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Register by October 17 to Secure Your Spot!
| Registration Type | Member Price |
|---|---|
| Early Bird Registration (Sept. 11-Oct.3) | $750 |
| General Registration (Oct. 4-Oct.17) | $850 |
For many, the act of singing in a chorus is more than a creative outlet: It’s an outlet from stress and access to community. Choral communities provide a sense of belonging and connection that can be extremely supportive to building mental health. Choruses are stepping into intentional roles as mental health advocates and educators more and more and recognizing their ability to create healing through music. In this article, we’ll highlight five choral organizations:, Phoenix Boys Choir, The Harmony Project, ComMUSICation, ABQ Coro Lux, and VocalEssence. As recipients of Chorus America’s Music Education Partnership Grants, that are using the power of community and song to support mental well-being in their young singers.
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El Faro Youth Chorus, ABQ Coro Lux
El Faro (“The Lighthouse”) Youth Chorus is an outreach program of ABQ Coro Lux and offers an emotionally enriching experience for young people ages 7-18 in Albuquerque. Going beyond traditional choral models, El Faro is the first trauma-informed chorus in the nation. They work to create a fun, safe, and welcoming environment that includes high-quality musical engagement. They also recently partnered with a local restaurant to provide dinner for it’s singers after each rehearsal. Showing it’s singers that meeting physical needs is a prerequisite for achieving mental wellness, self-expression, and self-actualization. The organization recognizes that singers bring their whole selves to the community and this program celebrates both similarities and differences between all its participants. This is a particularly crucial approach in New Mexico, which faces a high rate of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Through practices like a daily "question of the day," El Faro creates open dialogue and mutual respect, teaching it’s young singers how to connect despite differing opinions.
Central to El Faro's mission is the prioritization of mental health support. It focuses on trauma-informed principles and works to create a welcoming space where children can express their full emotions without fear. Intentional breathing, body awareness, and community-building further build up these young singers, fostering self-confidence and a strong sense of belonging. By honoring each student’s individual journey, ABQ Coro Lux ensures that music-making at El Faro is deeply intertwined with their overall well-being.
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The Harmony Project
At Harmony Project, mental health is a foundational part of their mission to uplift youth through music. Rooted in under-resourced communities, the organization pairs high-quality music education with intentional social-emotional support to create a space where students can thrive emotionally as well as artistically. Through trauma-informed teaching, culturally responsive pedagogy, and the work of dedicated counselors and social workers, Harmony Project addresses the mental health challenges many of their students face head-on. Programs like music therapy workshops and virtual grieving circles provide direct avenues for healing, while consistent adult mentorship fosters a deep sense of safety and belonging; 86% of Harmony Project students report knowing an adult at Harmony Project who believes in them. The act of making music in community builds their confidence and focus and allows them to learn to push through challenges and support one another. Harmony Project's model shows that mental well-being and artistic growth can be nurtured side by side.
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Phoenix Boy’s Choir
The Phoenix Boys Choir is reimagining what a youth choral experience can be by placing emotional well-being, cultural celebration, and access at the center of its work. In partnership with Creighton Elementary School District, Phoenix Boy’s Choir has embedded trauma-informed, social-emotional learning into its choral curriculum, working to directly address the challenges many students face today – including mental health. The program reaches more than 200 fourth-grade students and offers inclusive music education that honors the heritage of many of it’s singers through repertoire rooted in Latinx, Native American, Pacific Islander, and African American traditions. The Phoenix Boy’s Choir acts as a launching pad for young singers to develop confidence and gain a deep appreciation for choral music. Events like community celebrations that featured the Yellow Bird Apache Dancers and Mariachi Rubor emphasize Phoenix Boy’s Choir’s belief that choral music is a powerful tool for connection. With plans to launch a neighborhood choir and expand afterschool offerings, Phoenix Boy’s Choir is continuing to deepen its roots in the community. By incorporating student feedback, the program also adapts to include musical interests like beatboxing, hip hop, and choreography. The Phoenix Boys Choir is helping students see themselves not just as singers, but as artists.
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ComMUSICation
ComMUSICation ensures that supporting the mental health of their young singers is found in every aspect of their work. Their approach recognizes that music-making can be both rewarding and emotionally vulnerable. Their programs intentionally prioritize socio-emotional development alongside music education. Through songwriting, leadership opportunities, and performance, chorus members are encouraged to process emotions, build confidence, and manage stress. This work is driven by a teaching staff that creates curriculum centered on identity, social justice, and cultural diversity, while also building musical literacy.
ComMUSICation creates safe, caring spaces where young people can express themselves freely and feel heard, leading to powerful personal growth. In the words of one of their middle school students: “I can skip all my worries, just sing my heart out, feel my emotions, feel the world around me.” This shows how the program fosters a sense of belonging and emotional safety. Youth in the program are also given opportunities to take on leadership roles and collaborate with others, building essential skills in relationship-building and conflict resolution. This organization is not only growing musical talent, but also providing an anchor of support and connection for its young singers.
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VocalEssence
The VocalEssence Singing from the Heart program is a powerful example of how singing together can foster mental wellness, cultural affirmation, and community support, especially for young parents. Created in partnership with Longfellow Alternative High School in Minneapolis, MN, the program offers pregnant and parenting students the opportunity to sing, dance, and drum alongside their children in a nurturing and responsive environment. The act of singing together not only strengthens the emotional bond between parent and child but also serves as a form of self-care for both. This program centers the music of African American and Latinx traditions, allowing students to connect with their heritage while also learning about other cultures through song, dance, drumming, storytelling, and shared musical exploration.
With supports in place such as childcare, transportation to attend local concerts, and books and instruments provided at no cost, barriers to participation are eliminated—ensuring every student has an equal opportunity to make music. While most of the music is taught aurally, students are taught the rudiments of notation and are encouraged to co-create by suggesting songs and participating in collaborative decision-making. This emphasis on student voice builds leadership skills and self-confidence. By integrating infants and toddlers into music-making and exploring creativity as a shared family experience, the program helps reduce isolation and creates a vibrant, supportive community. With 80% of participants reporting, they continue to explore music at home with their children, Singing from the Heart acts as an ongoing practice of care.
