Long before Tacoma Youth Chorus had a name, or a rehearsal space, or even a clear plan, it had a spark. That spark lived in a young music teacher, Judy Herrington, who believed that singing could shape confidence, discipline, joy, and community. What if children were not just taught music, but invited into it? In 1991, that seed took root as Tacoma Youth Chorus.
I had met Judy several years earlier as the teacher of my daughter’s Charles Wright Academy school choir. Judy deeply believed that children deserved serious music and serious mentorship and wanted to bring it to a larger community. When she asked for my help bringing her vision to life, it was easy to say yes. Our daughter Brooke loved to sing, and Judy made singing feel like belonging.
We began with 34 treble singers and extraordinary community support. Opportunities came quickly. Tacoma Youth Chorus was soon invited to sing alongside the UPS Adelphian Singers, the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Sinfonietta, and many other performing arts organizations. One of our landmark achievements was presenting our own TYC concert at the Rialto Theater; not only an achievement but also a vision fulfilled.
As the organization grew, so did its understanding of the singers themselves. Around 1995, under the direction of Keith Loftis, TYC added a Junior Choir (now Concert Choir). These were the songbirds. Young voices discovering not just how to sing, but how to love singing. Through Keith’s leadership, Junior Choir nurtured confidence and curiosity, preparing singers musically and emotionally for more advanced repertoire while preserving the sheer delight that first draws children to music.
As community awareness of TYC grew, so did the call for even earlier training. Connie Schmidt was the foundational director for the Music Makers, kindergarten through 2nd grade, providing music training along with joyful activities at each rehearsal.
As our singers grew older, their needs changed again. In 2004, under the direction of George Guenther, TYC formed the Young Men’s Choir (now known as the Tenor-Bass Choir). Voices were changing, identities were forming, and this ensemble gave tenor-bass singers a place to continue singing and growing. It was another example of TYC listening closely to its singers and evolving alongside them.
We were soon a choir with more than 200 singers in seven ensembles, traveling internationally every three years. I could barely track my own ever-changing role from parent, volunteer, board member, to staff!
When TYC became a registered nonprofit, a board was formed, and I was invited to serve. In 2000, I later moved into a new role, overseeing grant writing and donors, and soon became the first Managing Director, alongside Martha Leonhardt as Operations Director.
Under Martha’s leadership, Tacoma Youth Chorus embarked on its first international tour in 2003, traveling to Canterbury Cathedral and Paris. Through that journey, Judy formed a lasting friendship with David Flood, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Canterbury Cathedral. In the years that followed, David returned to Tacoma many times, teaching and inspiring generations of TYC singers. Judy also collaborated with Dr. Rollo Dilworth, who became another influential guest artist and educator for our choir. This history matters, but not as a list of accomplishments. It matters because it reveals the heart of Tacoma Youth Chorus.
From its founding, TYC has been guided by Judy Herrington’s extraordinary musicianship and her unwavering belief in young people. She did not simply teach notes and rhythms. She built a culture where excellence was expected, artistry was nurtured, and every singer was taken seriously. By bringing world-class musicians, conductors, and educators into the lives of our children, she opened doors far wider than any of us could have imagined.
I have watched my daughter sing in Tacoma Youth Chorus. I now watch my granddaughter do the same. Three generations connected by music, community, and a chorus that understands that when you care for singers, the music takes care of itself.
That is why I love Tacoma Youth Chorus.
– Nancy Brakke, former Managing Director, former Board Director, parent, grandparent, and believer in choral education for young people and the power of making music together in a community.