The Oakland Youth Chorus (OYC) provides a multi-cultural music education and performance program for youth, fostering talent, confidence and community.
OYC was founded in 1974 to nurture the talent of Oakland’s youth and support friendships among Oakland’s many cultural groups. Since then, OYC has grown from a single community youth chorus to a multi-faceted program serving over 1,000 children and youth, ages 5-25 each year.
Our mission focuses on creating and sustaining programs of high artistic merit that are accessible to and supportive of children and youth who might otherwise not be able to experience the joy of making music with others.
OYC trains youth to learn and perform a varied repertoire, supporting the Oakland community’s rich artistic diversity by providing community-based music education programs that reflect the cultural richness of our city. OYC youth develop self-confidence, a knowledge of the music of several cultures, and a lifelong love of music.
In many countries and cultures around the world, there is a single word for singing, playing music and dancing. These things always go together, and are not learned or performed separately they way they generally are in the U.S. OYC is moving towards teaching and performing these disciplines together as frequently as possible, in order to more accurately reflect the cultures whose music we are teaching.
OYC programs build multicultural understanding and respect, intentionally bringing together Oakland youth across lines of class, race, and culture. Our highly experienced teaching staff has authentic experience living, teaching, and performing around the world, and is skilled in the music of Latin America, the African Diaspora, Europe, and North America in particular. OYC has thoughtfully established a culturally diverse repertoire that teaches the historical and social context of music, enhancing the understanding of and respect for diverse cultural traditions and heritages.
"My daughter is a member of OYC’s Middle School Magic. She started with OYC as a Miracle singer when she was in second grade. OYC opened a world of music for her. She not only learned about music from many cultures, she also learned to appreciate music, to read it and also to enjoy all types of music. Those things alone are great benefits to having her participate in OYC, but she and I would agree, that above all she has learned to find her voice – not only musically, but also personally. Being part of OYC has helped her build self-confidence and appreciate the value of camaraderie and friendship. She has met new friends, a group of young people that may not have much else in common, but who share a common interest in music and singing that brings them together."
--- OYC Parent
“…for me, singing sometimes feels like flying. In one performance with OYC I sang so hard and with such happiness that tears began to slide down my cheeks. Needless to say, this is not my everyday experience, and I think it speaks to how much singing with OYC means to me.”
--- Julia Gonzalez
OYC alumnus
"The first time I attended an OYC concert I saw kids who were not only
talented, but enthusiastic, confident, and diverse. They literally lit
up the room with their joyful noise. If you ever want to recharge all of
your batteries, and experience the beautiful multicultural richness that
is Oakland, come to an OYC concert. I dare you not to clap along."
--- C.J Hirschfield
Executive Director
Children's Fairyland