National Children's Chorus

{{short description|American choir}} {{Multiple issues| {{Notability|date=December 2024}} {{promotional|date=March 2026}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

thumb|National Children's Chorus at Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles) in 2016 The '''National Children's Chorus''' of the United States of America (NCC) is a private, non-profit youth choral organization under the leadership of Artistic Director Luke McEndarfer and Associate Artistic Director Dr. Pamela Blackstone. It has over 1,400 choristers and its members are between the ages of five and eighteen, and divided into Junior Division (Prelude, Minuet, Sonata, and Concerto Levels) and Senior Division (Debut and Premier Ensembles, and Scholars) across its eight chapter cities – Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Austin, Dallas, Boston (Newton) and Chicago (Evanston).

The NCC is a GRAMMY® Award-winning ensemble, receiving the honor for Best Choral Performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8 with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Children’s Chorus {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://grammy.com/artists/National-Childrens-Chorus/38624 |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=grammy.com}}</ref> The ensemble has made multiple appearances on NBC's TODAY Show<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=094t28vQsEA |title=National Children’s Chorus performs "Somewhere in My Memory” on NBC’s TODAY Show! |date=2024-12-19 |last=National Children's Chorus |access-date=2026-05-23 |via=YouTube}}</ref> and performs regularly at Lincoln Center,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lincolncenter.org/show/national-childrens-chorus-presents-winter-dream|title=Lincoln Center|website=lincolncenter.org|access-date=2018-01-22}}</ref> Carnegie Hall,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2018/04/29/NATIONAL-CHILDRENS-CHORUS-0300PM|title=National Children's Chorus|website=carnegiehall.org|language=en|access-date=2018-01-22}}</ref> Walt Disney Concert Hall,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-american-youth-symphony-review-20160315-story.html|title=American Youth Symphony and National Children's Chorus members rise to 'Heaven Earth Mankind'|date=2016-03-14|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2018-01-22|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> Hollywood Bowl,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/philpedia/national-childrens-chorus|title=National Children's Chorus|website=hollywoodbowl.com|language=en|access-date=2018-01-22}}</ref> and the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington D.C.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Citizen Newspaper Group |url=https://citizennewspapergroup.com/news/2026/apr/09/national-cherry-blossom-festival-parade-returns-april-11-to-welcome-spring/ |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=citizennewspapergroup.com}}</ref> The chorus also holds biannual winter and spring showcases in each of their chapter cities.

== Origins == Though now fully secularized, National Children's Chorus traces its lineage back to the Paulist tradition of the late 19th Century.

=== Paulist Choristers === In 1904 Father William Finn (1881–1961) founded the Paulist Choristers of Chicago, an a capella, treble choir for boys (ages 5–13), which sang at the Vatican for Pope Pius X in 1912, and toured the United States during World War I to raise money for French refugee relief efforts.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7SIqQHZL2_wC&q=father+finn+secularized+paulist&pg=RA2-PA24|title=Musical Courier|date=1919|publisher=Musical Courier Company|language=en}}</ref> In 1918, Father Finn established the first Catholic Choir School in New York, and founded the Paulist Choristers of New York<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paulist.org/ministry/arts/|title=The Arts|website=paulist.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-22}}</ref> at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Manhattan.

In 1925, the New York ensemble began to perform on radio station WLWL, and also on the NBC radio show ''The Catholic Hour''. The choir also gave frequent concerts at the Metropolitan Opera House. In addition to performances, each ensemble maintained separate recording projects with Columbia Records<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000025222/77440-A_legend|title=Columbia matrix 77440. A legend / Paulist Choristers of Chicago – Discography of American Historical Recordings|website=adp.library.ucsb.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-01-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.honkingduck.com/discography/artist/paulist_choristers_of_chicago|title=Recordings by 'Paulist Choristers Of Chicago'|date=May 16, 2018|website=honkingduck.com |accessdate=January 23, 2018}}</ref> and Victor Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/800011993/BVE-37736-Pontifical|title=Victor matrix BVE-37736. Pontifical / Paulist Choristers of New York – Discography of American Historical Recordings|website=adp.library.ucsb.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-01-23}}</ref> In 1928, Father Eugene O’Malley, an original Chicago Paulist chorister, succeeded Father Finn as director of the Chicago ensemble. Under his leadership the choir once again traveled across the country, and performed at the White House.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/08/15/paulist-choirs-rev-omalley/|title=Paulist Choir's Rev. O'malley|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=2018-01-22|language=en}}</ref>

