History of the Santa Rosa Children's Chorus

The Santa Rosa Children’s Chorus was founded in 1984 by Juelle Hinman in order to create a professional level, non denominational chorus for the children of Sonoma county for churches, schools, local organizations and private gatherings. Their reputation grew over the years, and they were invited to perform with the Santa Rosa Symphony, the Sonoma County Chorus and Opera Santa Rosa. Annual tours have taken them to Los Angeles, the Gold Country, Monterey Bay, Seattle, and British Columbia, where they were one of only seven children's choruses worlds wide who were accepted to participate in the Kathaumixw International Choral Festival. In December 1993, the Concert Group was asked to sing at the memorial service for Polly Klaas. This was nationally televised and due to the overwhelming response to our song, Goin’ Up A Yonder is now available on cassette in addition to the chorus’ other professional recordings. In Spring 1996, the Concert Group received high accolades and a standing ovation following their concert at the Western Regional ACDA Convention in Pasadena.

In July 1998, the Chorus went on a concert tour to Italy. Among their concerts in Rome, Florence and Venice, they sang a Mass at St. Peter's in Rome. They performed with the Santa Rosa Symphony in Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and War Requiem and most recently, Britten’s Spring Symphony. They have joined with the Sonoma County Bach Choir in performances of J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion, the Christmas Oratorio, and most recently, the St. Mathew Passion. The Chorus went on a concert tour to Germany and Austria in the summer 2003. They performed in Ballet California’s production of The Nutcracker in December 2005 and 2007.