HISTORY OF SCC
The SCC was co-founded in 1993 by Lynn Stevens as part of
her Master’s degree project under the guidance of Dr. Donald
Kendrick at California State University, Sacramento. Mrs. Stevens
and Dr. Kendrick had a vision of creating a high-caliber children’
s choir that would reach into the greater Sacramento area. That
vision has offered over 2,000 children the opportunity to
perform in some amazing venues in Sacramento, our nation,
and abroad.
The SCC began 15 years ago with one choir of 40 singers.
Under the baton of Mrs. Stevens, the SCC has grown to four
choirs with almost 200 singers from the great Sacramento
community. In 2002, Mrs. Judy Britts was added to the artistic
staff to conduct training level and intermediate level choirs and
to be the organization’s first Executive Director.
In addition to presenting two regular concerts each year, one
during the holiday season and one in the spring, the SCC often
performs with the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra.
Venues have included the Sacramento Community Center, the
memorial auditorium, and the Mondavi Center at the University
of California Davis. Other noteworthy performances over the
years have included:
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
Lynn Stevens is the Artistic Director and Co-founder of the
Sacramento Children’s Chorus with over thirty years experience
of teaching choral music to children. Ms Stevens began her
career teaching for the Los Angeles City School District and
continued in the San Juan School District when she and her
family returned to her native Sacramento. A graduate of the
University of Southern California with a B.A. degree in Music,
Ms. Stevens continued her education at California State
University, Sacramento (CSUS), where she received her Masters
degree in choral conducting. It was during her masters program
that Ms Stevens co-founded the Sacramento Children’s Chorus
with Dr. Donald Kendrick, 14 years ago.
Ms Stevens now focuses her energies on the Sacramento
Children’s Chorus where she conducts the two high school
choirs, Chorale and Choraliers, the touring choir, Cantoris and co-
conducts the Chorus. Ms. Stevens is on the faculty of the music
department at CSUS, teaching music education and choral
conducting.
Also to her list of credits, Ms. Stevens enjoyed a performing
career after college when she sang professionally and traveled
internationally with the Ray Conniff Singers, the Norman
Luboff Choir, and the Carpenters.
Judy Britts, the Executive Director of the Sacramento Children’s
Chorus, is Conductor of Cantate and co-conductor of Chorus.
Ms. Britts joined the SCC in 2002 bringing over twenty-five
years of experience teaching classroom music (K-8), conducting
elementary, middle school, high school and church choirs. Her
choirs have toured extensively throughout the United States
and have received the highest honors at choral festivals. Her
High School choir in Santa Rosa set the standard for excellence
and became the “show case” choir at the 1998 Association of
Christian Schools International Musical Festival. Ms. Britts
received her Bachelor of Arts in Music at San Jose State
University with an emphasis in choral conducting and piano
performance and a Master of Arts in Education at California State
University, Sacramento. Ms. Britts is a nationally sought after
festival director and music workshop clinician, and teaches in
the music department at CSUS.
Helen Mendenhall, the Principal Accompanist, has been with
the SCC since the year after its founding. Ms. Mendenhall
performs frequently as a soloist, and she is a sought after
accompanist at the piano, organ and continuo for a wide
variety of soloists and ensembles. She received her Bachelor of
Science in Music from George Fox University and her Master of
Arts from California State University, Chico. Ms. Mendenhall
has taught music in the public schools for over ten years and
has held many church music positions including organist/pianist
for Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Sacramento and
Choir Director at Red Bluff Presbyterian Church. In addition to
her responsibilities with the SCC, Ms. Mendenhall currently
teaches piano and organ in her private studio.
Rachael Wilson, Accompanist, studied piano at the University
of North Texas and received an AA in music (organ) from
American River College. She has served as organist of St.
Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Sacramento, St. Luke’s Episcopal
in Auburn, and (currently) St. Francis Episcopal in Fair Oaks.
Additionally, she has accompanied El Camino High School,
Churchill Middle School, and various other school choirs. In
2001 she served as accompanist for the River City Chorale on
their tour of Italy, Croatia, and the Czech Republic. Rachael (a
native Texan!) is married to Jim, a retired Air Force colonel.