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Chicago and New York groups were disbanded during a liturgical shift towards contemporary sacred music throughout the Catholic Church in the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/01/20/how-church-reform-stilled-the-voices-of-the-paulist-choir/|title=How Church Reform Stilled The Voices Of The Paulist Choir|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=2018-01-22|language=en}}</ref> In 1977, despite the reformation in Catholic liturgy, Sister Stella Maria Enright (1933–2017) and Jon Wattenberger (1948–1992), a pupil of Father Finn's teachings, founded the Paulist Choristers of California at St. Paul the Apostle Church and School in Westwood, Los Angeles. The ensemble subsequently performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the Joffrey Ballet, in addition to multiple television/movie appearances and international tours to London, Oxford, Venice, Florence, Salzburg, and Paris.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-29-mn-2300-story.html|title=Jon Wattenbarger; Conductor Founded Paulist Boy Choristers|last=OLIVER|first=MYRNA|date=1992-02-29|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2018-01-22|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref>

After Wattenberger's death, the ensemble was led, between 1992 and 2004, by conductors Dana Marsh and Sir Martin Neary, who famously conducted music for the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997.

In 2002, the Paulist Choristers were invited to sing music from ''The Lord of the Rings'' with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, under the baton of maestro John Mauceri. For the first time in Paulist history, girls were inducted into the organization, marking the first-ever co-ed appearance for the group.

=== Transition to National Children's Chorus === In 2004, following the exit of Neary from the position, Luke McEndarfer was chosen as the 4th Artistic Director of the Paulist Choristers of California.

In 2009, with the support of Sister Stella, McEndarfer fully secularized the chorus, formally changed the group's name, and co-founded the National Children's Chorus with Cristina Demiany. This organizational change signified the formal separation of the group from the Catholic Church after more than a century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.laopus.com/2014/11/a-conversation-with-luke-mcendarfer.html|title=A Conversation with Luke McEndarfer|website=laopus.com|access-date=2018-01-22}}</ref>

NCC broadened its programming to create ensembles for children of varying ages and vocal facility, including its first-ever SATB ensemble, and expanded to New York (2011), Washington, D.C. (2014), San Francisco (2019), Austin (2021), Dallas (2022), Boston (2022) and Chicago (2024).<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-childrens-chorus-americas-leading-youth-choral-institution-is-hosting-auditions-in-los-angeles-october-15th-new-york-october-20th-and-washington-dc-october-21st-300334043.html|title=National Children's Chorus, America's leading youth choral institution is hosting auditions in Los Angeles, October 15th, New York, October 20th and Washington D.C. October 21st|last=Chorus|first=National Children’s|agency=PR Newswire|language=en|access-date=2018-01-23}}</ref>

The organization maintains conductor training partnerships with graduate conducting programs at the University of Southern California (2016) and Manhattan School of Music (2017), in addition to partnerships with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the University of California, Los Angeles.

== Major Appearances == • '''9th NCC International Tour''' to Australia, including a performance at the Edge in Melbourne (July 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salazar |first=David |date=2025-08-08 |title=National Children's Chorus & Australian Children's Choir Perform Together Four Years After Online Meeting During COVID |url=https://operawire.com/national-childrens-chorus-australian-childrens-chorus-perform-together-four-years-after-online-meeting-during-covid/ |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=OperaWire |language=en-US}}</ref>

• '''8th NCC International Tour''' to Denmark and Norway, including a performance at the Oslo Opera House with Composer Ola Gjeilo (July 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reinhall |first=Lori Ann |date=October 16, 2024 |title=National Children’s Chorus performs in Norway |url=https://www.norwegianamerican.com/gjeilo-chorus/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 23, 2026 |website=The Norwegian American}}</ref>

• ''Illumine: The Holiday Album'' album release with the London Symphony Orchestra – recorded at Air Studios and Abbey Road Studios in London (2023)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hypeddit.com/illumine |title=Illumine by National Children's Chorus, Luke McEndarfer, London Symphony Orchestra }}</ref>

• '''7th NCC International Tour''' to the United Kingdom, including a performance with Voces8 (July 2023)

