About LCC

Lexington Children's Chorus consists of three ensembles - a new Musical Explorers group for students entering grades K & 1, a Preparatory Chorus for students entering grades 2-4, and an Auditioned Chorus for singers entering grades 4-6 in the 2025-2026 school year. LCC is open to students from Lexington and surrounding towns and has included singers from Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Burlington, Framingham, Sudbury, Waltham, Winchester, Woburn and Wellesley.

In this packet you will find important information about our choirs, tuition, the audition process, rehearsals, attendance and concert dress requirements. Season schedules for each group for the 2025-2026 season are included below. Please carefully check the season calendar for the specific group you are interested in joining before you register.

MUSICAL EXPLORERS (NEW in 2025)

Non-Auditioned | Grades K-1

Thursdays 4:45-5:30pm

Location: Academy of Creative Arts (12 A Street, Burlington, MA 01803)

Tuition: $400

In this joyful and engaging class, students will embark on a musical journey through singing, movement, and play. Designed especially for Kindergarten and First Grade, the class encourages vocal exploration as children discover and develop their head voices. Through singing games, circle activities, and imaginative movement—such as folk and scarf dancing—students will build musical skills in a fun, age-appropriate environment. This class nurtures creativity, confidence, and a lifelong love of music.

Musical Explorers will give an informal performance for families in December and will participate in a combined Spring Concert in May. Rehearsals will take place on Thursdays from 4:45-5:30pm and will run from September to May. No audition is required to be a part of Musical Explorers. Space is limited to 25 students (on a first come, first served basis).

The $400 tuition covers the entire year and includes music and a folder. Tuition is due upon registration. An invoice will be emailed to you with the option of paying by check or credit card (for a fee).

MUSICAL EXPLORERS REGISTRATION FORM

PREPARATORY CHORUS

Non-Auditioned | Grades 2-4

Thursdays 4:45-5:30pm

Location: Academy of Creative Arts (12 A Street, Burlington, MA 01803)

Tuition: $500

This non-auditioned choir is open to singers in grades 2-4 and acts as a training choir for students who are interested in learning to sing. Students will build a foundation of healthy vocal production and aural skills through developmentally-appropriate vocal activities and repertoire. Singers meet one time per week for 45 minutes where singing, learning and fun take place! Singers will develop their musical skills through group singing, playful activities and movement and will interact with other children who share their enthusiasm for music and singing. Repertoire is specifically selected for this age level. The young singers will learn to sing in head voice with beautiful tone and will work to develop skills of pitch matching, proper breathing and singing posture. They will build a foundation of healthy vocal production and acquire some basic music reading skills. Singers are also taught performance and choir rehearsal etiquette and learn the importance of watching and following the conductor.

The Preparatory Chorus will give an informal concert for families in January and will participate in a combined Spring Concert in May. Rehearsals will take place on Thursdays from 4:45-5:30pm and will run from September to May. No audition is required to be a part of the Preparatory Choir. Space is limited to 40 singers (on a first come, first served basis).

The $500 tuition covers the entire year and includes music and a folder. Tuition is due upon registration. An invoice will be emailed to you with the option of paying by check or credit card (for a fee).

PREPARATORY CHORUS REGISTRATION FORM

AUDITIONED CHORUS (Lexington Children’s Chorus)

Auditioned | Grades 4-6

Thursdays 6:00-7:30pm

Location: Academy of Creative Arts (12 A Street, Burlington, MA 01803)

Tuition: $800

The Lexington Children’s Chorus is an auditioned chorus for singers in grades 4-6. Singers in the auditioned choir will continue to build healthy vocal technique, breath management, singing posture, vowel production, diction, musicianship, and score-reading skills. In addition, singers will continue to refine their performance and choir rehearsal etiquette.

LCC typically sings unison, two-part, and three-part music in a variety of styles and languages. LCC singers will perform a minimum of two formal concerts per year. Rehearsals will take place on Thursdays from 6:00-7:30pm and will run from late August to May. This group often participates in additional performances in the community throughout the season. The Lexington Children’s Chorus will be performing again with the Lexington Symphony for their Holiday Pops concerts in December 2025. We are looking for singers who demonstrate vocal health, who can match pitch, and who are focused and attentive. Being a part of the auditioned chorus is a serious commitment and we are looking for young singers who are willing to commit wholeheartedly to the group and make it a priority.

In order to participate in the auditions for the Lexington Children’s Chorus, each singer must fill out an audition form and indicate that they have read our information packet. The initial audition form assures us that all students and parents have read the information packet, are aware of the audition process, and are available for all of the MANDATORY rehearsals and performances for the concert season and are aware of the policies of LCC. Please check all MANDATORY dates against your family calendar in advance of your audition. No exceptions can be made for these extremely important rehearsals, so please plan accordingly. Singers in our auditioned chorus are expected to make LCC a priority and commit seriously to all of the mandatory dates in the season schedule.

Interested singers will schedule an audition which typically lasts about 10 minutes. In the audition, we will hear each singer on a piece we ask them to prepare ahead of time using the practice tools on our website. We will evaluate the singer’s ability to match pitch, echo-sing simple patterns, and perform some easy vocal exercises to check their vocal range. For more information regarding auditions, please click on the AUDITIONS tab on our website: www.lexingtonchildrenschorus.com

Once auditions are held and students are notified that they have been accepted into the Lexington Children’s Chorus, they will officially register and will be asked to acknowledge the policies of LCC. Students will not be permitted to register until they have auditioned and have been selected to be a part of the chorus for the season. Singers are expected to commit to and register for the entire 2024-2025 season.