They have five children and four granddaughters, and make
their home in Roseville.
The SCC was co-founded in 1993 by Lynn Stevens as part of
her Master’s degree project under the guidance of Dr. Donald
Kendrick at California State University, Sacramento. Mrs. Stevens
and Dr. Kendrick had a vision of creating a high-caliber children’
s choir that would reach into the greater Sacramento area. That
vision has offered over 2,000 children the opportunity to
perform in some amazing venues in Sacramento, our nation,
and abroad.
The SCC began 15 years ago with one choir of 40 singers.
Under the baton of Mrs. Stevens, the SCC has grown to four
choirs with almost 200 singers from the great Sacramento
community. In 2002, Mrs. Judy Britts was added to the artistic
staff to conduct training level and intermediate level choirs and
to be the organization’s first Executive Director.
- 2007 Participated in the Pacific International Children’s
Choir Festival
- 2007 Performed with the above festival choir at the
Oregon Bach Festival
- 2006 Chosen to compete at International Choral
Kathaumixw, British Columbia
- 2005 Performed with Dr. Donald Neuen at Carnegie Hall
in New York City
- 2005 Chosen to perform at the prestigious national
convention of the American Choral Directors Association
(ACDA) in Los Angeles. Requested to premier, Dies Irae,
by Z Randall Stroope, famous choral composer, at the
ACDA Convention.
- 2004 Recipient of the Best of Sacramento award as the
best children’s chorus in the Sacramento area.
- 2001 Chosen to perform in Honolulu, Hawaii at the
regional convention of the American Choral Directors
Associations.
In addition to presenting two regular concerts each year, one
during the holiday season and one in the spring, the SCC often
performs with the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra.
Venues have included the Sacramento Community Center, the
memorial auditorium, and the Mondavi Center at the University
of California Davis. Other noteworthy performances over the
years have included:
- 2000 European tour to England and France
- 2004 European tour to Prague and Budapest
- Inaugurations of Governor Gray Davis and Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Performance with Sacramento Opera Company of Hansel
and Gretel
- Sacramento Jazz Festival
- Opening Games of the Sacramento River Cats Baseball
Team
- The funerals of Sacramento Mayor Joseph Serna and
Congressman Robert Matsui
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
Lynn Stevens is the Artistic Director and Co-founder of the
Sacramento Children’s Chorus with over thirty years experience
of teaching choral music to children. Ms Stevens began her
career teaching for the Los Angeles City School District and
continued in the San Juan School District when she and her
family returned to her native Sacramento. A graduate of the
University of Southern California with a B.A. degree in Music,
Ms. Stevens continued her education at California State
University, Sacramento (CSUS), where she received her Masters
degree in choral conducting. It was during her masters program
that Ms Stevens co-founded the Sacramento Children’s Chorus
with Dr. Donald Kendrick, 14 years ago.
Ms Stevens now focuses her energies on the Sacramento
Children’s Chorus where she conducts the two high school
choirs, Chorale and Choraliers, the touring choir, Cantoris and co-
conducts the Chorus. Ms. Stevens is on the faculty of the music
department at CSUS, teaching music education and choral
conducting.
Also to her list of credits, Ms. Stevens enjoyed a performing
career after college when she sang professionally and traveled
internationally with the Ray Conniff Singers, the Norman
Luboff Choir, and the Carpenters.
Judy Britts, the Executive Director of the Sacramento Children’s
Chorus, is Conductor of Cantate and co-conductor of Chorus.
Ms. Britts joined the SCC in 2002 bringing over twenty-five
years of experience teaching classroom music (K-8), conducting
elementary, middle school, high school and church choirs. Her
choirs have toured extensively throughout the United States
and have received the highest honors at choral festivals. Her
High School choir in Santa Rosa set the standard for excellence
and became the “show case” choir at the 1998 Association of
Christian Schools International Musical Festival. Ms. Britts
received her Bachelor of Arts in Music at San Jose State
University with an emphasis in choral conducting and piano
performance and a Master of Arts in Education at California State
University, Sacramento. Ms. Britts is a nationally sought after
festival director and music workshop clinician, and teaches in
the music department at CSUS.
