Fifty youth singers from Chicago Children’s Choir celebrated the start of the organization’s 60th year at Navy Pier.
The group premiered its 60th anniversary recording, “We All Live Here,” and unveiled an updated mission statement and logo with special guest Civil Rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson.
Chicago Children’s Choir was formed during the height of the Civil Rights Movement with the continued mission to inspire and change lives through music. At the concert, Rev. Jackson spoke about his personal experiences within the Civil Rights movement and the impactful ways the choir has given hope to the Chicago community as being the voices who stand and sing together.
Chicago Children’s Choir currently serves more than 4,300 children from ages 8 to 18 each year, with African-American and Latino youth constituting 80 percent.Its programs are in 79 Chicago schools and 116 choirs, representing all 57 Chicago ZIP codes. Approximately half of the youth in its after-school programs come from low-to-moderate income households and nearly 80 percent – roughly 3,500 singers – don’t pay for programming.
In its 60 years, Chicago Children’s Choir has become a well-recognized name with its national and international touring ensemble touring 5 continents. Its singers recently performed onstage at Chance the Rapper’s Magnificent Coloring Day — the first ever musical festival held at U.S. Cellular Field on Chicago’s Southside — and members were previously featured on Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book album.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiM8mCgKJRw]
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