About Us

History

Crescendo Youth Choirs, formerly the Kirkwood Children’s Chorale, is the culmination of a long-time dream of music teachers Mary Poshak and Mimi Steele who were seeking a place for their talented students to get additional training and performing opportunities. We are an IRS registered 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization, which offers vocal training to young singers in 2nd through 12th grades. Founded in 1992 with 50 singers, Crescendo has trained thousands of St. Louis area children from numerous area school districts including the Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Lindbergh, Valley Park, Rockwood, Parkway, Ladue and many home schoolers. Crescendo’s staff is composed of musical professional directors, accompanists, and assistants.

Weekly rehearsals teach vocal skills, such as music reading, tone production, blend, correct posture and breathing, ear training, diction, expressive singing and musical interpretation. Choirs work toward excellence as they learn traditional choral literature of the highest quality from all over the world.

Aside from learning vocal skills and receiving musical training, members develop character through the discipline involved in preparing and performing music. Singers are expected to give their best at all times and work toward excellence. Commitment to weekly rehearsals is a must. Youth improve their concentration and self control through high expectations and rigorous rehearsals.

Crescendo is a member of the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis and is supported by tuition, donations, the Arts and Education Council, the Missouri Arts Council and the Regional Arts Commission.

REACH US

Who We Are

Crescendo Youth Choirs is an organization of internationally recognized, award winning youth performing choirs. The purpose of the Crescendo is to meet a need in our community for a select ensemble in which talented children can train and perform in a multi-age setting. We perform locally, nationally and around the world.

Some of our achievements include:

2023 — Voted Best Arts Educator in the St. Louis area by readers of Kids Out and About
2023 — Competed in Music in the Parks – St. Louis and Cantando was awarded first place in the elementary division with a near-perfect score
2023 — Performance tour of Nashville and a recording session in Studio B
2022 — Competed in Music in the Parks – St. Louis and Concert Choir was awarded first place in the Junior High division and best overall Middle/Junior High Choir
2022 — Performed with the STLCC-Meramec Chamber Singers
2021 — Restarted all choirs after one hear hiatus
2018 — Hired additional staff and opened our 3rd choir, “Carolers”
2017 — Hosted a regional clinician and held a concert for families at Tan-Tar-A Resort
2015 — Participated in the Springfield Boy’s Choir Choral Festival; earned Gold rating
2014 — Tour of Ireland: Dublin, Cork, Killarney, Galway
2013 — Performed with the St. Louis Philharmonic
2013 — Tour of Memphis, Tennessee
2012 — Performed with the St. Louis Philharmonic
2012 — Tour of Italy: Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome
2012 — Tour of Chicago Illinois
2011 — Participated in the Festival of the Americas, Indianapolis Indiana
2011 — Performed with the St. Louis Holiday Brass
2010 — Tour of China: Shanghai, Xi’an, Beijing
2010 — Performed with the St. Louis Holiday Brass
2009 — Performed by selection on the Mainstage at Disney World, Orlando Florida
2009 — Performed with the St. Louis Holiday Brass at the Cathedral Basilica
2009 — Performed with the St. Louis Civic Orchestra
2008 — Participated in the Pacific Rim Children’s Chorus Festival, Honolulu Hawaii
2008 — Performed with the St. Louis Holiday Brass at the Cathedral Basilica
2008 — Performed with the St. Louis Philharmonic at the Touhill Performing Arts Center
2007 — Represented the state of Missouri at the National Anthem Project, Washington D.C.
2006 — Tour of England: Birmingham, London, Winchester, Salisbury, Havant
2006 — Performed at the Missouri Music Educators Conference, Osage Beach Missouri
2005 — Participated in the Crescent City Choral Festival, New Orleans Louisiana
2004 — Tour of Austria and Germany: Salzburg, St. Gilgen, Gmunden, Linz, Nuremberg
2004 — KCC Members selected for the National Honors Choir
2003 — Tour of Branson Missouri and Tulsa Oklahoma
2003 — KCC Members selected for the National Honors Choir
2002 — Tour of Scotland: The Isle of Iona, Oban, Aberdeen Abbey
2001 — Performed by selection at the Pacific International Children’s Choir Festival, Eugene Oregon
2000 — Tour of Norway: Manger, Bergen
1999 — Honored by the City of Kirkwood for Excellence and Service
1999 — Performed by invitation at the Missouri Music Educators Conference, Osage Beach Missouri
1998 — Performed at the International Music Makers Festival, Bournemouth England (Second and Third place awards) and Bath England
1997 — KCC Founders and Directors, Mary Poshak and Mimi Steele made presentation about KCC and Children’s Choirs to Missouri State Choral Directors
1996 — Tour of Germany: Stuttgart (Sister City exchange program)
1996 — Performed by invitation at the Missouri Choral Directors Association Convention, Jefferson City Missouri
1996 — Performed by invitation at the Missouri Music Educators Conference, Osage Beach Missouri
1995 — Regional Dottie Mullen Award for Creative Programming

Crescendo Youth Choirs Awards

Crescendo Youth Choirs is recognized both nationally and internationally for award winning concerts, students, and educators. Crescendo Youth Choirs members have been selected for the National Children’s Choir and/or Missouri State Honors Choirs each year for 12 years in succession. Crescendo has hosted many visiting choirs including those from Chicago, Illinois; Mobile, Alabama; Stuttgart, Germany; Battlecreek, Michigan and the Czech Republic.

