Berks Youth Chorus Informations

Berks Youth Chorus (BYC), originally named the Berks Classical Children’s Chorus, is a children’s and youth chorus based in Reading, Pennsylvania that performs classical, contemporary, and popular music. Singers are in grades three through twelve, and come from Berks and neighboring counties. The group was founded in 1992 by Donald Hinkle, and has been led by Executive Director Dail Richie since 1997. The organization has received various accolades, including, in April 2001, top scores, all superior, during the three-day Heritage Children’s Choir Festival in New York City.

Berks Classical Children's Chorus was founded in 1992 by Donald Hinkle, and held its inaugural concert on November 8, 1992, at Governor Mifflin Senior High School in Shillington, Pennsylvania. On April 24, 1993, the chorus appeared in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana with Reading Choral Society. Starting with 60 members, the chorus membership later exceeded 100 students. In 1996, the chorus conducted its first tour, to Washington, D.C. Later that year, the MasterSingers, the high school group, was formally started. In 1997, Dail Richie was appointed Executive Director, taking over some administrative duties of founder Donald Hinkle, and initiating others. In 1999, Donald Hinkle was appointed Artistic Director, the first person to hold the position in the organization. In 2005, BCCC moved rehearsals and headquarters to the local arts and community center GoggleWorks. That same year, founder and Artistic Director Donald Hinkle retired from his duties in the chorus. Four years later, in 2009, the chorus began to offer its annual Summer Sing camps in downtown Reading. These camps are offered free to children in grades three through six. In 2012, in an effort to better represent the diversity of repertoire performed by the groups, the organization changed its name to Berks Youth Chorus (BYC).

Complete article available at this page.