 Mission
The Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus (GECC) is a world-class
organization, now in its 42nd year, whose mission
is to provide any interested child with extraordinary
choral music experiences, regardless of a child's
musical background or socio-economic circumstances.
Through outstanding music education, excellence
in performance, and serving the community through
song, our combined programs annually serve approximately
1000 children from over 40 different Chicago suburban
communities.
A community-centered music education program, the
Chorus curriculum uses high quality repertoire from
a wide variety of musical styles, and centers around
the belief that all children are inherently musical.
The Chorus welcomes into its programs all children
who want to sing. Girls and boys with treble voices,
ages 5-18, develop vocal and musicianship skills
which lead to informed, expressive, and empowering
performances. Through active participation in a
positive environment, they experience the joys of
singing, teamwork, musical understanding and artistic
expression, which fosters self-growth and enhances
their entire lives.
History
The Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus was founded in
1964 by Barbara Born who was followed by Dr. Doreen
Rao. In 1996, Emily Ellsworth became Music Director
of the Chorus bringing over 20 years of vocal performance
and teaching experience. Ms. Ellsworth is successfully
continuing the Chorus' tradition of excellence.
She was awarded the YWCA's Outstanding Leader in
Arts and Culture Award in 1999, and regularly serves
as guest clinician throughout the country and abroad.
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Honors and Distinctions
The Chorus' exemplary programs have served as artistic
and educational models across North America for
many years. Throughout its history, the Chorus has
been widely recognized for concerts, recordings,
workshops, commissioned works, and performances
with world-renowned musical organizations. The Chorus
has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
(CSO) at Chicago's Symphony Center, the Ravinia
Festival, and New York's Carnegie Hall. It has participated
in four Grammy Award-winning recordings with the
CSO and performed under such eminent conductors
as the late Sir Georg Solti, Christoph Eschenbach,
James Levine, and Claudio Abbado. The GECC has toured
extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe,
Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Newfoundland,China and
in the summer of 2007, South Africa. GECC is also known for showcasing
a broad spectrum of newly composed North American
music commissioned for and performed by children,
including works by major composers.
The GECC has long been nationally recognized for the high artistic
caliber of its work. In 1999, the Chorus received the United States
Library of Congress' Local Legacies Award acknowledging the Chorus
as one of the nation's leading cultural treasures. In the 1980's
it was the first children's chorus to be recognized and funded by
the National Endowment for the Arts and the Illinois Arts Council
for the professionalism of its achievements. In 2001 the Chorus
received the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publisher's
Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary
Music.
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About
Us 
The Glen
Ellyn Children's Chorus