WOW–30 years! It’s incredible to think that what started in 1995 with just 16 voices has grown into a vibrant organization reaching 1,200 young musicians each year. This milestone isn’t just about the music, it’s about the passion, dedication, and joy that has shaped our journey; and we couldn’t have done it without you. Our singers, families, supporters, and community have been the heart of this organization, lifting us up and making it possible for young voices to be heard. Thank you for being part of our story!
This spring, our annual “Lift Ev’ry Voice & Sing” concert featured a powerful performance from the Morehouse College Glee Club. It was a shining moment that celebrated the power of music to bring people together, inspire change, and uplift our community
As we celebrate 30 years of song, we’re also looking ahead to the next 30–and beyond! To ensure that JCC’s legacy continues for generations, we’re launching an Endowment Fund with an ambitious goal: three million dollars in three years. This fund will provide lasting support for our programs, scholarships, and artistic excellence, no matter what challenges come our way.
The JCC is more than a chorus; it’s a place where children find confidence, belonging, and their own voice With a strong foundation, we can dream bigger, reach more children, and make an even greater impact in our community
We invite you to be part of this exciting future. Every gift, big or small, brings us closer to our three million dollar goal and ensures that young singers will continue to feel the joy of music for generations to come
With gratitude,
Darren Dailey President & Artistic Director
2025 SENIOR SINGER HIGHLIGHT
Where will she go from here?
Maggie, 2024
“I
Maggie Trull Member of Touring Choir
“Self-comparison is the thief of joy”
• JCC member for 11 years
• Not sure what she wants to study yet, leaning towards music education
• Wants to stay local to Jacksonville
first decided to join the JCC when my mom was on the couch with a flyer she found. I had always loved music so I thought it might be fun and I’m eternally grateful I decided to audition.
Virginia Dickert Primary & Training Choir Conductor
Sachiko Frampton Collaborative Pianist
Rebecca Minor Vocal Exploration Class & Voice Instructor
The Chorus has provided me with so many opportunities to see the world, find friends, learn valuable life skills, and has shaped are like a second family to me and I love I getting to learn more about something I love: singing!”
DID YOU KNOW?
• Singing in groups has been found to increase self-confidence, empowerment, wellbeing and interpersonal skills, instill a sense of joy and accomplishment, lower feelings of social isolation, depression and anxiety, and create denser social networks.1
• Singing appears to reduce stress. A 2017 study measuring hormones indicated that 20 minutes of either choir or solo singing is su cient to increase happiness and decrease sadness and worry.2
• Group singing can help you grieve. Weekly singing in a choir was found to support stability in mental health and well-being as well as increasing self3
Assistant Primary & Training Choir Conductor
Jessye Russom Preschool Class Instructor
Dr. Julie Myung Song Cantate Choir Conductor
Kaitlynn Tobias Primary & Training Choir Conductor
F UL L-T I ME STA F F:
Kiera Bates Recruitment, Marketing, & Special Events Coordinator
Katherine “KT” Boling Director of Operations
Joyanne Goronal Business Coordinator
Sarah Leitch Program & Volunteer Coordinator
Citations
1. Gridley, H., Astbury, J., Sharples, J., & Aguirre, C. (2011). Benefits of group singing for community mental health and wellbeing: a survey and literature review Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) Carlton, Australia, 28.
2. Schladt, T. M., Nordmann, G. C., Emilius, R., Kudielka, B. M., de Jong, T. R., & Neumann, I. D. (2017). Choir neuroscience, 11 (Art. 430), 1-9. doi org/ 10.3389/fnhum.2017 00430
3. org/ 10 1136/bmjspcare-2018-001642
Silas Lewis Interim Development Assistant
Dale Patrick Program & IT Coordinator
KEEPING THE MUSIC ALIVE: MARLYN’S STORY
Marlyn Ogburn
Finance Director from 2000-2013
My journey with the Chorus began in 1998 when my daughter Annie joined as a 4th grader under director Jim Taylor. When he announced his departure, Twila Miller, an experienced choral director, stepped in. She quickly rounded up a group of parents to take up the cause and we all got to work.
