History
WCC's founding artistic director, Sondra Harnes, had a vision of children from all over the world singing for friendship and peace while watching a very enthusiastic Kennedy Center Honors audience leap to their feet and cheer members of the Russian Red Army Chorus after the chorus sang God Bless America in December 1989. Ms.Harnes was inspired to found the World Children's Choir with the assistance of a small group of very dedicated parents. The first rehearsal was held the last week of February 1990. Since that time WCC has sung for four former US presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama; Queen Sofia of Spain, Queen Noor of Jordan, Kofi Annan, Mikhail Gorbachev, members of the US Supreme Court; in performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and on national and international radio and television.
Specialties
World Children's Choir provides professional quality vocal arts education (Ages 5 - 18: weekly rehearsals, private lessons and group classes, coaching for special events) and performance opportunities. In person (St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 4250 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA) for those living in the Washington, DC area. Online for those living up to 500 miles away using JackTrip Labs technology which makes it possible to sing live together online with no discernible latency. Our artistic goal is to train children and teens to sing with beauty, artistry and joy. We promote compassion, tolerance and peace through music, and raise awareness of the needs of children worldwide through our global family virtual choir projects which include children, teens and adults here and abroad. Online Global Benefit Concert in November for the Voices of Children Foundation in Ukraine will be streamed on the CommonTime.Online platform: Adults, teens, and children are invited to add their voices to our Prayer for Ukraine and Love Sings a a New Song for the World virtual choir videos. Participation is free. Everything needed to learn and record the songs is available for free. Visit our website for details.