Organization ·

Southwest Children's Chorus

The SOUTHWEST CHILDREN'S CHORUS is a non-profit community organization chartered by the state of Texas in 1999. Based in DeSoto, children ages 7 to 14 come from the communities of Cedar Hill, Dallas, DeSoto, Duncanville, Ennis, Glenn Heights, Grand Prairie, Irving, Italy, Lancaster, Mesquite, Midlothian, Ovilla, Palmer, Red Oak, and Waxahachie.

The mission of the organization is to provide quality music instruction with the goal of attaining the highest level of artistic excellence in choral music performance. The choir endeavors to enrich the lives of children from all religious, racial, cultural and economic backgrounds. Through its music activities, the choir helps to foster the personal and social growth of its members and promotes their sense of self-esteem, accomplishment and pride.

The program consists of several separate choirs, each dedicated to excellence of musicianship by developing the skills available at different levels of the child's musical learning experience. Singing is the major focus of the music experience in the Southwest Children's Chorus. The choir performs all kinds of music, from classical to folk to religious to Broadway. Multicultural songs of other languages are learned as well. Music is a powerfully personal means of expression, and we hope this experience will form the foundation of a life-long relationship with music for the singers and their families.

Performances are presented not only in Southwest Dallas/Northern Ellis Counties but throughout North Texas. The Chorus has been in demand as entertainment for international conventions and charity benefits and has performed in venues such as the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, the Majestic Theatre, Northpark Center, Bass Hall and major hotels & convention centers. Annual holiday traditions include performing at Six Flags over Texas Holiday in the Park, Dallas Heritage Village and Bethlehem Revisited in Waxahachie. National anthems have been performed for the games of the Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers and the choir was also recently featured as Christmas Eve entertainment on FOX 4 "Good Day Dallas". Special recognition has been received at the Greater Southwest Music Festival and East Texas Children's Choral Festival and recently the choir was selected to sing in the Moscow Ballet's upcoming November 2009 production of The Great Russian Nutcracker at Dallas' Majestic Theatre.

Retreats are scheduled for two weekends each year. Our facility, Riverbend, overlooks the Brazos River in Glen Rose, TX. In addition to learning music and spending time with their friends, the children enjoy hayrides, a challenge course, swimming, basketball, campfire, hiking, paddleboats, and many other activities.

Concert Tours -- At last count, the Chorus has visited more than 30 states and 7 foreign countries during its 10 wonderful years. Some of the choir's favorite performances have been presented in Montréal's Notre-Dame Basilica, the historic Old North Church in Boston, St. Michael's Church in Munich, Germany, and in venues ranging from Disney World to Disneyland, from Maine to California, and everywhere in between. The choir's last overseas tour was in celebration of the 250th anniversary of W.A. Mozart. The choir is planning its next overseas concert tour to Central Europe in June 2010.

Staff includes Michael King, Artistic Director and Founder; Kristi Hassell, Assistant Director and Preparatory Choir Director; Sheree Bayless, Assistant Director and Staff Accompanist; Julie Hargrove, Chorus Manager

Tuition for chorus members is $185 per semester. Scholarships and financial assistance are available.