Rainier Youth Choirs (near Seattle, Washington)

RYC is a non-profit, community-based choral organization in Covington, Washington, whose members come from Covington, Kent, Maple Valley, Enumclaw, Issaquah, Auburn, Federal Way, Renton and surrounding areas.  Each chorus reflects the evolving needs of children of different ages and musical development.  The goal for the organization is to establish a premier choral performance and music education program for children, emphasizing the development of vocal skills and music understanding through diverse, high-quality choral literature and an underlying reliance upon Kodály methods of teaching music.  Our mission is to provide instruction designed to guide singers to attain the highest level of artistry in choral performance and music appreciation through an affordable program.  It is our firm belief that all who qualify should be able to participate.  RYC is a subsidiary of the non-profit choral organization, Rainier Choral Arts, which celebrated its 25th year by adding this exciting new youth and children’s choir component to their already successful adult program in 2007.

As well as presenting three major concerts throughout the school year, other community performances are scheduled regularly for each group. The Argosy Christmas Ship Festival has included yearly performances by  Colla Voce and Consonare.  Colla Voce participated in the Pacific Rim Children’s Choral Festival in Hawaii in July 2009 and Consonare enjoyed a performance tour of New York City in June 2009. Colla Voce is featured on a CD produced by the United Nations in 2008 singing the theme song, “We Sing for the Children” by local composer, Janice Hannesson Moen, with proceeds benefitting UNICEF. Colla Voce and Bella Voce participated in the 2010 Fort Worden Children’s Choir Festival with Dr. Juan Tony Guzmán.

Consonare and Colla Voce performed for the opening night of the Delta Kappa Gamma International Convention at the INB Performing Arts Center in Spokane on July 20, 2010, and both groups participated in the Spokane Area Children’s Chorus Festival with Judith Herrington, guest director, in June 2011. Bella Voce plans to participate annually in the Fort Worden Children’s Choir Festival in Port Townsend, Washington.

RYC treble singers and the Sammamish Symphony, Cantare Vocal Ensemble, Bellevue Chamber Chorus and Kirkland Choral Society performed Orff’s “Carmina Burana” in March 2011 at Benaroya Hall for an enthusiastic audience.

The Kent Arts Commission has booked the David Benoit Quartet and RYC’s Bella Voce and Colla Voce for “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on December 12, 2011.

Rainier Youth Choirs is a nonprofit organization with no religious affiliation.   RYC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national and/or ethnic origin.  It is affiliated with Rainier Choral Arts whose MISSION is to promote choral singing in the community by providing programs in which people of all ages may participate in the choral music experience.  Rainier Choral Arts VALUES excellence in choral literacy, choral performance, education in music appreciation, and artistic growth in its participants.  As a non-profit organization, RCA strives to keep its programs affordable and accessible.