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TYC has been a part of my life for almost 2 decades. I began to sing in TYC as a sophomore in high school, when a former teacher, whose daughter was in the program, suggested to my parents that it may be a good choral experience for me. Since then, TYC has opened so many doors in my life. I was able to travel with TYC in the 2007 Eastern European tour, I student taught with George Guenther [first director of the TYC Young Men’s Choir, now the Tenor-Bass Choir] at the end of my undergraduate studies, and have met so many wonderful people throughout.

Out of all of the experiences I have had with TYC, my favorite has to be all of the singers I have been able to work with. Yes, performances in great venues or collaborations with other ensembles are memorable, but at the end of the day, I truly enjoy our weekly rehearsals and learning from one another. It has also been very rewarding to see where the TYC alumni go after moving onto their next chapters and to see how singing has been made a part of their stories.

Chorale

GRADES 9-12 IN FALL, 2026

REHEARSALS: Tuesdays, 5:45-8:00 pm at Charles Wright.

TUITION: 10 monthly installments of $140*

PERFORMANCES: Multiple concerts planned throughout the year.

TREBLE CHOIR DIRECTOR / CHORALE CO-DIRECTOR: Judy Herrington

TENOR-BASS CHOIR DIRECTOR / CHORALE CO-DIRECTOR:Alonso Brizuela

Treble and Tenor-Bass Choirs begin the rehearsal separately and then combine for Chorale; singers participate in unique performances, collaborations, and workshops.  Tuition for Chorale includes participation in Treble and Tenor-Bass Choirs. Meets September through June.

*Need based scholarships available.

Preparatory Choirs

My big sister Siri was already singing in TYC when I joined during 5th grade, back in ‘94-’95. And my joining wouldn’t have happened if Mrs. Herrington—perceptive woman that she is—hadn’t masked my audition as a little sing-a-long after Siri’s rehearsal one day. Because I was not going to audition. That was a definite “no” for me. I was willing to sing with other kids and try hard and listen to instructions and learn and do my very best as long as I was not on the spot. Judy knew that, or maybe it was nothing to do with me and she was just desperate for more singers in those early days. Either way, I’m grateful. 

I’m grateful for the experience of singing in so many different languages, for learning about breath and vowels and balance, for getting to stand beside Anna Herrington year after year in the alto section. (Anna was serious about music and better at reading notes than me, but really fun to stand beside because she also inherited a sense of humor from her mom and we laughed a lot.) And I’m grateful for learning how to go on stage, for learning that I could stand there with so many people watching. Do you know why I could? Because TYC wasn’t about me. It was about us. Tacoma Youth Chorus was never about solos and stars. It was and is about the mysterious, powerful, uplifting phenomenon of what my voice can never do without yours. 

I loved it so much that I stayed as long as I could, right through high school graduation in 2002. Now my nieces sing in the choir. Even though all the voices are different from when I was growing up, if I close my eyes it could still be us.

In 2015, I moved back to Tacoma from Vancouver, Washington. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that being able to enroll my daughters, Audrey and Elinor, in Tacoma Youth Chorus was in my top two reasons why Tacoma was where I wanted to land.  

My experiences in TYC made me more than a singer. TYC taught me a growth mindset: to struggle through something new and to improve with repetition and feedback. I remember thinking I hated a song that was difficult or didn’t sound good at first and then realizing it had become my favorite. Being in choir showed me the value of community. I knew that, at TYC, I would see my TYC bestie, a person who “got me” in a way that people at school didn’t and I was going to a place full of kids from different areas with different experiences and we all connected through music. 

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I know now, as a teacher, the intentionality and effort behind fostering a community of young people who work together, value themselves and others, while also learning new things and excelling at them. Kids thrive when they have those soft skills, which support success and happiness beyond the walls of a choir room or stage. I wanted this for my little girls and I’m watching it take shape as they continue in TYC as a Sophomore and, (gulp) a Senior. 

I think we need more of this in our world. But this doesn’t just happen. TYC is a non-profit and behind every effective non- profit are donors. If you value your experience in TYC like I do and hope to see the legacy continue, please consider a donation.

