Los Angeles Children’s Chorus

What Los Angeles Children’s Chorus does

Los Angeles Children's Chorus (LACC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit choral music education organization founded in 1986 in Pasadena, California, that provides sequential music literacy and vocal training to children ages 6 through 18. It operates a nine-tier program portfolio — First Experiences in Singing (FES) and Next Experiences in Singing (NES) introductory classes for grades 1–2 entrants, followed by seven progressively advanced ensembles (Preparatory Choir, Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Young Men's Ensemble, and Chorale) — supported by a Kodály-based musicianship curriculum, vocal coaching, and an annual tour program that has covered 20+ countries across six continents. The organization serves approximately 500+ choristers drawn from 80+ zip codes and 150+ K-12 schools across Southern California, with 25%+ of families receiving need-based scholarships totaling $200,000+ annually.

LACC's business model blends earned and contributed revenue. Earned income comes from tiered annual tuition ($1,067 to $3,641 per chorister plus a $100 registration fee), supplemented by ticket sales and tour fees, while the remaining 40%+ of its $1.9M–$2.5M operating budget is funded through individual, corporate, and foundation philanthropy. Its go-to-market is community-led: audition-based enrollment for choirs, school partnerships across the LA metro area, word-of-mouth from existing chorister families, and the LACC@HOLA outreach program delivering free choral education to underserved communities in partnership with Heart of Los Angeles. Its core technology is pedagogical rather than software-based — the Kodály Concept combined with bel canto vocal technique, taught through aural, visual, and kinesthetic methods by a faculty led by Artistic Director Fernando Malvar-Ruiz and Associate Artistic Director Fred Meads. Supporting infrastructure is conventional: Salesforce for donations, JotForm for audition registration, Vimeo for video, and Instagram for social.

The organization has built its brand and pipeline primarily through sustained partnerships with the region's flagship professional arts institutions — LA Opera, LA Philharmonic, LA Master Chorale, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, LA Chamber Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony, MUSE/IQUE, and Calder Quartet — which function both as performance outlets and as recruitment showcases. Brand credibility is anchored by the 2022 GRAMMY Award for Best Choral Performance, an Academy Award-nominated documentary (Sing!), and endorsements from conductors Gustavo Dudamel and Esa-Pekka Salonen. A 16-member Board of Directors (chaired by Dete Meserve) provides governance oversight, with cross-sector representation from film, education, finance, and the LA Philharmonic itself.

Name

Los Angeles Children’s Chorus

Legal name

Los Angeles Children's Chorus

Website

https://lachildrenschorus.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Los Angeles Children's Chorus is a Pasadena-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1986 that delivers Kodály-based choral music education to 500+ children ages 6–18 across Southern California through a nine-tier program of ensembles, musicianship classes, and an annual international tour program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Choral Music Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7) (EDAMANAD)

Keywords

• Youth choral education
• Children's music programs
• Choral performance training
• Music literacy curriculum
• Ensemble vocal instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: Tuition fees cover approximately 55% of the cost of participation, with all choristers automatically receiving subsidized tuition. Additional fees apply for tours and uniforms.
2. Philanthropy and Donations: Individual, corporate, and foundation donations support the organization, with earned revenues from tuition and ticket sales accounting for less than 60 percent of the operating budget.
3. Ticket Sales and Performance Revenue: Revenue from self-produced concerts and collaborative performances with partner organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Los Angeles Children's Chorus delivers a multi-tiered youth choral music education program for children ages 6-18, operating seven progressive performing ensembles (Preparatory, Apprentice, Intermediate, Concert, Chamber Singers, Young Men's Ensemble, and Chorale) plus two introductory programs (First Experiences in Singing and Next Experiences in Singing). The organization provides sequential Kodály-based musicianship instruction, vocal coaching, bel canto training, and performance opportunities with professional arts organizations including LA Opera, LA Philharmonic, and LA Master Chorale.

