FAQs

The Rising Generation Youth Chorus is composed of youth from around the greater St. Louis area. All area youth are invited to audition. Our last audition for the 2023-2024 Season will be held on August 12th from 10-12. Please see our auditions page for the locations.  If you are unable to attend either of those dates, please contact us to arrange a virtual option.

Specific questions? Email: risinggenerationstl@gmail.com.

We try to keep costs down as much as possible to allow everyone to participate.  There will be a $20 materials fee due at the start of the season to cover music costs.  Everyone involved with the Chorus is a volunteer, and our operating costs primarily come from periodic fundraisers.  Youth and parents are expected to participate in the fundraisers to ensure they are successful.  We never want financial concerns to prevent anyone’s participation in the Chorus.  If you have any concerns in that regard, please contact us at risinggenerationstl@gmail.com.

You must be in high school in the coming fall to be eligible. We are also accepting 8th grade tenors. (Why 8th grade for tenors? We tend to run out of tenors because they turn into basses!)

You should have a song ready to sing.  Choose one that you are familiar with and can sing comfortably. You can choose any song you like, including hymns.  We recommend you practice your audition by singing your song for people as much as you can. You will also be asked to sing a part other than the melody on a different song. Parents, music teachers, or your ward choir director can give you some tips, so you feel confident for your audition. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but preparation is noticed and appreciated.

Nope! It always helps, but for some of our singers, Rising Generation is the first group they have sung with. We do encourage participation in your school or church choir, but there is no pre-choirment. Do you see what we did there? 🙂

We don’t need you to sing a perfect song. Attitude and commitment are very important to us as well as the ability to sing in tune. We have various skill levels in the choir, so if you are interested, please come try out!

Our numbers are limited by two things: We have to fit into our rehearsal space, and we have to maintain balance between the men’s and women’s sections. We typically have a need for young men. If we have enough young men that join, we can increase the size of the women’s sections. We would love to do that, so if you know of any young men that might like to be in Rising Generation, please encourage them to come and audition.

We welcome all faiths to come sing with us, and your friend is welcome to audition and be part of the group. We are looking for youth who will be committed to the group and are excited to sing and share their testimony of Jesus Christ. Since the Rising Generation Youth Chorus represents the Church, all choir members must be willing to follow the standards outlined in the pamphlet For the Strength of Youth. These standards include modest dress, appropriate language, avoidance of drugs and alcohol, as well as embracing honesty and gratitude. Visit this link to read the summary of standards: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/ForTheStrengthOfYouth-eng.pdf?lang=eng

We are always interested in instrumentalists! Please indicate your instrument on your audition form, and if we have a need this year, we will have you audition your instrumental talent later on.

Rehearsals are held every Thursday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 at the St. Louis Stake Center in Chesterfield.  The address is: 15081 Clayton Rd, Chesterfield, MO 63017. Rehearsals will begin toward the end of August and run through April.

Members are expected to make a good-faith effort to be at every rehearsal and especially every performance. We understand that sometimes there are unavoidable conflicts (school choir performances for example), so each choir member with 4 (or fewer) missed rehearsals per semester is eligible for the performances.

Several of our singers come from some distance away and have set up carpools with families in their area to take turns driving to rehearsals and concerts. We can put you in touch with other families in your area to form carpooling groups.

Some of our choir members have attended the youth activities of a different ward during the Rising Generation season because of a similar conflict. Speak with your parents and bishop and see what they suggest.

In recent years, the Chorus has performed at the Sheldon Concert Hall, Powell Hall, First Baptist Church in St. Charles, Principia High School, Friedens Church, Missouri Baptist University, and St. Charles Christmas Traditions, as well as our own chapels across the area. We have performed in collaboration with the City of Music All-Star Chorus, Town and Country Orchestra, St. Louis Concert Choir, St. Charles County Symphony Orchestra, the Harmony for Peace organization, and the St. Louis Arts and Faith Council.

Each season will vary with the concert dates, but they are typically on weekends with a few exceptions.  Our main concerts are held in December and April.

We will need some help from parents to manage some of the logistical needs of the choir, so we would love for the parents to bring their talents and interests to the parent committees that will form at the beginning of the season.  Come share your talents with us, have fun, and create something amazing!

Please contact us: risinggenerationstl@gmail.com