VOICES Boston was founded in 1990 by Johanna Hill Simpson as Performing Artists at Lincoln School in Brookline, an after-school program providing training in choral singing, dance, and drama. In the following years, the ensemble built relationships with leading arts organizations and expanded participation to children throughout the greater Boston area, reflected in its renaming as VOICES Boston in 2014. Today, VB provides singing, dance, and theater education to children aged 5-14 across four ensembles: First Note (K-1st grade, ages 5-7), Melody (2nd-3rd, ages 7-8), Harmony (3rd-5th, ages 8-10) and VOICES Boston Children’s Choir (VBCC; 5th-8th, ages 10-14).

Mission Statement

VOICES Boston is a leading children’s choir organization that exists to enrich the lives of young people in the Boston area. We provide a nurturing environment for artistic growth that fosters confidence, discipline, leadership skills, and an abiding love of music. We aim to positively impact the lives of children by providing high-quality music education and inclusive opportunities for collaborative music-making.

Vision Statement

VOICES Boston aspires to be a world-class performing arts group accessible to all young people in the greater Boston area, known for its exceptional choral and theatrical productions spanning a diverse range of musical genres, languages, and cultures. We firmly believe that ensemble learning empowers children to create art that is simultaneously meaningful, inspiring, and joy-filled. We embrace the unique talents and potential of each child, inspiring them to actively pursue personal and artistic growth, cultivate a sense of community, develop a lifelong love of music, and make a positive impact in the world.

Values and Core Beliefs

VOICES Boston is guided by the following values and core beliefs:

We strive to be a community that actively promotes the shared values of accessibility, diversity, and inclusivity and fosters artistic expression that contributes positively to the world.
Collaborative music-making is a powerful developmental tool to build confidence, discover artistic expression, create community, and cultivate leadership skills.
Ensemble learning develops skills in teamwork and communication that impact all aspects of students’ lives.
The unique perspectives and voices of children are inherently valuable, contributing to their ability to create meaningful and high-quality art.
Art should be accessible to all: musical background and financial means should not determine a child’s ability to participate, create, and work towards fulfilling their artistic aspirations.
Studying and performing diverse and multifaceted repertoire from around the world creates a deep understanding and love for different cultures, languages, and backgrounds.
Community-based performance collaborations nurture students’ abilities to be engaged citizens and provide enriching opportunities for personal and musical growth.
We seek to provide a safe, accepting, and affirming space for students to celebrate their personal expression and exploration of true self and personal identity.

VOICES of the Future

35th Anniversary Concert