Welcome!

The Berkeley Youth Choir is a vibrant training and performance program for young singers, offering exceptional musical education grounded in centuries of choral tradition. Participants will explore a wide range of repertoire, develop healthy vocal technique, and build strong ensemble skills under the guidance of experienced faculty. Through rehearsals, performances, and community-building activities, choristers learn the discipline, teamwork, and artistic expression that define great singing.

Please feel free to explore our past concerts, get in touch, or check out our upcoming events down below!

Looking for information on our Summer Camp? Learn more HERE

Looking for information on Registration? Learn more HERE

Join Us!

  • Mondays 4-5 pm

    The Minims are our youngest ensemble, accepting choristers from grades K-2. Taught by Willa Albrecht, throughout the course of the year, they learn the foundations of music theory and performance, leading to a lifelong love of music. We cover solfege, the basics of reading music, and the techniques for healthy vocal production, all while incorporating fun and encouraging curiosity. The Minims perform in our all-choir performances at the end of the semesters, and, following the Kodály method, learns repertoire based in folk traditions spanning through the centuries.

    Tuition — $110/month

  • Mondays 5-6:30 pm

    The Madrigals are our newest ensemble, made up of choristers in grades 3-5. They perform in our spring and fall concerts and sing with our older ensembles, where they are able to learn concert etiquette both by instruction and example. Their rehearsals and repertoire are structured to continue building strong musical foundations, with a focus on learning theory through solfege and harmonic exploration. They will learn the basics of sight-reading and sight-singing, as well as the historical relevancy of all their repertoire. Students from all musical backgrounds are welcome in this ensemble, including absolute beginners!

    Tuition — $110/month

  • Wednesdays 4-6 pm

    The Motets are our middle-school aged mixed ensemble. This ensemble performs in all our featured performances throughout the year, as well as our full-ensemble concerts.Led by Evan Alparone, the Motets ensemble is designed for middle school singers who are ready to take the next step in developing their voices and musicianship. Rehearsals continue their development towards healthy vocal technique, helping students unlock greater range, control, and expressiveness. Using ear training and music theory students build a deeper understanding of how music is structured and performed while developing stronger sight-reading skills and the confidence to tackle more advanced repertoire, including multi-part harmonies. Students are encouraged to suggest music they enjoy and feel personal connection to from their own lives, helping them feel more connected to the repertoire while exploring and performing diverse styles.

    New Motet members must sign up for a Musical Assessment with Mr. Tam

    Tuition — $300/month

  • Mondays 4-6 pm

    The Troubadours, our younger boys’ choir, made up of the male members of the Motets.This group focuses on helping boys navigate vocal changes in a safe and supportive environment, and also looks at repertoire focused on historical examples of boys’ choirs. The Troubadours combine with our older boys’ choir, The Schola, for an hour on Mondays.

    New Troubadours must sign up for a Musical Assessment with Mr. Tam

    Tuition — $360/month (combined tuition for both The Motets and The Troubadours)

  • Mondays 4 pm-7pm, with a break for dinner!

    The Schola features our oldest and most accomplished singers, with both treble and changed voices. Led by Derek Tam, the group explores a diverse and eclectic repertoire, and also focuses on building additional vocal and musical skills. The Schola is invited and expected to perform at various engagements.

    New Schola members must sign up for a Musical Assessment with Mr. Tam

    Tuition — $300/month

  • Tuesdays or Thursdays 4 - 6 (TBD)

    The Polyphonics is our only auditioned, all a-cappella ensemble. They perform the most, at a cappella competitions and showcases, as well as at local events and their very own concert for Mothers’ Day. The Polyphonics perform a variety of a cappella repertoire from a long history of mens’ a cappella and are also given the opportunity to perform their own arrangements. 

    Tuition — $425/month (combined tuition for Schola + The Polyphonics)

Interested in trying out a rehearsal or getting on our newsletter? Click below to fill out our interest form!

Up Next

  • BYC at BFX

    June 10th @ 5 pm | St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

    Featured in the Berkeley Festival and Exhibition, BYC brings fresh voices to Renaissance and Baroque treasures by Byrd, Buxtehude, Bach, Pergolesi, and Mozart.