Some of our achievements include:

2023 — Voted Best Arts Educator in the St. Louis area by readers of Kids Out and About
2023 — Performance tour of Nashville and a recording session in Studio B
2023 — Competed in Music in the Parks – St. Louis and Cantando was awarded first place in the elementary division with a near-perfect score
2023 — Performed with the Nebraska Wesleyan Choir
2022 — Competed in Music in the Parks – St. Louis and Concert Choir was awarded first place in the Junior High division and best overall Middle/Junior High Choir
2022 — Performed with the STLCC-Meramec Chamber Singers
2018 — Performed with the Missouri Baptist University Chamber Singers
2017 — Performed with the St. Louis County Community Choir
2016 — Performed the US premier of Masa Matsuura’s Requiem with Women’s HOPE Chorale of St. Louis and Rosewood Ensemble Chamber Orchestra
2015 — Performed with the St. Louis Philharmonic
2015 — Participated in Boys Choir of Springfield Music Festival, earned GOLD rating
2014 — Tour of Ireland: Dublin, Cork, Killarney, Galway, Kinsale, Kylemore
2014 — Participated in Six Flags St. Louis Music Festival
2013 — Performed with the St. Louis Philharmonic
2013 — Tour of Memphis, Tennessee
2013 — Participated in BRANSON LIVE!, Branson Missouri
2013 — Performed Carmina Burana with the SIU-Edwardsville Orchestra, Choir and Dancers
2012 — Performed with the St. Louis Philharmonic
2012 — Tour of Italy: Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome
2012 — Tour of Chicago, Illinois
2011 — Participated in the Festival of the Americas, Indianapolis, Indiana
2011 — Performed with the St. Louis Holiday Brass
2010 — Tour of China: Shanghai, Xi’an, Beijing
2010 — Performed with the St. Louis Holiday Brass
2009 — Performed by selection on the Mainstage at Disney World, Orlando, Florida
2009 — Performed with the St. Louis Holiday Brass at the Cathedral Basilica
2009 — Performed with the St. Louis Civic Orchestra
2008 — Participated in the Pacific Rim Children’s Chorus Festival, Honolulu, Hawaii
2008 — Performed with the St. Louis Holiday Brass at the Cathedral Basilica
2008 — Performed with the St. Louis Philharmonic at the Touhill Performing Arts Center
2007 — Represented the state of Missouri at the National Anthem Project, Washington D.C.
2007 — Performed with the St. Louis Philharmonic
2007 — Performed Carmina Burana with Washington University Orchestra and Choir
2006 — Tour of England: Birmingham, London, Winchester, Salisbury, Havant
2006 — Hosted and Performed with the Battle Creek (Michigan) Girls Choir
2006 — Performed with the St. Louis Wind Symphony
2006 — Performed at the Missouri Music Educators Conference, Osage Beach, Missouri
2005 — Performed with the St. Louis Wind Symphony
2005 — Participated in the Crescent City Choral Festival, New Orleans, Louisiana
2005 — Performed John Rutter’s Mass of the Children with Kirkwood United Methodist Orchestra and Choir
2004 — Tour of Austria and Germany: Salzburg, St. Gilgen, Gmunden, Linz, Nuremberg
2004 — KCC Members selected for the National Honors Choir
2003 — Tour of Branson Missouri and Tulsa, Oklahoma
2003 — KCC Members selected for the National Honors Choir
2002 — Tour of Scotland: The Isle of Iona, Oban, Aberdeen Abbey
2001 — Performed by selection at the Pacific International Children’s Choir Festival, Eugene, Oregon
2000 — Tour of Norway: Manger, Bergen
1999 — Honored by the City of Kirkwood for Excellence and Service
1999 — Performed by invitation at the Missouri Music Educators Conference, Osage Beach, Missouri
1998 — Performed at the International Music Makers Festival, Bournemouth England (Second and Third place awards) and Bath, England
1997 — KCC Founders and Directors, Mary Poshak and Mimi Steele made presentation about KCC and Children’s Choirs to Missouri State Choral Directors
1996 — Tour of Germany: Stuttgart (Sister City exchange program)
1996 — Performed by invitation at the Missouri Choral Directors Association Convention, Jefferson City Missouri
1996 — Performed by invitation at the Missouri Music Educators Conference, Osage Beach Missouri
1995 — Regional Dottie Mullen Award for Creative Programming

Carolers

Carolers is comprised of our youngest singers who are ready to learn about the fundamentals of singing with accurate pitch and rhythm in a fun musical environment.

Cantando

Cantando is comprised of singers who will continue to build on their skills. Cantando will learn about correct posture, breathing, and pitch matching while developing skills in diction, correct tone production, musical artistry, and rhythmic and melodic reading. Cantando singers will continue developing their skills through unison, rounds, and canons. Singers in our Cantando ensemble will begin to explore Choral works that include traditional two-part harmonies as well.

Concert Choir

Concert Choir is a performing choir open to older children who are highly motivated, experienced singers. They will learn challenging literature and are expected to demonstrate the maturity to focus during longer rehearsals and a more demanding performance schedule. Our Concert Choir will explore traditional two, three, and four part harmonies as well as nontraditional harmonic structures. The Concert Choir will perform songs in English along with pieces in a variety of global languages and dialects. Concert Choir will sing a wide variety of literature, including songs from the major periods in traditional Western European music history. They will perform American folksongs, hymns, and contemporary music, and will explore multi-cultural works from around the world.

Interested in joining?

Join us!