Beginner Classes/Treble Choir meet twice weekly for a total of 2½ hours per week. Beginners learn the fundamentals of music through play in a structured setting. Students learn solfá (do, re, mi, etc.), rhythm concepts, music notation and sight reading, and perform choral music, in unison and 2 parts, twice yearly.

The focus at the Beginner Levels is to prepare the younger children with a strong educational foundation and a rich and joyful training experience. Formal ensemble singing, therefore, is not stressed as much as in the upper choirs. Children in Beginner Levels sing in the Treble Choir, which performs twice yearly in the Holiday and Spring Concerts. The Treble Choir rehearses from 8:30 to 9:00 AM on Saturday mornings.

Intermediate Classes/Lyric Choir meet twice weekly for a total of 4 hours per week, enjoying progressively more challenging musical games and activities that reinforce their advancing music skills. Students sing high-quality choral selections in two and three part harmony, allowing students to perform music that will enrich and strengthen their music reading abilities and understanding. The Lyric Choir performs 3-4 concerts per year.

Choristers of the Intermediate Levels sing in the Lyric Choir. They apply skills developed in training classes to preparing choral music. They learn vocal technique, ensemble singing, how to follow a conductor, read music from choral scores, sing in unison and parts with good tone and diction, and they learn performance etiquette. They perform formally twice yearly and occasionally for special events. This three-year period of Lyric Choir and Intermediate classes provides intensive preparation for full participation in the Concert Choir. Admittance to the Concert Choir is through auditions held at the end of the Intermediate Level III season.

Solfá Classes/Concert Choir meet twice weekly for a total of 4½ hours per week. Students have additional opportunities to perform, tour, record and broadcast throughout the community, the country and the world. The repertoire they perform spans the early periods of music to the present and includes a variety of styles and cultures. Students continue their education during four years of Solfá Classes, where they are introduced to advanced levels of music theory, harmony, dictation, and sight reading, as well as introductory counterpoint, composition and conducting.

The Concert Choir is the most advanced performance level and the designated performing choir of the Children's Chorus of Maryland. Choristers are admitted to the Concert Choir by audition only. Sophisticated choral music from the early periods to the present is prepared for performances throughout the year. Ensemble skills stress artistic interpretation and excellence in performance. Choristers may graduate from CCM after completing Solfa IV, reaching the age of 16, or, for boys, when the voice changes.

The audition is far from an intimidating experience. Rather, it is a kid-friendly, enjoyable, 20-minute series of games, imitative exercises, and physical activities for which no previous training or preparation is required. It is conducted in a private setting where you may sit in and observe. In addition to games and exercises, your child will be asked to sing the “Happy Birthday Song” and another song of their choice without accompaniment.

Children 10 and older will generally need to have had some previous training or musical experience in order to be successfully placed in a CCM class.

Be assured that CCM faculty will give your child the utmost respect and consideration.

Passing an audition is required to join the Conservatory program.

Structure

The Conservatory program consists of three levels of musicianship classes and choirs. All levels meet on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.
Learn about Class levels and Choirs above.

Class information

The program accepts children 5½ years old and up. Auditions begin in March and require a $25 fee. Classes and rehearsals occur twice a week for ten (10) months. For more, see Why CCM is unique.

Performances

All our choirs, including the youngest (Treble choir) perform at our self-produced Annual Concerts in the winter and spring. Upper choirs have additional opportunities to perform at other venues. For more, see our FAQ page.

Parent Association

Families are asked to volunteer a minimum of twelve (12) "Family Involvement Program" (FIP) hours per semester. Many opportunities arise to fulfill this requirement, but one may choose to buy out the hours at a set rate.

Rates for 2013-2014

Rates vary based on placement as a result of a successful audition. Please contact CCM for more information.

Online registration

Some time after your child auditions, information for registration and tuition payment will be sent to you if your child is accepted to the program.

Tuition installment plan

During online registration, you may choose to pay the tuition in installments. Payment is divided into a maximum of 10 installments beginning no later than June 1st and ending no later than March of the following year. A processing fee is applied. Your installment plan must be approved by CCM.

Because we pack as much learning and fun in the time we have with our students during classes and rehearsals, completing the audition and the registration process early ensures that your child doesn't miss a moment of the Training Season.

Late Registration

Late Registration, July 1st through September 30, does not guarantee placement. Class size is limited. Classes are filled on a first come, first served basis. This policy applies to newly accepted and to returning students.

• Books. Beginner 2 level and above. Books range from $20 to $70, depending on class placement. Book orders may be placed in during the registration process.
• Uniforms. Students from Intermediate 1 and above are required to wear uniforms.
  Formal uniform: around $80.
  Casual uniform: $24 to $45.
  
• Annual Concert Tickets. Concert tickets usually range from $15 tp $35 each.
• Additional performances, touring expenses. Lyric and Concert choirs only. Rates vary.

Early bird

• April 25th, register and pay non-refundable deposit – save $50!
• June 1st, pay in full or through an authorized payment plan – save $50!
• After June 1st, New Students Only – save $100 by acting quickly after your acceptance!

Sibling discount

Save $100 for each sibling enrolled at any level of the Conservatory program or save $50.00 for a sibling enrolled in Crickets™.

Scholarship

It is the policy of the Children's Chorus of Maryland that no qualified child is excluded for financial reasons, and every effort is made to supply financial assistance where appropriate. Applicants will be notified in writing of application results. Recipients of scholarships need to re-apply each year. No scholarship is given automatically from year to year. We strongly recommend applying before April 1st.

The amount of tuition and fees not covered by the scholarship award must be paid on time, unless prior arrangements have been made for installment payments. Scholarship recipients commit to remaining in the Children's Chorus for the entire performing season and are required to perform in all concerts. Refusal to comply with CCM policies may result in the loss of scholarship. If a scholarship award is revoked, full tuition is due and payable within thirty (30) days of written notice of such a decision.

Scholarship applicants will be notified in writing of application results. Recipients of scholarships need to re-apply each year. No scholarship is given automatically from year to year.