Rehearsals for our full choir program are once a week on Mondays from the end of August through April each school year.

Elementary Choirs (1st-4th Grade) - Mondays from 4:30-6:00 PM

Youth Choir (5th-8th Grade) - Mondays from 5:30-7:00 PM

Concert Choir (8th-12th Grade) - Mondays from 7:00-9:00 PM

Bethel Baptist Church in Salem, Va. (1601 S COLORADO ST, SALEM, VA)

FULL CHOIR PROGRAM (1ST-12TH GRADE)

Elementary and Youth Choir Tuition (1st-8th Grade) = $70 per month ($560 for the year )

High School Concert Choir Tuition (8th-12 Grade) = $85 per month ($680 for the year)

Formal Concert costumes (click for more info) = Approximately $70 - $100

Fall Retreat = A Choir = $50 (day only) | B, B+, C Choir = $115 (overnight)

Choir T-shirt = Approximately $15 - $20

Required music books = Approximately $15

Concert tickets = $15 - $21 for adults

Spring Choral Festival for the A B B+ Choirs = Approximately $180

Yes! Full and Partial Financial Aid Scholarships are available to new and returning students on a needs basis. These scholarships can help cover tuition payments, as well as help cover the cost of the formal costume or special choir trips. You can apply for a scholarship online and find more information by clicking here.

We also offer Reduced Tuition of $100 off per year to any families with a $60,000 household income or less. Please indicate your household income when prompted during the registration process on Active Network. Enter coupon code “RVCC100” on the payment checkout page to receive this tuition discount when you register, if this is needed for your family.

YES! We welcome all new singers to join! No previous experience or auditions are required to join the Elementary or Youth Choir Programs (1st-8th grade). New singers can easily learn how to read the music and sing in the choir at these beginner and intermediate level. We seat returning choristers next to our new members so you will have a buddy to help you during rehearsals. You will learn so much about music in your first year and make lots of new friends!

All choirs participate in the annual RVCC Holiday Concert in December and the annual Spring Concert in April of each year. We also have two free community performances - the Holiday Community Sing Along in December and the "Just for Kids” Concert in April.

The Elementary and Youth Choirs also perform at the annual School Tour to three local elementary schools in December of each year and for judges at the Music Festival in Williamsburg in April of each year.

The Concert Choir performs at Holiday Pops with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and also for several community events and honor performances each year.

Yes! The Elementary and Youth Choirs travel to Williamsburg in April each year to participate in the Music In the Parks festival.

The Concert Choirs participates in a Children’s Choir festival or in an Honor Performance in the Spring or Summer of each year. Past Concert Choir performances include the Southern Division ACDA convention as a featured performer in 2008 and 2014 and at the National ACDA Convention in 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Festivals have taken the Concert Choir to Chicago, New York, London, and Canada!

Click here to see a list of special performances by the Concert Choir since 1989

Our focus is on music that builds beautiful singing and artistic music skills. We sing a variety of song styles and genres including songs from other countries or in a foreign language, classical choral music, Broadway or movie favorites, holidays songs, patriotic, gospel, inspirational, beautiful melodies, upbeat popular hits - lots of great musical styles!

No. The RVCC is not associated with any religion. The RVCC is a non-profit 501(c)3 independent educational program. We are grateful for churches like Bethel Baptist Church, Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church, and Cave Spring Baptist Church who allow us to use their facilities for rehearsal space and concert performances, but otherwise we have no affiliation with any church. We sing all types of music repertoire in the choir - classical, multicultural, Broadway, gospel, songs in foreign languages from other countries, inspirational texts, patriotic, traditional and secular Holiday music. Our mission is to be spread the joy of music to each and every child.

Our 4 different choirs in the full choir program are divided by grade level. You can learn more about each choir by clicking the ages below.

Early Elementary Choir (1st-2nd Grade)

Upper Elementary Choir (3rd-4th Grade)

Youth Choir (5th-8th Grade)

Concert Choir (8th-12th Grade)

We offer an abbreviated choir program for the youngest singers:

Little Singers (age 4-6)

The RVCC Youth Choir Program provides a similar experience to an all-district middle school choir all year long. RVCC has many highly dedicated students from about 40 different schools across the valley who are passionate about singing and really, really love choir! This allows us to perform more advanced and varied repertoire as a pre-professional choir. Director, Ms. Davidson, has directed multiple all-district and all-state choirs across the country. The RVCC is the absolute best and most professional choir experience for youth in the Roanoke Valley.