Greetings, 

Tacoma Youth Chorus begins our 32nd season with feelings of joy, excitement, and gratitude as we embark on our first full season since the fall of 2019!  The energy is palpable as the smiling faces of our young singers welcome a record number of new families to the organization and as our five choirs are rounded out by the reintroduction of our Music Makers preparatory classes in 3 groups each week on 2 campuses (Charles Wright Academy and Annie Wright Schools).  Our students, directors, accompanists, and staff are busy preparing for a year filled with exciting concerts, collaborations with guest artists, family sharing events, retreats, and guest clinician visits.  

What does it look like to prepare for such a full season?  Here’s a snapshot of brief moments taken from one recent week of TYC classes and rehearsals.

Monday  

Music Makers Group 1 at Annie Wright Schools (grades K-1), Katie Brizuela, Instructor: Our youngest musicians use their listening skills, focus, and eye-hand coordination to play percussion instruments while accompanying a story. Extra smiles greet movement activities with scarves.

Tuesday

Chamber Choir (grades 4-8), Judy Herrington, Director: Preparing for a demonstration with Dr. Rollo Dilworth at our Music Educators Workshop, Chamber Choir singers work artistic details of Dilworth’s compositions ‘Dream Keeper’ and ‘Sunset.’ Singers are engaged in conferring with their neighbor to review areas that they want to highlight for additional focus.

Tenor/Bass Choir (grades 9-12), Alonso Brizuela, Director: Singers are focusing on unified rhythmic details for solidifying the ensemble sound.  Attention is given to vocal development, especially for newly changed voices.

Treble Choir (grades 9-12), Judy Herrington, Director: Movement is a key component of the rehearsal, reinforcing vocal and rhythmic concepts and using the entire group to demonstrate the volume changes by moving the singers’ circle together or farther apart.

Chorale (Tenor/Bass and Treble Choirs combined, grades 9-12), Judy Herrington, Director: In preparing for a guest clinician visit with Dr. Dilworth, singers rehearse his composition ‘Celebrate the Newborn King.’ This TYC favorite utilizes a call-and-response component – spacing across the room from each other emphasizes the effect and helps singers deepen their understanding of the composer’s intent.

Wednesday

Concert Choir (grades 2-4), Katie Brizuela, Director: Preparing for a performance with Symphony Tacoma (Holiday Favorites), singers reinforce memorization of John Rutter’s ‘Magical Kingdom’ by greeting three people and speaking the words together. The added smiles are a joyful product of the fun and welcoming atmosphere of our rehearsals.

Thursday

Music Makers Groups 2 and 3 (grades K-1), Katie Brizuela, Instructor: Excited students sit on their assigned dots to accompany a story with their percussion instruments and then coordinate their movements around the room to musical cues.

But TYC has always been about more than presenting quality performances and providing strong choral and musical education.  Our mission of transforming the lives of youth through choral artistry and the ensemble experience is fundamental to what we do.  A crucial step in that transformative process is providing a place where a child can say “I am known, I am seen, I am valued, my contributions are appreciated, and I am committed to the team.”  This is borne out through small details, such as placing name tags on chairs or dots to show that each student has a spot reserved for them at each session, to bigger interactions, such as the emphasis on peer-to-peer conversations for input and feedback and ensuring that singers are confident that TYC directors know their names and approach every interaction from a place of respect.  

It takes more than hard work and dedication to provide these experiences for our children.  We invite you to help us make these opportunities possible through a financial contribution.  No matter the amount, every donation helps support the education of our singers by helping us provide need-based scholarships, materials for classes and rehearsals, highly-skilled and caring instructors, inspirational collaborations with guest artists and clinicians, a small but passionate administrative and artistic support staff dedicated to the success of our singers, and exceptional venues for rehearsing and sharing our performances with our families and the greater community.  

Making a meaningful financial contribution has never been easier! You can safely donate using the button below where you can choose to make a one-time donation or a recurring donation. Even $5 a month becomes $60 in a year. 

We thank you for your generosity and partnership in helping to make a difference in the lives of our children. We hope you will join us at an upcoming concert to experience first-hand the magic of these talented and inspiring young people.With gratitude,

Donations received by December 1 will appear in the concert program.