Children's Choir
The University of Northern Iowa Children’s Choir (UNICC) is a choral program for students in grades 3 through 9. UNICC provides a program of music education and choral performance that seeks to fulfill each child's potential, while striving to create a model of artistic excellence and diversity that represents, enriches, and gives back to the community. Singers receive training in healthy vocal technique and music literacy and have the opportunity to foster friendships while making music together with their peers.
Members of UNICC rehearse weekly on Tuesday evenings during the academic year on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa and present performances throughout the year. Collaborative highlights and featured performances for the choir include the Association of Teacher Education Tri-I Conference, the Heartland Milennium Festival, the North Central Choral Festival, the Iowa Choral Directors (ICDA) Convention, the Midwest Children's Choir Festival, the UNI Chamber Orchestra, UNI Varsity Glee Club, and the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra.
- Tuition is $150 per semester
- Full tuition is expected for each semester.
- Monthly payment option available
- 10% discount available for paying for the whole academic year
- Members who leave beginning the second week will receive a partial refund. No refunds are available after the third week of the semester.
- If you wish to apply for financial aid, please complete the Financial Aid Application before registering. You will be contacted by email when the application has been received.
Fall Semester
Fall rehearsals start September 3*
- Rehearsals will meet weekly, on Tuesdays at Jebe Hall in the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.
- Allegro (grades 3-5) will rehearse from 6:15-7:15pm.
- Vivace (grades 6-9) will rehearse from 7:15-8:15pm.
- Mandatory Parent/Guardian meeting at the beginning of the second rehearsal.
- There will be no rehearsal on November 26, 2024
- Dress Rehearsal: TBA
- Fall Concert: December 17, 2024 at 7:30pm (Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center)
Spring Semester
Spring rehearsals start January 14*
- Rehearsals will meet weekly, on Tuesdays at Jebe Hall in the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.
- Allegro (grades 3-5) will rehearse from 6:15-7:15pm.
- Vivace (grades 6-9) will rehearse from 7:15-8:15pm.
- Mandatory Parent/Guardian meeting at the beginning of the second rehearsal.
- There will be no rehearsal on March 18, 2025
- Dress Rehearsal: TBA
- Spring Concert: May 13, 2025 at 7:30pm (Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center)
*Dates/Times of rehearsals are subject to change with advanced notice.
Artistic Director
Ryan Occeña is the Artistic Director of both the UNI Children’s Choir and the Metropolitan Chorale, and serves as the chorus instructor at Central Middle School in Waterloo, IA. In his first decade as a music educator and choral conductor, he taught and directed students in preK through college at public, private, and parochial programs in Kansas, New York, and Iowa.
Rehearsals
- Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Jebe Hall
- Students in grades 3-5 attend rehearsal from 6:15-7:15pm
- Students in grades 4-9 attend rehearsal from 7:15-8:15
- All members are expected to attend weekly rehearsals and participate in performances.
- Parking is available in the visitor's lot adjacent to the Gallagher Bluedorn. Parking may be limited on days where events are scheduled for the Gallagher Bluedorn or UNI School of Music.
- Rehearsal absences should be reported to childrenschoir@uni.edu.
Collaborative Pianist
Mariko Morita is an adjunct instructor at UNI, where she teaches Music Appreciation and serves as a collaborative pianist. She began organ studies at the age of five and grew up performing on the stage. Earning BM and MM degrees in Organ Performance from Seton Hill and Emory Universities, she was honored to be the first Japanese to receive a Doctor of Music degree in Organ Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Her teachers include Tokuko Yoshida, Edgar Highberger, Timothy Albrecht, Larry Smith, Marilyn Keiser and Christopher Young.
Choir Assistants
At every rehearsal, you will find UNI students working with the Children's Choir. Assistants are generally music education majors at UNI.
This semester's assistant(s) are:
Concert Attire
Concert attire for Children's Choir members includes the Children's Choir tshirt and black on the bottom (black pants, long skirt, and socks). New members will receive a free tshirt. If returning members would like to purchase a new or additional tshirt, you can do so at registration.