again during the month of January. Prelude provides additional flexibility in the fall, allowing singers to join in October and November, as they do not participate in the December Mainstage Concert (though they are welcome to join outreach performances).

We also understand that families may need a short period to ensure the program is the right fit. New choristers may withdraw within their first two weeks of classes. In this case, families are only responsible for the current month’s tuition, and no further semester commitment is required. After this initial two-week period, our standard withdrawal policy applies.

Because our program is ensemble-based, mid-semester changes can impact both the group and planning. We encourage families to plan for the full semester whenever possible. If needed, families may request a leave of absence through our Leave of Absence form, which is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

If your family has unique circumstances, we’re always happy to connect and support you.

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) continues to accept new choristers in October and November 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.
  • 55-minute rehearsals with more structured singing, literacy foundations, and ensemble skills.
  • Strictly grade-based.
• Intermezzo
  
  • Grades 3–6.
  • 90-minute rehearsals introducing part-singing, sight-reading, musical games, and growing independence.
  • Placement for 5th grade and older considers age, maturity, and musical readiness. We have grade overlap in our choirs from this point onwards to ensure a proper musical and social fit.
• Lyrica
  
  • Grades 5–8.
  • 2-hour rehearsals featuring 2–3 part singing, sight-reading, and continued musicianship development.
  • Includes a brief break (choristers are welcome to bring nut-free snacks).
  • This intermediate ensemble focuses on vocal technique, music literacy, and leadership.
• Cantare
  
  • Grades 7–12.
  • 2 hr 15 minute rehearsals focused on advanced musicianship and learning 3+ part choral repertoire from a variety of cultures and genres.
  • This ensemble emphasizes musical independence and leadership opportunities.
• Voce (coming soon!)
  
  • Grades 11–college age 24.
  • 2 hr 30 min rehearsals. Choristers are expected to have strong music literacy skills and the ability to learn 4+ part repertoire, with independent practice outside of rehearsal.
  • A 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 get this question a lot—and we completely understand. Wanting your child to feel challenged and excited is a great thing.

That said, placements at BYC aren’t flexible or parent-selected. For our younger choirs (Prelude and Prima), placement is based strictly on age and grade. For our older choirs (Intermezzo and up), singers are placed by our teaching staff based on vocal placement and what we’re seeing in rehearsal over time.

We don’t make exceptions for early advancement. We’ve found that moving up too soon often leads to frustration or gaps in skills that can take away from a singer’s confidence and enjoyment.

We’re always happy to work with families to make sure choristers feel appropriately challenged. If you have questions about your child’s placement or growth, we encourage you to connect with their teacher—we’re glad to talk through what they’re ready for and how we can support them.

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, there will be opportunities where parents will be invited to class to be part of a lesson, or opportunities for parents to volunteer and be part of the 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 strongly encouraged to participate in 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

2026-2027 Tentative Concert Dates:

• December 5th at First Free Methodist - all choirs except Prelude
• Weekend of March 13th or 20th - Prelude, Prima, and Intermezzo during a Saturday afternoon. Lyrica, Cantare, Voce Saturday evening. ‍
• June 5th - 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.).
  • Dates: between December 12th-20th. For Prelude, Prima, and Intermezzo, these performances are on their regular rehearsal night.
• June:
  
  • New this season: all choirs will share music in the community as part of our year-end celebrations similar to December outreach in the 1-2 weeks following our June concert.

• Intermezzo (Grades 3–6)‍
  
  • one-day tour in the spring.
  • Typically a performance at a local retirement home, followed by a field trip at the Pacific Science Center, Woodland Park Zoo, MoPop, or other activities in our area. Great for both giving back musically to our community and celebrating and bonding with choristers.

• 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.
  • Coming Spring of 2027 - tour to either Hawaii or California Disneyland.

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 divided into 10 equal monthly payments from September through June. While some months have more rehearsals than others, tuition is averaged so families can expect a consistent monthly payment. A 10% sibling discount is automatically applied to the younger chorister.

BYC is a full-season program, and we encourage choristers to participate from September through June, as consistency supports both musical growth and ensemble connection. At the same time, our season is structured in two semesters (September–December and January–June) to offer flexibility when needed.

For families planning ahead who know they will need to miss a portion of a semester (for example, due to another activity or a scheduling conflict during a concert cycle), we offer a Leave of Absence option. Requests must be submitted through our Leave of Absence form at least 30 days in advance of the tuition payment they wish to pause, and a fee is required to hold the chorister’s spot in the program during their absence.

Many of our choirs also offer multiple rehearsal options. When possible, and with advance notice, we’re often able to help facilitate a class change to better fit your family’s schedule.

Please Note: Choristers remain enrolled for the full season unless we receive written notice of withdrawal via email. At the end of the season in June, all choristers are unenrolled and must re-register for the following year if they wish to continue.

Because BYC is structured as a semester-based program, tuition and enrollment follow those commitments. Please see below for details about withdrawal and mid-season changes.

BYC is designed as a full-season program 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 also built around semester enrollment. Once a semester begins and enrollment closes, we’ve already committed resources for that full period—staffing, rehearsal space, music, and performances are all planned based on the size and needs of each choir.

We do our best to offer flexibility where we can. New families have the first two weeks of classes (during September and January open enrollment) to decide if the program is the right fit, and we’re often able to help with class section changes when schedules shift. For families who know in advance that they’ll need to miss part of a semester, we offer a leave of absence option with advance notice.

Outside of those situations, enrollment is considered a semester commitment, and families remain responsible for tuition through the end of that term.

If something unexpected comes up, we always encourage you to reach out. We know life happens, and we’re happy to talk through what might be possible.

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.