• ''Brundibár: A Children's Tribute to Ukraine'' album release on all streaming platforms – recorded virtually in dedication to the people of Ukraine (September 2022)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hypeddit.com/brundibrachildrenstributetoukraine|title=Brundibár Album|website=hypeddit.com|language=en|access-date=2022-09-29}}</ref>

• '''6th NCC International Tour''' to Portugal and Spain, including performances at Madrid's Auditorio Nacional de Música and Barcelona's Basílica de la Sagrada Família (July 2022)

• ''Ripples of Change'' at Alice Tully Hall – featuring choristers from all chapter cities (May 2022)

• '''5th NCC International Tour''' (Korean DMZ performance with Lindenbaum Festival Orchestra, Mapo Art Center in Seoul, South Korea, Kyoto Concert Hall, and Tokyo's Suntory Hall, July 2019) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/05/113_273267.html|title = Songs of Harmony resonate from DMZ|date = 4 August 2019}}</ref>

• Walt Disney Hall Premiere of Mahler's "Symphony of a Thousand" with the LA Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel (June 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/185/|title=Dudamel Conducts Mahler's Eighth|website=LA Phil|language=en|access-date=2018-05-15}}</ref>

• World Premiere of a Nico Muhly work for chorus and orchestra at Walt Disney Hall with American Youth Symphony (March 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/321/|title=LA Phil|website=laphil.com|language=en|access-date=2018-02-15}}</ref>

'''• 4th NCC International Tour''' (Berlin Wall, Germany, Musikverein and Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Prague, Budapest, July 2018)

• World Premiere of Ibrahim Maalouf's ''Levantine Symphony No.1'' at the Kennedy Center (March 2018)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.new-levant.org/ibrahim-maalouf/|title=New Levant Initiative|work=New Levant|access-date=2018-02-15|language=en-US}}</ref>

• Live commercial performance of "I'll Stand by You" produced by MassMutual for CNN's New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen (December 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.massmutual.com/planning/videos/celebrating-the-unsung|title=Celebrating the Unsung|last=Wastler|first=Allen|website=massmutual.com|language=en|access-date=2018-02-15}}</ref>

• "Winter Dream" at Alice Tully Hall – featuring choristers from all three chapter cities (December 2017)

• Festival of Carols at Walt Disney Hall with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Eric Whitacre (December 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lamasterchorale.org/festival-of-carols|title=Festival of Carols {{!}} Los Angeles Master Chorale|last=Chorale|first=Los Angeles Master|website=www.lamasterchorale.org|language=en|access-date=2018-02-15}}</ref>

• '''3rd NCC International Tour''' (St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, and St. Cecilia's Music Conservatory in Rome, Italy, July 2017)

• ''Carmina Burana'' at Alice Tully Hall with New York Master Chorale (April 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chorusamerica.org/calendar/new-york-city-master-chorale-presents-carmina10|title=New York City Master Chorale presents "Carmina/10" {{!}} Chorus America|website=www.chorusamerica.org|language=en|access-date=2018-02-15}}</ref>

• '''2nd NCC International Tour''' (the Great Wall of China in Beijing and the Ancient City Wall in Xian, China 2016)

• Tan Dun's ''Symphony 1997'' at Walt Disney Concert Hall with American Youth Symphony Orchestra (March 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-american-youth-symphony-review-20160315-story.html|title=American Youth Symphony and National Children's Chorus members rise to 'Heaven Earth Mankind'|last=Schultz|first=Rick|website=Los Angeles Times|date=15 March 2016|access-date=2018-02-15}}</ref>

• ''Carmina Burana'' at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel (July 2015)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-hollywood-bowl-dudamel-review-20150723-column.html|title=Spring bursts to life in Dudamel-conducted 'Carmina Burana'|last=Swed|first=Mark|website=Los Angeles Times|date=22 July 2015|access-date=2018-02-15}}</ref>

• '''1st NCC International Tour''' (Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford and St. John's Smith Square in London, England, June 2015)

• Feast of the Divine Shepherd at Carnegie Hall with Yale School of Music (June 2015)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://music.yale.edu/2015/05/13/richard-gard-conduct-carnegie-hall-june-29/|title=Richard Gard to conduct at Carnegie Hall June 29 |publisher=Yale School of Music|access-date=2018-02-15|language=en-US}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [https://nationalchildrenschorus.com/ National Children's Chorus]

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Category:National choirs Category:Choirs from California Category:Choirs from New York City Category:Choirs from Washington, D.C. Category:Choirs of children