My job was purely administrative, as I was no singer!
We faced many challenges: securing non-profit status, organizing financials, finding rehearsal space, funding, and recruiting singers. For the first headquarters. Administrative assistants and volunteers worked out of my Riverside
For the first year, I did not take a salary. It seemed more important to pay received a few thousand dollars, but the benefit that the Chorus provided to children motivated me to keep going. Singing was transformational; it was a great way for children to bond and have experiences like travel and gain confidence.
During Jim Taylor ’s tenure, Board members would sometimes provide tuition for a child who could not population.
Without prior experience, I was thrilled when the first grant I wrote for the Chorus resulted in an award from the State of Florida! Grants from the City of Jacksonville and the Jaguars Foundation became a crucial part of funding our programs and scholarships.
After Mrs. Miller ’s departure in 2005, the Board kept JCC operating until Darren Dailey was named Artistic and Executive Director in 2006. When I retired in 2013, I knew JCC would continue to thrive because there are children who were born to sing!
Marlyn’s Daughter, Annie, 1998
THE EARLY YEARS OF THE JACKSONVILLE CHILDREN’S CHORUS
Dr. Jim Taylor
Founder and Artistic Director from 1995-2000
My love for working with children began in the late 1980s as a full-time church musician in West Central Florida. Shortly after, I was introduced to the Toronto Children’s Chorus and was awed by the sound that Jean Ashworth-Bartle drew from the children; I had met Henry Leck, founder of the Indianapolis Children’s Chorus, at various events; and my mentor, Roger McMurrin, had a fine boy choir in Ft. Lauderdale The community children’s choir movement was becoming strong nationally
In 1994, I moved to Jacksonville and was surprised to find a city of a million people without a community children’s chorus. I came to know Dr. Jon Carlson at Jacksonville University, and with his support we launched the Jacksonville University Children’s Chorus. I was even able to recruit on-air during rush hour, thanks to my good friend, Madge Bruner, at WJCT. 16 eager young singers and our accompanist, Gavin Taylor, shaped those early rehearsals.
Our numbers grew quickly–from 16 to over 50 singers in just a few years.
spaces from Jacksonville University to Landon Middle School, and later to St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Finally, Christ Presbyterian Church in Mandarin became our home base, with its leadership seeing the Chorus as a ministry to the city By this time the JCC had performed at the Jaguar stadium, Terry Concert Hall, Disney World, and the Florida ACDA conference. We even had the thrill of performing live on WJCT and taking part in Carnegie Hall children’s choir festivals in 1997, 1998, and 1999.
In 2000, I felt called to a new role in Colorado Springs. In a providence clearly of divine making, I met Ty Miller, a woman recently moved to Jacksonville from Indiana, where she had directed the Ft. Wayne Children’s Choir for 10 years. I passed the baton to her, with 100 singers in two sections, and thus began the next chapter in the history of the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus.
Diana Donovan Executive Director Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville
As a vibrant and inspiring organization, Jacksonville Children’s Chorus (JCC) is
transformative opportunities to young people and fostering a deep appreciation for the arts across the city
The JCC embodies a commitment to excellence and community resiliency, creating a space where children from all walks of life can unite in the shared pursuit of musical artistry Through rigorous training and a focus on personal growth, the JCC has instilled confidence, discipline, and a pipeline of talent to Jacksonville’s future creative workforce. These values ripple beyond the rehearsal space, shaping well-rounded, empathetic leaders who are invested in their communities.
The impact of the JCC on Jacksonville cannot be overstated. Their performances–whether in local venues, national stages, or international arenas–are a testament to their exceptional artistry and their ability to represent the vibrancy of Jacksonville on a global scale. By nurturing talent and creating moments of beauty and inspiration, JCC has positioned Jacksonville as a city where the arts thrive and where young voices can shape a brighter future.
