YOUTH PROGRAMS

"Music brings us together, helping us reflect upon who we are, where we have come from, and what lies ahead.’ The arts and music transcend ‘languages, cultures, and borders’ … and helps ‘exchange ideas and styles and share in the artistic vibrancy born from diverse experiences and traditions." - President Barack Obama

Tacoma Refugee Choir has proudly partnered with teachers and educators in Tacoma Public Schools since 2020.

Building Community Through Music

In 2023, we launched our current Youth Program, bringing Tacoma Refugee Choir directly into Tacoma classrooms. Through shared musical experiences and meaningful conversations, we're bridging cultural differences, building community, and developing the next generation of leaders.

In partnership with Tacoma Public Schools, we create spaces where students discover their voices, develops self-worth, and gain access to mentorship and performance opportunities that inspire confidence and connection.

Program Impacts

9 Tacoma public schools participating, including 5 in our intensive 8-week School Residency Program
500+ students joining the Tacoma Refugee Choir at our annual program-wide spring concert
Annual youth summit developing leadership skills and harnessing diversity for positive community transformation

Teacher Resources

Educators are at the heart of lasting change. Through our Teacher Resources, classroom teachers can participate in workshops and access curriculum materials, learning TRC's culturally responsive music pedagogy and bringing our songs into their classrooms. Together, we're weaving lessons about inclusivity and community-building into the fabric of music education, always with the underlying goal of creating harmony out of our diversity.

School Residency

For schools ready to dive deeper, our School Residency Program offers an immersive eight-week journey. During weekly hour-long sessions integrated into the school day, students learn from teaching artists and culture bearers, exploring what community means, collaborating to create music, and stepping into opportunities for mentorship, performance, and authentic self-expression. This is where music becomes a vehicle for students to connect to their own stories and discover their power to shape the world around them.

Tacoma Sings

Every year, our program builds toward a powerful culmination: Tacoma Sings, our annual spring concert where students from all participating schools stand side-by-side with the Tacoma Refugee Choir. Together, more than 500 voices unite to perform songs they've been learning and discussing throughout the year