Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Choruses
Supported by Iris and Tom Harvie, Kenneth and Kathleen Outcalt, The Wesley Family Foundation, and The Edward and Ruth Wilkof Foundation
The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Choruses is made-up of two choruses, including The Cleveland Orchestra Preparatory Chorus (4th to 6th grade) and The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus (6th to 8th grade). Members of the Children’s Choruses receive unparalleled choral experiences through learning and performing with world-class musicians and conductors early in their musical careers.
Jennifer Rozsa, Director
Jacob Young, Assistant Director
Jacob Bernhardt, Collaborative Pianist
Angel Tyler, Manager of Youth Choruses
Witness the future of classical music
The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Choruses welcome you back for the 2023-24 Season which includes several exciting performances in Mandel Concert Hall at Severance and concerts open and free to the public in the Greater Cleveland community.
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What’s it like to be a member?
The Cleveland Orchestra Children's Choruses are represented by outstanding singers from across northeast Ohio between 4th to 8th grade. The Children’s Choruses rehearse at University Circle United Methodist Church on Tuesday evenings between September and May and perform approximately 3 to 5 concerts at year. Hear from our choristers directly:
- “COCC to me is a place I can call my musical family and truly express myself as a young musician. It gives me the chance to work with so many mature and serious young artists just like me.”
- “You get to meet new people and form bonds with people that understand music like you. It challenges your music skills so that you can excel in ways you never thought you could in music.”
- “Everyone works so hard, and we are all working towards the same goal; to become a more advanced and skilled singer. We work in a positive environment, and we all support and help each other. COCC has helped me make new friends and become a better singer.”
Be a part of our history
About COCC
The Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus (COCC) was formed in the spring of 1967 under the direction of Jane Barker Casey to provide a high-quality choral group for the many orchestral works written for children’s voices, and to offer choral training to school children in the Cleveland area. Their first performance was Britten’s Spring Symphony with Robert Shaw conducting. Today, the Children’s Chorus performs annually with The Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Chorus at Severance Music Center.  Recent seasons have also seen performances with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and Akron Symphony Orchestra.
About COCPC
The Cleveland Orchestra Children's Preparatory Chorus (COCPC) was formed in 2005 by Dr. Ann Usher. This training choir focuses on establishing a foundation of vocal technique, musical literacy, and musicianship through quality children's choral literature. By developing musical skills and performing in public, the children acquire poise, increase self-esteem, and establish a solid foundation in vocal production techniques. Members of the Preparatory Chorus strengthen their vocal production and choral performance skills and learn sight-reading using movable “do” solfège and Kodály/Curwen hand signs. Students also develop leadership skills that will help them strengthen the other choirs in which they participate.