Helen Mendenhall, the Principal Accompanist, has been with
the SCC since the year after its founding. Ms. Mendenhall
performs frequently as a soloist, and she is a sought after
accompanist at the piano, organ and continuo for a wide
variety of soloists and ensembles. She received her Bachelor of
Science in Music from George Fox University and her Master of
Arts from California State University, Chico. Ms. Mendenhall
has taught music in the public schools for over ten years and
has held many church music positions including organist/pianist
for Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Sacramento and
Choir Director at Red Bluff Presbyterian Church. In addition to
her responsibilities with the SCC, Ms. Mendenhall currently
teaches piano and organ in her private studio.
Rachael Wilson, Accompanist, studied piano at the University
of North Texas and received an AA in music (organ) from
American River College. She has served as organist of St.
Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Sacramento, St. Luke’s Episcopal
in Auburn, and (currently) St. Francis Episcopal in Fair Oaks.
Additionally, she has accompanied El Camino High School,
Churchill Middle School, and various other school choirs. In
2001 she served as accompanist for the River City Chorale on
their tour of Italy, Croatia, and the Czech Republic. Rachael (a
native Texan!) is married to Jim, a retired Air Force colonel.
They have five children and four granddaughters, and make
their home in Roseville.
| MISSION STATEMENT The Sacramento Children’s Chorus provides talented youth the opportunity to perform great choral literature under the direction of accomplished masters. The singers are introduced to the principles of good musicianship, vocal production, and performance techniques while learning a challenging repertoire of diverse musical and cultural styles. |
About Us
 |  |  |  |  |  |
THE CHOIRS
Level I: Cantate
(2nd – 5th grade)
Our training level is designed to lay the
foundation that will enable boys and girls to
grow in their musical knowledge, to refine their
singing skills, and most of all to experience the
joy of singing together. Level 1 focuses on
developing a pure vocal sound through unison
songs as well as learning the techniques for
posture and correct breathing as they prepare
repertoire for concerts.
Through activities, games, dances, and singing,
the boys and girls are taught the basic skills of
reading rhythm and melodic patterns based on
Kodaly’s system of reading music. In
preparation for concerts, the singers learn
concert etiquette, how to work together as a
group, and how to sit quietly through the
concert.
Level II: Chorus
(4th – 8th grade)
The intermediate level extends the program of
musical challenges offered in the training level.
Music and the demands of music are expanded
from the previous level.
As the singers enjoy learning repertoire that is
more challenging, expanding into two and
three part songs, they are expected to learn
the basic music concepts and terminology that
go along with that repertoire. The singers will
be able to perform more complex rhythm
patterns and sight read melodic lines. They
learn repertoire in a variety of style and
languages.
Chorus enjoys the adventure of singing for
events around the city representing the SCC.
Last year they performed at the California
Firefighters Memorial as well as at the
ceremony for the lighting of the State Capital
Christmas Tree. Through the performances and
the rehearsals the singers focus on developing
their voice, learning music terminology, and
becoming confident in singing two parts.
Level III: Cantoris
(Advanced touring choir)
(6th – 10th grade)
This level extends further the challenging
program of repertoire, musical concepts and
performing experiences. The expectations and
personal responsibility of singers are
increased, the training more intense, and the
rewards are fulfilling. Singers are exposed to
an expanded three-part repertoire in two or
three additional languages. More advanced
concepts of vocal techniques are introduced
and analysis of musical style, composition, and
history are discussed.
As the touring choir, it is expected that singers
will tour each year as a member of Cantoris.
The personal commitment of each singer and his
or her family is vital to maintain the high
quality of rehearsal and performing skills of
this level.
Level IV: Chorale and Choraliers
This level is an extension of all previously
learned concepts. For women, it is open to
those in their Junior or Senior year of high
school or in the first years of college. For the
guys, once the voice change has begun, they
are welcome to audition and join this group.
