Milwaukee Children's Choirs Guide

The Milwaukee North Shore area offers exceptional children's choir opportunities ranging from beginner-friendly community programs to elite honor choirs, with the newly strengthened Milwaukee Children's Choir program leading a landscape of musical options for families.

Most programs welcome all skill levels and offer robust financial assistance, making high-quality choral education accessible throughout communities like Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Glendale, Fox Point, and surrounding areas.

Premier community programs

Milwaukee Children's Choir stands as the area's flagship program, now backed by the financial stability of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music after their 2024 merger. This comprehensive program serves ages 4-18 with multiple entry points and no auditions required for younger singers.

The program offers six distinct levels: Music Explorers (ages 4-6, no audition), Introductory Choir (grades 2-3, no audition), Preparatory Choir (grades 3-6), Intermediate Choir (grades 5-7), Lyric Chorale (grades 6-9), and Milwaukee Youth Chorale (grades 9-12). Starting at grade 3, auditions involve basic pitch matching and simple music theory. Rehearsals occur at multiple North Shore locations including the Jewish Community Center and Community United Methodist Church, with advanced groups meeting at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.

Performance opportunities are extraordinary - over 40 performances annually including regular collaborations with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Florentine Opera, and Milwaukee Ballet. The program performs in multiple languages and maintains professional-level standards while remaining accessible to beginners.

Contact: 414-276-5760, info@wcmusic.org, milwaukeechildrenschoir.org. Tuition assistance available through the Emily Crocker Scholarship Fund.

Church-based opportunities

North Shore Congregational Church in Fox Point offers church choir program for grades K3-6. Children rehearse Sundays 9:00-9:50 AM and perform monthly during the 10 AM service, plus twice-yearly pageants at Christmas and Mother's Day. Music Director Trinny Schumann brings 29 years of experience and incorporates dance and instrumentation. The program welcomes all families with no auditions required.

Contact: nscchurchwi.org, 7330 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Fox Point

United Methodist Church of Whitefish Bay maintains multiple children's choirs under Director Neil Bubke's comprehensive music ministry. Located at 819 E. Silver Spring Dr, the program typically welcomes community children alongside church members.

Contact: (414) 331-2691, umcwfb.org

Several other North Shore churches likely offer children's choirs but don't prominently advertise details online. Lutheran churches in Mequon - including Trinity Evangelical Lutheran, Beautiful Savior Lutheran, and Christ Alone Evangelical Lutheran - traditionally maintain strong children's music programs through their educational ministries.

School district limitations and alternatives

North Shore school districts generally limit choir participation to enrolled students only, though some offer exceptional programs worth noting for families considering school choice. Maple Dale-Indian Hill School District (serving Fox Point, River Hills, Bayside, and Glendale) provides comprehensive grades 5-8 choir instruction with beginning through advanced levels. Whitefish Bay Middle School offers separate women's and men's choirs meeting early mornings.

For community access, families should focus on the community-based and church programs rather than expecting school programs to accept outside participants.

Special opportunities and seasonal programs

Honor choir programs provide advanced students with elite training opportunities. Wisconsin Choral Directors Association All-State Choirs serve grades 5-college with nominations due in September for the January event in Eau Claire. Wisconsin School Music Association offers both middle school (grades 6-8, $295) and high school programs (grades 9-11, $550) with summer camps and fall concerts.

Seasonal programming flourishes through Milwaukee Children's Choir's holiday collaborations with major Milwaukee arts organizations. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's annual holiday concerts regularly feature children's choirs, while the Milwaukee Ballet's Nutcracker offers collaborative opportunities.

Wisconsin Lutheran Children's Choir provides faith-based programming for grades 3-8 with Tuesday evening rehearsals at Wisconsin Lutheran High School ($50/year or $30/semester).

Early childhood and specialized programs

Music Together North Shore serves the crucial early childhood market with research-based programming for ages 0-8 at Creator Collaborative Studio in Whitefish Bay. Director Kristen Fischer offers mixed-age classes (0-5 with adults) and Rhythm Kids (ages 4-8), building essential musical foundations for future choir participation.

School of Rock Shorewood provides contemporary vocal training integrated with rock band performance for ages 6 through adult, offering a modern alternative to traditional choral training.

Summer intensives and camps

The Wisconsin Conservatory of Music operates extensive summer programming from their Bayside/Fox Point location, offering choir camps, musical theater programs, and multi-instrument experiences for ages 7-17. These camps typically culminate in performances and provide intensive skill development.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Peck School of Arts offers various youth music programs including choral workshops, primarily serving middle and high school students with university-level instruction.

Practical guidance for families

Start young but not too early: Music Together North Shore (ages 0-5) builds crucial foundations, while formal choir training typically begins around age 6-8 with Milwaukee Children's Choir's introductory levels.

Financial considerations: Most programs offer robust scholarship support. Milwaukee Children's Choir provides tuition assistance, Youth Chorus of the North Shore guarantees no child is turned away for financial reasons, and honor choir programs maintain active scholarship funds.

Audition preparation: For programs requiring auditions (typically starting grade 3-5), children should be comfortable singing "Happy Birthday" alone and demonstrate basic pitch matching. Music theory knowledge becomes important for advanced levels.

Time commitment expectations: Community programs typically require one weekly rehearsal plus performances, while honor choirs involve intensive weekend or week-long experiences. Parents should plan for regular practice time at home and transportation to multiple locations.

Support strategies: Successful choir participation requires parent involvement including transportation to rehearsals and performances, practice encouragement at home, and often volunteer commitments during concerts and fundraising events.

Conclusion

Milwaukee's North Shore provides exceptional access to high-quality children's choral education through the strengthened Milwaukee Children's Choir program, complemented by strong church-based options and specialized programs. The area's proximity to major Milwaukee arts organizations creates unique performance opportunities unavailable in most communities, while comprehensive financial aid ensures accessibility regardless of family income. Families can confidently build a progression from early childhood music classes through elite honor choirs, creating a rich musical education pathway that serves children from their first musical experiences through high school graduation.