1. Professional Concert Performances and Choir Trips. There are several things throughout the year that are unique to the RVCC choir experience. The Fall Retreat Overnight Weekend Choir Camp in October and the Williamsburg Music in the Parks Choir Festival in April are two amazing choir trip experiences. The RVCC annual Concerts have professional guest instrumentalists and guest conductors, specially designed processions, entrances, props, soloists, concert plans, and beautiful music sung by each individual choir and also the combined RVCC Choirs with over 150 singers. It’s a very exciting experience.

2. Highest level of musical excellence. Our three levels of training choirs begin teaching children musical skills at a young age. As they remain in the choir program, the skills grow and build upon themselves. By the time a RVCC singer is in 7th or 8th grade, they will be ready to audition to join our Advanced High School Concert Choir. The RVCC Concert Choir program for 7th-12th graders is nationally recognized as one of the best in the country and performs music at a very comparable level to many college choirs.

3. Working with RVCC Director, Kimberly Davidson. There are tons of amazing teachers and choir directors out there, but there is something truly magical about the work Ms. Davidson does in the RVCC. It is something you can’t find anywhere else. In 1987, Ms Davidson founded this choir and has been the sole director, teacher, leader, administrator, and heart of the Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir for 37 years. Ms. Davidson has a passion for teaching excellence and character skills coupled with a loving smile and heart for the singers and their families. She is able to connect with each student, inspiring everyone in the choir to be the very best version of themselves.

YES! Absolutely. If you love music, it is wonderful to sing in as many places as you can! Each choir you sing in will bring different experiences and learning opportunities. You may find that by singing in the RVCC, with the extra skills you gain from the additional experience, you start to become a leader in your school or church choir.

Singing activates multiple brain regions simultaneously, including the auditory cortex which processes sound, the motor cortex which controls movement, and the limbic system which regulates emotions, creating a harmonious symphony of neural activity. Research has shown that musical training can significantly improve mathematical and linguistic abilities, as it requires precision, concentration, and memory skills. Music and singing can also help develop emotional intelligence and social skills. By participating in choir, children learn to express themselves creatively, collaborate with others, and develop a sense of teamwork and discipline. Furthermore, music provides an outlet for self-expression and can boost their self-confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, music and singing allow children to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of different cultures and traditions. It exposes them to various styles, genres, and languages, fostering cultural diversity and inclusivity. Ultimately, learning music and singing at an early age lays a strong foundation for a lifelong appreciation for the arts and contributes to overall development and well-being.

The Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir is not “just another activity” to add to your busy schedule. It is an investment in your child’s long-term future. If you can only choose one activity for your child to participate in and stick with throughout childhood - I would choose music. Music will always have value, meaning, and usefulness throughout life. You may or may not remember the 4th grade soccer team you played on, but studies show that you will most likely remember the music. The words to a song can stay in your heart and comfort you on a hard day. You’ll remember that friend you sang next to every week throughout your years in choir. Singing in a choir teaches teamwork in a non-competitive, artistic way through the beauty of working together to prepare for a once in a lifetime performance. The sound of the harmony. The feeling of songs. The confidence you gained. The creativity you discovered. The leadership you developed. The resiliency you built. The joy of music you found. When you sing, it stays with you.

And from a practical standpoint, knowing how to read music, play music, sing music - you’d be surprised how handy that will be throughout life! I’ve never heard an adult say they regret learning music - most adults regret NOT learning music and wish they had learned as a child!

There is no audition required for 1st-8th grade singers to join the Elementary or Youth Choir programs. We welcome all new singers!

High School singers in 9th-12th grade need to audition if they would like to join the RVCC Concert Choir. The Concert Choir is the only auditioned choir in the RVCC.

Click here to see more information about each choir, including how to join

9th-12th grade singers can audition to join the Advanced RVCC Concert Choir. You can attend an in-person Introductory Newcomer Singing Class held in May, August, and December every year, and can audition after the class. To schedule a separate Concert Choir audition time that works for you (anytime from May-August each year), please contact the Director, Ms. Davidson, at540-676-7265 or kimdavidson@childrenschoir.com, listing your name, age, and any previous music experience you may have.

The best time to start in the RVCC is at the beginning of the school year in August when the choir year begins. However, if you are have recently moved or have just heard about the RVCC and are interested in joining mid-year, we would be happy to have you! We usually have an in-person Newcomer Welcome Class in December for all ages (1st-12th grade) who may be interested in singing in the Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir. You can find the most current Newcomer Class dates by clicking here.