Singers are exposed to an expanded four to
eight part repertoire with an emphasis on
acapella singing. Attention is given to
repertoire suited for chamber choirs from all
eras and styles of music. This is a wonderful
opportunity for those singers who want to
make music with people who love what they
love to do – sing the best repertoire with the
best singers.
REHEARSAL TIMES
Cantate (Level I)
2nd – 5th grade
Tuesdays 4:30 – 6pm
OR
Thursdays 4:30 – 6pm
Chorus (Level II)
4th – 8th grade
Mondays 4:15 –5:45pm
and
Wednesdays 4:15 – 5:15pm
Cantoris (Level III, adv. touring)
6th – 10th grade
Tuesdays 4:30 – 6pm
and
Thursdays 4:30 – 6pm
Chorale & Choraliers
Tuesdays 6:30 – 8:30pm
Level I: Cantate
(2nd – 5th grade)
Our training level is designed to lay the
foundation that will enable boys and girls to
grow in their musical knowledge, to refine their
singing skills, and most of all to experience the
joy of singing together. Level 1 focuses on
developing a pure vocal sound through unison
songs as well as learning the techniques for
posture and correct breathing as they prepare
repertoire for concerts.
Through activities, games, dances, and singing,
the boys and girls are taught the basic skills of
reading rhythm and melodic patterns based on
Kodaly’s system of reading music. In
preparation for concerts, the singers learn
concert etiquette, how to work together as a
group, and how to sit quietly through the
concert.
Level II: Chorus
(4th – 8th grade)
The intermediate level extends the program of
musical challenges offered in the training level.
Music and the demands of music are expanded
from the previous level.
As the singers enjoy learning repertoire that is
more challenging, expanding into two and
three part songs, they are expected to learn
the basic music concepts and terminology that
go along with that repertoire. The singers will
be able to perform more complex rhythm
patterns and sight read melodic lines. They
learn repertoire in a variety of style and
languages.
Chorus enjoys the adventure of singing for
events around the city representing the SCC.
Last year they performed at the California
Firefighters Memorial as well as at the
ceremony for the lighting of the State Capital
Christmas Tree. Through the performances and
the rehearsals the singers focus on developing
their voice, learning music terminology, and
becoming confident in singing two parts.
Level III: Cantoris
(Advanced touring choir)
(6th – 10th grade)
This level extends further the challenging
program of repertoire, musical concepts and
performing experiences. The expectations and
personal responsibility of singers are
increased, the training more intense, and the
rewards are fulfilling. Singers are exposed to
an expanded three-part repertoire in two or
three additional languages. More advanced
concepts of vocal techniques are introduced
and analysis of musical style, composition, and
history are discussed.
As the touring choir, it is expected that singers
will tour each year as a member of Cantoris.
The personal commitment of each singer and his
or her family is vital to maintain the high
quality of rehearsal and performing skills of
this level.
Level IV: Chorale and Choraliers
This level is an extension of all previously
learned concepts. For women, it is open to
those in their Junior or Senior year of high
school or in the first years of college. For the
guys, once the voice change has begun, they
are welcome to audition and join this group.
Singers are exposed to an expanded four to
eight part repertoire with an emphasis on
acapella singing. Attention is given to
repertoire suited for chamber choirs from all
eras and styles of music. This is a wonderful
opportunity for those singers who want to
make music with people who love what they
love to do – sing the best repertoire with the
best singers.
REHEARSAL TIMES
Cantate (Level I)
2nd – 5th grade
Tuesdays 4:30 – 6pm
OR
Thursdays 4:30 – 6pm
Chorus (Level II)
4th – 8th grade
Mondays 4:15 –5:45pm
and
Wednesdays 4:15 – 5:15pm
Cantoris (Level III, adv. touring)
6th – 10th grade
Tuesdays 4:30 – 6pm
and
Thursdays 4:30 – 6pm
Chorale & Choraliers
Tuesdays 6:30 – 8:30pm