The $800 tuition covers the entire year and includes music and a folder. Tuition is due upon registration. An invoice will be emailed to you with the option of paying by check or credit card (for a fee).

AUDITION FORM

REHEARSALS:

Musical Explorers - 45 minutes in length, 1x per week from September through May.

Thursdays 4:45-5:30pm

Preparatory Choir - 45 minutes in length, 1x per week from September through May.

Thursdays 4:45-5:30pm

Lexington Children’s Chorus - 90 minutes in length, 1x per week late August through May. Thursdays 6:00-7:30pm

Location: Academy of Creative Arts (12 A Street, Burlington, MA 01803)

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

It is our expectation that singers attend all weekly rehearsals, mandatory rehearsals and concerts. Students are permitted no more than two (2) unexcused absences from regular rehearsals for each semester in order to be eligible to perform in the concerts. If your child is absent from school (e.g. sick, religious observance), this is considered an excused absence and will not count against them. Families are asked to fill out an absence form stating the reason for the absence as far in advance as possible so the director can plan accordingly. There are particular rehearsals listed as MANDATORY (i.e. the final rehearsals leading up to each concert among others). Please check these important dates against your family calendar to make sure your child is available for each mandatory rehearsal and performance. Singers who are not present for the mandatory rehearsals or performances may no longer be eligible to participate in LCC. Our sick policy is the same as the Lexington Public Schools: your child must be fever-free without medication for 24 hours to attend a rehearsal.

COVID-19 Guidelines: We will follow the Town of Lexington/Lexington Public School protocols. At this time, masking is optional. Should your singer wish to continue to mask, they will be supported in that choice. Should your singer need to miss rehearsals due to COVID, please let us know and we will work with you and your singer with possible accommodations.

BEHAVIOR POLICY:

Every student involved in the Lexington Children’s Chorus is an important member of a special team. All students are expected to remain on their best behavior during rehearsal and performance. With a potential large group of students participating, paying attention when the director or any other adults in charge are speaking is critical. Students are expected to come to each rehearsal with a positive attitude and be ready to learn and have fun! Consistent behavior issues may lead to students being dismissed from the Lexington Children’s Chorus.

SIBLING TUITION DISCOUNT:

For families with more than one child enrolling in the LCC Program a 15% discount will be applied to the lower ensemble tuition.

CONCERT DRESS REQUIREMENTS:

For performances, all students will need to wear standard concert dress: solid black on bottom - from the waist down (dress pants or skirt; no jeans, yoga pants, leggings or athletic pants) and solid white on top- from the waist up (solid white blouse or dress shirt, 3/4-length sleeves or longer), with black dress shoes (no sneakers) and black socks or tights.

PRACTICE FILES:

We will be uploading practice files of the music to our website in the WEEKLY HOMEWORK tab: www.lexingtonchildrenschorus.com. It is our expectation that students in our auditioned chorus will take some time each week at home to practice their music and come prepared for rehearsals.

Questions or concerns? Please email the Artistic Director, Allison Iannuzzi, at director@lexingtonchildrenschorus.com.

If you have financial questions, please email or call Cantare Productions directly at

president@cantareproductions.org

Phone: 781-236-4558

Website: www.lexingtonchildrenschorus.com

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Special thanks to Academy of Creative Arts for their generous sponsorship of our program!

Meet the Artistic Director

Allison Iannuzzi

Allison Iannuzzi, Lexington Children’s Chorus Artistic Director, is an experienced performing arts educator, having taught vocal and instrumental music and drama to students in Pre-K through eighth grade for the past twenty-five years. With previous posts in Wellesley and Lexington, she currently teaches music at the Chenery Upper Elementary School in Belmont, MA. Allison earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education summa cum laude from Westminster Choir College (Princeton, NJ) and a Master’s Degree in Music Education summa cum laude from Boston University. Allison has appeared as a vocal soloist in concert and musical theater repertoire and has performed in world-class choral ensembles including the Westminster Symphonic Choir and the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. Highlights include concerts with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, and the New Jersey Symphony. Allison is so pleased to share her passion for developing healthy, expressive singing with the young singers of the Lexington Children’s Chorus.

Meet Our Accompanist

Matthew Polletto

Matthew is entering his 26th year as an elementary music education specialist. He began his teaching career in the Brookline Public Schools, a position he held for nine years. In the fall of 2008, he joined the staff of the Wellesley Public Schools, accepting a position at Schofield Elementary School, where he continues his professional work to this day. Matthew earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, summa cum laude, from the University of Southern Maine School of Music (Gorham, ME) and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, summa cum laude, from Lesley University (Cambridge, MA). He also holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Teaching Composition (USM, Gorham, ME). Matthew is thrilled to be working with Allison once again and is excited to be part of the LCC community.

Musical Explorers Instructors

Julie & Blake Weller

Husband and wife team Blake and Julie Weller are seasoned music educators with a passion for crafting creative and exploratory musical experiences for young learners. Their journey together began at Phyllis Weikart’s Education Through Movement workshop in Michigan, where they both earned certification as instructors in the program. The Weller’s use a developmental and movement-based approach to nurture both musical and social growth in children. Taking their cues from their students, they guide the development of singing voices, promote steady beat and coordination, and introduce foundational music literacy concepts.

Blake, a former elementary music specialist on the West Coast, holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Oregon. Julie earned her bachelor’s in music education from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a master’s in Creative Arts Education from Fitchburg State University. After teaching music and chorus for 25 years on both the east and west coast, Julie now serves as a Health and Wellness teacher at Burlington High School.

Pictures from our Inaugural year (2019-2020)