Frequently asked questions

Who can join the Chorus?

Any girl who can carry a tune, match pitch and has a clear, undamaged voice in grades K-12 may join the Marin Girls Chorus. Five levels of instruction are available and provide appropriate musical training for all ages and abilities. Boys who are interested in choral training are invited to join the San Francisco Boys Chorus, which has a weekly rehearsal site in San Rafael.

Can my child join the Fresco or Giocoso Level for just one of the two sessions, or for the entire year?

Singers in the Fresco and Giocoso level may enroll in either of the two sessions, or for the full season. There is a $50 cost break when enrolling for the full season. Registration is open and rolling for all sessions.

Can I come to observe or "try out" a class?

YES! Please contact Laurel if your singer needs a trial class.

Does my daughter have to audition to become a member of the Chorus?

We found that holding auditions made prospective singers nervous and discouraged them from joining. For girls in Kindergarten through 3rd grade, your daughter's instructor will get a feel for her voice and ability organically over the first few weeks of chorus.

For 4th grade and above, singers who are new to the chorus will have a brief one-on-one Vocal Placement Hearing on or shortly before the first day of classes. This is not an audition, as we don't rule out singers based on their ability. This time is meant to help us get a sense of your daughter's voice to know which section to place her in (soprano, alto, etc) and give us a baseline to track her growth over the season. 

Are scholarships available to help with the tuition?

Partial scholarships for singers may be available to help with tuition costs. Our chorus families and board members actively raise funds year round to provide scholarship funds for our dedicated singers. Each year, the number of scholarships and the amount we are able to grant depends on two simple factors: how much we have to allocate, and how many applications we get from families that meet the financial eligibility requirements. Please contact Laurel to ask about scholarship availability.  Eligibility is decided based on guidelines set forth by the County of Marin, which take the cost of living in this area into consideration. Visit our Scholarship page for more information and to download a scholarship application. The Chorus accepts check or major credit cards and PayPal offers an open-end credit plan for qualified applicants. Upon check-out with PayPal, choose Bill Me Later® and follow the online instructions.

Many songs are liturgical in nature and some groups rehearse in a church. Performances are sometimes in churches. Is this a religious chorus?

The simple answer is no. However, sacred music constitutes a significant part of the classical choral repertoire, especially from periods before the 20th century, so it is impossible to have a comprehensive repertoire without it. We include music from a wide variety of sources and traditions, but Marin Girls Chorus does not ask its singers to believe in anything other than the power of music.

What kind of music do you sing?

We teach music from a wide variety of cultural and historical sources, including classical music from the Renaissance forward, current repertoire written expressly for children's choirs, as well as songs from musicals and operas, light jazz, and folk music from many different countries. Sacred or secular, each piece is carefully selected to build a repertoire that embraces the rich body of music from the past, present, and around the globe.

What are the performance opportunities? How many performances will my child be a part of?

All members of the chorus are part of our seasonal concerts, and participate in between 2 and 4 community outreach concerts per session. The older groups often get invitations to perform for local groups and events and may perform more often, including the two major annual season concerts. Our older singers enjoy performing at retirement homes, community events, local festivals, and special celebrations with our community partners. All together, the older groups may give as many as 10-15 singing performances each year.

Does the chorus travel to perform outside of the Bay Area?

We sure do! We seek choral tours and experiences that provide learning, friendship and wonderful music, and are committed to making an annual tour a part of our program.
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Singers in grades 6 - 12 are invited to participate in choral tours, and have traveled to Honolulu for the Pacific Rim Children’s Choral Festival in 2008, to Disneyland in 2011, to Carnegie Hall in 2015, New Orleans in 2016, PICFest in Oregon in 2017, and the Texas International Choral Festival in 2018. We've also participated in the Golden Gate International Children’s and Youth Choral Festival in Berkeley, CA, scoring two Bronze and one Silver medals!  Frequently our singers participate in the annual NCAKE Festival in Oakland, and the Napa Valley Choral Classic Festival in Napa. 

Where does the Chorus perform locally?

In addition to singing at community events and private functions, the concerts take place in various concert venues in Marin County. In the past, these have included College of Marin, New Beginnings, Marin Center Showcase Theater, San Domenico School, St. Vincent's School for Boys Chapel, First Presbyterian Church in San Anselmo, Aldersgate Methodist Church, San Francisco Theological Seminary, the Marin Community Playhouse, and Terra Linda High School Performing Arts Center. All locations are chosen for the quality of the acoustics for choral music as well as the size of the venue.

What musical skills will my child learn?

Music theory, note reading, rhythm, and ear training are an integral part of the weekly classes. Vocal instruction and healthy vocal production are incorporated into each class. Singers also learn to follow a conductor, blend their voices, learn about phrasing and dynamics, and build skills and confidence as ensemble performers. For specific curriculum information, please see the Curriculum page.

What do the singers wear when they perform?

All choristers in grades K-3 wear our comfortable chorus T-shirt; Frescos and Giocosos wear black pants or leggings of their choosing and black dress shoes. Singers are asked not to wear accessories such as noticeable headbands or colorful socks; the goal of the uniform is to blend as beautifully as our voices.

​Arioso, Bel Canto, and Chantons singers wear a full-length black dress with sweetheart neckline (a cotton camisole may be advisable for comfort).  All choristers are asked to wear black dress shoes that fit comfortably, no jewelry or nail polish. 

​For informal performances, singers will be advised what to wear, which usually includes our chorus T-shirt and jeans or black pants.

My child is taking private voice lessons. What will she gain by being in a chorus?

One of the greatest joys as a musician is making music with other people. Learning one's instrument is key, and private lessons support what is learned in a choral setting; but there are things learned in chorus that happen only here. In a chorus, you have the chance to learn to harmonize, which is not as easy as you think! Harmonizing develops the musical ear to a high degree and is a key component in singing. In a group setting, you can learn from the other students and learn to work with other people on blending, entering and ending together, breathing, etc. The sound we make is unique, because voices joined in song have no equal. Performance opportunities are more numerous than for a soloist, because the group is invited to sing for many community events. The repertoire for choral groups is completely different from that for solo voice, and children love to study the marvelous volume of wonderful music available. In summary, chorus provides social, educational, and performance aspects, as well as beautiful sounds for the "budding" singer.

​What are the class attendance requirements?

We require that singers attend the full scheduled class each week. If a younger child has another enrichment program on the same day and cannot attend for the full chorus class, we ask that you choose a different day to attend that week. We offer a high quality music education program, and partial class attendance compromises the level of education that we offer. Frequent absences also impact a singer’s confidence and success. Singers who miss three classes may not be eligible to participate in the seasonal concert without permission from the director.