Houston Childrens Chorus Inc

I was a member from 5th to 8th grade. I don't remember the chorus fondly at all. I loved to sing, and had musical career aspirations at the time. The chorus back then (1998-2001) was comprised primarily of kids from wealthy backgrounds attending private schools and as a public school middle class kid, I was definitely treated as "less than" by kids who were supposed to be my peers. The choir also brought in "inner city kids" who would join us for rehearsals and some performances, but never explained what their situation or affiliation was. The adults treated them as being separate, it was so weird. Most of those kids were black, and there was serious self segregating going on, probably because of vast class and cultural differences. There weren't attempts by adults to create inclusivity or sensitivity among choir members.
I can confirm another reviewer's statement about boys being moved up into the more prestigious choirs more easily than girls. I overheard adults talking about how boys were shoe-ins in the choir, while for girls it was more competitive. The founder and director, is a high-strung person, and I don't think he even likes children. He can just intimidate and bully them more easily than if he were running an adult choir. If the choir wasn't meeting his standards in rehearsal, he yelled, turned red, had veins bulging from his forehead. I remember him biting his fist, stomping his feet, and screaming at us. There were other adults around, but nobody ever questioned him or stood up to him. It was surreal, this man shouting at a room full of children, for not being professional enough.
My parents paid a couple hundred dollars for me to participate each year. The choir earns money from performing at weddings and events, and ticket sales for their various concerts. The children never see any of that money, and they work hard to learn an intense repertoire of challenging music in multiple languages. We were never praised for our hard work or talent. We weren't thrown a pizza party or taken to Astroworld, or whatever other way you reward a team for a job well done.
A memory from a one week trip to Rome encapsulates the experience of this weird authoritarian organization. I had finally made a friend, the only one I had in the choir. We were in a touristy spot, in our conspicuous chorus t-shirts and she told me she would be leaving the choir after the trip. I began to cry. My only friend in this sad organization was leaving me alone with the sneering rich kids. The director ordered me to stop crying. He put his face close to mine and was whispering furiously. The image of the chorus was clearly at stake. He didn't know why I was crying. He didn't ask, he just wanted me to stop it. Stop. Crying. The look in his eyes was pure fury.
I wouldn't put any child into this choir while the current director is still helming it.

If you want your child to have amazing experiences such as singing for dignitaries at exclusive events, performing in foreign countries, learning about other cultures, and working and having fun alongside children from diverse backgrounds, then this is your best opportunity! Not only do the children learn about music, they gain discipline, develop poise, and form meaningful friendships. I know this because I had two children in the chorus and have chaperoned choir trips to Ireland and Canada. Also, I am a donor and a board member.

The Houston Children's Chorus provides a wonderful learning environment for children to be exposed to a wide variety of musical presentation forms. They are provided the opportunity to perform at a variety of venues and gain exposure to a number of performance styles. Rehearsals are very well run, providing a good learning venue and the discipline needed to execute on musical pieces in a number of different languages. The Chorus is made up of children from all over Houston and the surrounding area, some coming from over 50 miles each way. The Chorus provides a wonderful experience for children from a wide variety of demographic and socio-economic backgrounds, with a number of the children being the first generation of their family to be born in the United States.

The Houston Children's Chorus has given so many wonderful children amazing opportunities and experiences, both musically and in life.