Product overview

Los Angeles Children's Chorus is a Grammy Award-winning nonprofit youth choral music organization offering a multi-tiered program of choral ensembles and music education. The organization operates a portfolio of seven performing ensembles (Preparatory Choir, Apprentice Choir, Intermediate Choir, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Young Men's Ensemble, and Chorale) progressing from introductory to advanced levels, supplemented by two foundational class programs (First Experiences in Singing for grades 1-2 and Next Experiences in Singing for pre-ensemble development). The organization also provides the LACC@HOLA community outreach program in partnership with Heart of Los Angeles, a Kodály-based Musicianship curriculum, annual touring programs, masterclass offerings, and access to the Sing! Films documentary collection. Programs serve children ages 6-18 from over 80 zip codes across Southern California, with tuition subsidized through philanthropy and financial aid distributed to over 25% of choristers annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Concert Choir LACC's largest and most advanced performing choir; GRAMMY Award-winning ensemble that rehearses Sundays and Tuesdays with musicianship classes and frequently performs with LA Opera, LA Philharmonic, Pasadena Symphony, and LA Master Chorale.
• Chamber Singers Select performing ensemble for musically accomplished treble-voiced singers capable of performing works of sublime complexity; rehearses on Sundays.
• Young Men's Ensemble Ensemble providing opportunity for choristers to continue singing through vocal transition; offers a forum for healthy development of maturing voices; rehearses on Sundays.
• Intermediate Choir Ensemble for choristers with more advanced musical abilities; rehearses on Mondays with musicianship classes.
• Apprentice Choir Ensemble for young singers with some prior musical experience; rehearses on Tuesdays with separate musicianship classes; directed by Eric Lifland.
• Preparatory Choir LACC's introductory choir for young singers with little to no prior musical experience; audition-based entry; rehearses on Wednesdays.
• Chorale SATB mixed-voices ensemble for technically proficient singers; comprises auditioned choristers from Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and Young Men's Ensemble; rehearses on Mondays.
• First Experiences in Singing (FES) Year-long introductory vocal instruction program for first and second graders; uses bel canto vocal technique and Kodály-based sequential lessons; meets 10 weeks each in fall and spring semesters.
• Next Experiences in Singing (NES) Pre-ensemble classes for graduates of FES and auditioning children not yet ready for performing ensembles; develops skills in preparation for Preparatory Choir through musical games, activities, and singing fundamentals.
• LACC@HOLA Free choir program partnership with Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) for students in grades 2-6; provides choral music education at no cost to HOLA participants; auditions and rehearsals take place at HOLA location.
• Tour Program Annual domestic and international touring program; Intermediate Choir participates in shorter state/West Coast tours while Concert Choir, Young Men's Ensemble, Chamber Singers, and Chorale tour internationally as cultural ambassadors.
• Masterclass Program Open masterclass series offering local educators opportunities to learn from choral education luminaries; features renowned clinicians working with LACC ensembles; includes culminating public performances; supported by Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 425 children ages 6-18 served annually from 40+ communities across Southern California
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LA OperacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLACC trains and provides children for LA Opera productions that require children's chorus or child soloists. LACC assists LA Opera by training and providing children for its opera productions.
• Los Angeles PhilharmoniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLACC performs frequently with the LA Philharmonic. LACC appears on the Grammy-winning Mahler Symphony No. 8 album with Gustavo Dudamel.
• Los Angeles Master ChoralecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLACC frequently performs with LA Master Chorale and appears on their critically acclaimed Decca recording.
• Hollywood Bowl OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLACC performs with Hollywood Bowl Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl.
• Los Angeles Chamber OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLACC performs with LA Chamber Orchestra.
• Pasadena Symphony and POPScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLACC performs with Pasadena Symphony.
• Calder QuartetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLACC performs with Calder Quartet.
• MUSE/IQUEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLACC performs with MUSE/IQUE.
• Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLACC partnered with HOLA in 2024 to bring choral music education to young HOLA participants at no cost through the LACC@HOLA program for students in grades 2-6.
• Pasadena Showcase House for the ArtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPasadena Showcase House for the Arts underwrites LACC's Masterclass program.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chicago Children's Choir: Chicago Children's Choir is a multi-level youth choral organization serving hundreds of children across the Chicago metro area through audition-based ensembles and community programs. It is directly comparable to LACC as a similarly structured, large-scale urban children's chorus with international touring and ensemble progression.
• San Francisco Girls Chorus: San Francisco Girls Chorus is a California-based youth choral organization offering progressive ensemble levels, music literacy curriculum, and performances with major orchestras. It is directly comparable to LACC in mission, pedagogy, and engagement with major West Coast professional ensembles.
• The Young People's Chorus of New York City: YPC is a Grammy-winning New York-based youth choral organization with progressive ensemble levels, music education programming, and high-profile performance partnerships. It is a close peer in scale, mission, and artistic ambition, with comparable international touring and major-institution collaborations.
• Pacific Boychoir: Pacific Boychoir is a California-based boychoir offering progressive training ensembles and concert performances. It overlaps with LACC's Young Men's Ensemble in repertoire, audition model, and West Coast performance ecosystem, including shared alumni pathways through The American Boychoir School.
• Houston Children's Chorus: Houston Children's Chorus is a multi-tiered youth choral organization serving the greater Houston area through progressive ensembles and outreach programs. It is comparable to LACC in structure, audition-based entry, ensemble progression, and regional cultural-ambassador role.
• Indianapolis Children's Choir: Indianapolis Children's Choir operates a multi-level ensemble program with international touring and community outreach. It is comparable to LACC in pedagogy, ensemble structure, and mission-driven scholarship model serving a Midwestern metropolitan area.
• Seattle Children's Chorus: Seattle Children's Chorus is a Pacific Northwest youth choral organization with progressive ensembles and performance programming. It overlaps with LACC on the West Coast touring circuit and shares a similar ensemble progression and music literacy curriculum.

Broad incumbents

• The Colburn School: The Colburn School is a Los Angeles performing arts institution offering conservatory-level training across music, dance, and theater. It is broader than LACC but overlaps in the LA music-education ecosystem, shares faculty networks (multiple LACC pianists hold Colburn roles), and serves as a downstream conservatory destination for LACC alumni.
• Idyllwild Arts: Idyllwild Arts is a Southern California arts boarding school and summer program with broad performing arts instruction including choral music. It is comparable as a regional arts-education provider and shares personnel with LACC's vocal coaching staff (Wendy Pylko taught voice there for 18 summers).

Others

• Carnegie Hall's National Youth Ensembles: Carnegie Hall's National Youth Ensembles (including NYO-USA, NYO2, and NYJC) are selective national youth performance programs. They are thematically related as elite youth ensemble programming but operate on a national-convening model rather than the local, multi-year training model of LACC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/lachildrenschorus
• Xx.com/LACCsings
• Facebookfacebook.com/losangeleschildrenschorus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles Children’s Chorus