Children’s Choruses
Opera Idaho’s children’s programs are designed to encourage acceptance, appreciation and enjoyment of opera in young people. Founded by Linda Eustice Berg, the programs hope to enable students to experience a live opera performance first hand with professional singers, and acquaint students with opera terminology, history and the lives of great opera composers. Opera Idaho’s programs also introduce students to the significance of theater, set, and costume design in opera.
The Opera Idaho Children’s Choruses program provides learning and performing experiences in classic repertoire, and encourages healthy vocal technique for children through membership in a vocal ensemble. Musical education objectives are accomplished through weekly rehearsal sessions and performances through the year. Performances range from choral concerts to appearing in Opera Idaho, Ballet Idaho, and Boise Philharmonic performances as well as other venues throughout the Treasure Valley.
The program includes:
Kinder Chorus – ages 4 to 1st grade*
Mondays, 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm
Angelus Chorus – 2nd to 5th grades*
Tuesday, 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm
Excelsior Chorus – 6th to 12th grades*
Tuesday, 5:30 pm to 6:45 pm
Con Spirito Chorus – High school grades mixed choir*
Mondays, 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Kiwanis Boys Choir – unchanged male voices in 4th to 9th grades
Mondays, 5:30 pm to 6:45 pm
*If interested singers fall outside of these age ranges or would like to sing in a choir other than their grade assigns, please talk to the Children’s Choruses Director so we can find the best place for them.
Rehearsals for the 2023-24 season begin the week of September 11.
Tuition
Kinder Chorus – $225 per year
Angelus Chorus – $250 per year
Excelsior & Con Spirito Chorus – $300 per year
Kiwanis Boys Choir – Free tuition
There may be additional performance attire costs yet to be determined.
Financial assistance available. There is a 10% discount if the full year’s tuition is paid by July 31. If you have more than one child enrolled in the Children’s Chorus programs, there is a $25 discount per additional child.
Kiwanis boys choir
The Kiwanis Boys Choir was first organized during the 1951-1952 school year and has been sponsored by both the Capital City Kiwanis Club and the Boise School District. This group is comprised of boys in grades four through eight who demonstrate not only exceptional musical promise, but also a passion for singing and learning. The Kiwanis Boys Choir has a long-standing tradition of excellence in the Boise community and performs around the valley throughout the academic year, ending the season with the annual Boise Music Week Concert. The training the boys receive prepares them to continue singing in junior high, high school, college and church choirs and contribute to these groups at a high level.
Director of Children's Choruses
Kerry Calverley has been working with children’s and youth choirs of all levels for 30 years. Most recently, Kerry was the director of choirs at East Junior High School in the Boise School District. In the Boise area, she has been a children’s choir director at Trinity Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church, also co-directing musical theater productions for the singers in these programs. Previously, while living in Ukiah, California, Kerry created and implemented the Ukiah Community Children’s Chorus while also leading a K-8 music program at St. Mary’s of the Angels School and teaching music classes for Near & Arnold’s School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education (SPACE).
Kerry also taught in Lodi, California at Bear Creek High School and at John Muir Elementary, leading choirs at both levels and locations. Kerry is a graduate of California State University-Fresno where she has a degree in Music Education and Vocal Performance, also previously studying with a similar double-major at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln. Kerry has been involved in various opera workshops, including starring in Menotti’s The Telephone and a Rhinemaiden in Wagner’s Das Rheingold, as well as leading roles in Wiz, Grease and also performing in L’il Abner and The Music Man. Kerry is a member of the Idaho Chapter American Choral Directors Association as well as the Idaho Music Education Association. Kerry has also served as an accompanist for various performing groups through the years.
Kerry is married to Steve and has 2 daughters. Allison, who sang in Opera Idaho’s Children’s Choruses for 3 years, is now a student at University of Idaho, and Kate is a student at University of Arizona. Kerry also works in real estate and is currently working on some historic home renovations. She loves to cook, entertain, play tennis, hike, and travel.
Children's Choruses Sponsors
