Raising Iowa’s Finest Voices

Iowa’s Premier Youth Choral Organization

For more than 33 years, the Iowa Youth Chorus (IYC) has been providing young singers with world class choral education. Dedicated to bringing the highest level of artistic training to the youth of central Iowa, IYC provides a nurturing environment where young singers can explore the depth and beauty of choral music – AND have fun!

Iowa Youth Chorus is home to more than 250 singers from across central Iowa and offers programs for children from 15 months to 18 years of age.

For youth ranging in age 6 to 18, training aims to develop skills in choral singing, music theory and artistic creativity/expression and style. Students have the opportunity to explore a varied choral repertoire, focusing on world music, classical, contemporary and innovative new works. Through these musical journeys, our singers expand their awareness of world cultures, of their place in the greater society, of each other and of self.

For children 12 months to 9 years of age, the IYC offers comprehensive, early childhood music education in the “Beginnings” program. Since its 2007 introduction, the “Beginnings” program has continued to grow in popularity and is the area’s leading early childhood program. Designed to awaken and develop a child’s inborn joy and talent for music-making, Beginnings is the only early childhood program that provides sequential music education from birth through beginning keyboard skills.

Supporting the pursuit of musical excellence is core to our mission. IYC students learn the value of excellence and the approach to achieve it. Members take this experience and knowledge and apply it to other life experiences – something they can carry with them all their lives.

IYC is dedicated to presenting world-class music and artistry in every performance and seeks to build a community, forming a circle between audience and performer. This circle is driven by a belief that music changes our lives for the better.