  • Berkeley Youth Choir Summer Camp

    July 27th - August 1st | M-F, 9 am - 12 pm + Saturday morning 10 am Showcase

    Young musicians aged 5-11 are welcome to join for a week of fun, motivational musical experiences leading up to a Summer Showcase where they’ll get a chance to show off all they’ve learned!

  • Berkeley Youth Choir Open Rehearsals

    Mondays & Wednesdays August 14th - 30th, 2026

    Interested in trying out the choir? Join us for our Fall Open Rehearsals this September! The first three weeks rehearsals are completely free for any new chorister, so make sure to stop by and say hi.

Congratulations Polyphonics!

Our High School A Cappella ensemble recently competed in the ICHSAs Quarterfinals in Fairfield, CA. The quarterfinal featured eight fantastic a cappella performances along with endless singing, laughing, and dancing throughout the day. Thank you to Varsity Vocals for hosting us, and another congratulations to the Polyphonics for their stellar performance!

Watch the BYC Holiday Concert

Missed the concert? You can now watch the full Berkeley Youth Choir Holiday Concert, recorded on December 20th, 2025 at First Church Berkeley UCC (First Congregational). This special performance marked the debut of the Berkeley Youth Choir and features festive music, holiday cheer, and the results of their hard work this season.

The Berkeley Youth Choir is ready to foster the next generation of singers!

Founded in the fall of 2025, the Berkeley Youth Choir is rooted in our mission to expand access to music education. This choir will empower young singers to develop their voices, artistry, and sense of community. Through rigorous training and meaningful performance opportunities, it builds pathways for lifelong engagement in the arts.

The Berkeley Youth Choir is a vibrant training and performance program for young singers, offering exceptional musical education grounded in centuries of choral tradition. Participants will explore a wide range of repertoire, develop healthy vocal technique, and build strong ensemble skills under the guidance of experienced faculty. Through rehearsals, performances, and community-building activities, choristers learn the discipline, teamwork, and artistic expression that define great singing.

In addition to local concerts, the choir will participate in tours and competitions, giving young musicians the opportunity to share their artistry with audiences across the country and around the world. These experiences foster confidence, broaden cultural understanding, and create lifelong memories for participants.

The program currently offers ensembles for ages 8-18, as well as an Intro to Music Class for K-2 students, ensuring a clear pathway for early musical engagement and growth. We hope you will join us on this journey!

Meet the Faculty

  • Black and white portrait of a man in formal attire with short hair, wearing a tuxedo and bow tie, against a plain background.

    Derek Tam

    DIRECTOR

    The Executive & Artistic Director of SFEMS as a whole, Derek has extensive experience working with youth choral ensembles. For four years, he served as artistic director of the 70-voice Star Valley Children’s Choir, and he was also responsible for resurrecting a choral program at Berkeley High School in 2013, He is excited to work again with developing singers to expand their knowledge and passion for choral singing.

  • A young woman with short brown hair, smiling, wearing a green top, earrings, and a necklace, outdoors with trees and a metal gate in the background.

    Willa Albrecht

    INSTRUCTOR

    A Pomona College graduate with a B.A. in Music, Willa has a deep background in choral performance, leadership, and education. She has sung with the Pomona College Choir, Glee Club, and Coro Des Moines Choral Festival, performing a wide range of repertoire in both domestic and international settings. Willa is excited to bring her love of choral music and teaching to the Berkeley Youth Choir.

  • A portrait of a young man with curly brown hair, blue eyes, and light facial hair, wearing a white T-shirt against a black background.

    Evan Alparone

    INSTRUCTOR

    A Bay Area native with 15 years of teaching, conducting, and accompaniment experience, Evan Alparone earned his B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles and studied choral conducting at San Francisco State University. He served as Choral Director at Moreau Catholic High School and has music-directed more than 90 musicals, including Off-Broadway productions and major Bay Area theatre projects. Currently Music Director at Bethany United Methodist Church in San Francisco, Evan brings his passion for ensemble singing and musical theatre to every rehearsal and performance.