If you are the parent of a girl just watch out - she may be openly discriminated against. My daughter auditioned when we moved to Houston when she was going into 6th grade. The ladies who auditioned her were highly impressed and sure that she would be in the top choir, so when I was told later that she would have to be in the lower choir for a year because she was a girl, and that if she'd been a boy she'd be straight into the top choir I was incensed. As a performer myself I know that one can be 'not accepted' for a part for any reason at all, including being too fat, too short, too white, too black, or just not good enough, but when the organization accepts public money they cannot TELL you that they didn't take you 'because girls have to be in the lower choir first and boys don't.' I tried to tell the organization that, and that they needed to train their secretary on what to tell people or they could be sued, but My. Roddy blew up and called me a bad parent and said they didn't want parents like me in their organization anyway - never having met me and never having spoken to me. He is used to being totally kow-towed to and never questioned. In the meantime my daughter was invited to sing with the Rice University Chorale that same year, and proceeded to HSPVA as a voice major, to singing with the Houston Symphony Chorus as a sophomore in high school, to her Bachelor of Music in Voice from Rice, her Masters in Contemporary Improv. in Voice from New England Conservatory of Music, to singing professionally with the Houston Chamber Choir and various other musical organizations around town while working on her own musical theater projects and recording her rock compositions. And I'm still the same 'bad' parent. Just defend your girls.

This nonprofit chorus serves as an opportunity for young children of all backgrounds to come together and enjoy singing as one unit. The rewards they receive are not limited to improved musical skills. They make new friends, learn discipline, manners, develop respect/acceptance of others and acquire self-confidence and poise. These are fundamental assets for young people that will serve them well their entire lives.

This is the best non-profit organization I have ever been a part of. Inspiring youth to become diciplined musicians, striving for excellence is its creed, and director and founder, Steve Roddy has changed the landscape of Houston in the 26 years.

After traveling the world singing for dignitaries, local celebrities, and authorities/politicians, I have been able to learn more than many youth and would highly recommend donating to this organization!

Bianca Bucaram
Publicist
Participant

The Houston Children's Chorus is a phenomenal organization. I am actually an alumnus of the Chorus (I was in it from 4-8th grade). During my tenure, I had the opportunity to sing with Celine Dion, sing at the Super Bowl, the Vatican and Carnegie Hall. What 8th grader can claim that? I was at times overwhelmed at the commitment and responsibility entrusted to me at the time of being in the choir, but as I look back I realize that it was molding me into an individual filled with maturity, boldness and confidence.

I had the privilege of being in the chorus from 3rd to 8th grade. Now in college, I find myself missing the choir everyday. Those years in the choir were the best of my life. I traveled to New York several times and Mexico with the choir. Those trips have helped to shape me into the person I am now. I have known Steve since I was a little girl when my big sister was in the chorus. He has taught me more about music than anyone ever could. He taught me to appreciate classical music that I would not know about otherwise. The wide variety of music we sang really opened me up to new things and cultures. The choir is so diverse so I get to meet all kinds of people! I wish I could still be in the choir, but I volunteer with alumni whenever I can. I highly recommend joining to anyone interested in music.

This is Houston's best-kept secret! These highly disciplined children represent the united nations in Houston! I have heard them perform classical music with the finest quality of singing. I have heard them sing "Texas music" for visiting dignitaries and world leaders. I have heard them sing for weddings and church/synagogue services. They are truly remarkable! I have followed this group as a volunteer/supporter for the past 21 years. I am constantly amazed at their discipline, musicianship, manners, focus, and flexibility.

The Houston Children's Chorus is a gem in Houston! We are so lucky to have Steve Roddy and the wonderful children.

My 4th grade daughter has been with the Town Choir for nearly a year now. She LOVES it and we have enjoyed many, many performances over Christmas and now in the Spring too. The chorus sings excellently under masterful conducting my Mr Stephen Roddy. We feel previleged to have our child in this group.

My daughter has been in Houston Children's Choir for 2 years. We have really noticed how her beautiful voice continues to develop and improve thanks to HCC's professional voice training. HCC, through its many performance opportunities, has also allowed her to become comfortable singing in front of many people, whether in a group or solo. My daughter is looking forward to singing with HCC at Carngegie Hall this summer.

It is a wonderful experience to listen to the chorus perform. The children are not only trained to sing beautifully but they are also taught discipline and how to perform on stage. Their events are extremely well organized and the staff handles all matters in a very professional manner.

The vocal training and performance opportunities offered are outstanding. This is an excellent way to give children experiences that will improve their singing and make them comfortable with performing.