City Voices students were featured in the virtual “Fourth Sunday at Four” series from St. John’s Lutheran Church on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

Variety Club the Children’s Charity has supported the construction of a recording studio at City Voices with a grant! We are so grateful for their support!

City Voices students virtually “sang” the National Anthem at the Iowa Democratic Party’s Hall of Fame Celebration in 2020. We are proud of our students for being fully involved citizens!

Damaris Nelson (East, 12) received the “Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role” award from Des Moines Performing Arts for her portrayal of Deloris Deloris Van Cartier in “Sister Act,” and was nominated for the prestigious “Triple Threat” Award.  Owen Yoder (Lincoln, 12) received “Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role” for his role as Francis in “Forever Plaid.” Congratulations to these talented young people!

Me’Lisa Dudley (East, 11)  received All-State Honors for her performance at the IHSSA  Music Theatre Solo Contest.

Bankers Trust is supporting our 2021 Summer Music Academy with a grant! Thank you for your support!

American Enterprise Foundation is supporting our Summer Music Academy 2020 with a grant! Thank you for helping keep music accessible for all!

City Voices received a 2020 fiscal year grant, as well as a Capital Project Grant from Bravo Greater Des Moines! This support will enable us to continue to serve more students in the Des Moines metro, including the construction of a recording studio!

City Voices students sang holiday music in the lobby of the Civic Center prior to the Iowa Dance Theater’s production of “The Nutcracker” December 2019. We love sharing our music with arts patrons!

City Voices student Damaris Nelson (12) earned the lead role in “Sister Act,” at East High School, and Owen Yoder (12) earned a lead role in “Forever Plaid” at Lincoln High School, both in fall 2019. Annika Baker (Hoover, 12) was cast as the lead role in “Legally Blonde,” Shaddai Johnson (Roosevelt, 12) as the Comfort Counselor in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” and Owen Yoder (12), Lilah Gray (12), and Caitlyn Porter (12) all were cast in lead roles in Lincoln’s production of “Hairspray.”

City Voices students sang the National Anthem for the Liberty & Justice Dinner, sponsored by the Iowa Democratic Party, at Wells Fargo Arena on November 1, 2019. There were multiple presidential candidates, worldwide media, and over 14,000 attendees present. We are so proud of our singers!

City Voices students Jason Koromo (GRAD), Taryn Cook (Brody/8) and Teaching Artist Dang Felton provided music for the Community Foundation of Des Moines’s “Better Together” event, on September 20, 2018, at the Des Moines Art Center. We are proud to partner with our community’s wonderful organizations!

City Voices students Antonesia Williams (12), Damaris Nelson (11), and Nawal Rai (11) were all selected to be part of the cast of East’s production of “Rent.”

City Voices received a grant from American Enterprise in support of our Summer 2018 and 2019 Music Academies! We are so grateful!

Damaris Nelson (10, East), Antonesia Williams (11, East), Jason Koromo (12, Hoover), Justin Koromo (11, Hoover), and Laila Williams (12, Roosevelt) all participated in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s annual Jabberwock Talent Showcase Sunday, April 22, 2018 at Grandview University’s Viking Theater. Damaris won her division, and placed 2nd overall, winning $200!

Aline Merino (11) of North, Esther Ubadigbo(10), and Jordan Legvold (11) both of Roosevelt, Damaris Nelson (11) and Tessah Smith (10) of East, and Matt Eclatt (12) and Veronica Eclatt (11)  of Lincoln participated in the Iowa High School Music Association’s Solo Contest Saturday, April 14, 2019. Esther, Jordan, Tessah, Damaris, Matt and Veronica all received Division I ratings, the highest rating possible. Congratulations!

Several City Voices students participated in the Iowa High School Speech Association’s Large and Small Group Contests this winter, in Music Theater and other categories. Damaris Nelson was nominated for the All-State Competition Showcase, held at the University of Northern Iowa in Spring 2019.

City Voices had a busy 2017 holiday season – several members participated in the “Small Business Saturday” caroling event along The Avenues, as well as singing for The Tea Room’s Breakfast With Santa and in the lobby before the Iowa Dance Theater’s performance of The Nutcracker.

City Voices students Lorena Eclatt (12, Lincoln), Veronica Eclatt (10, Lincoln), Damaris Nelson (10, East), LB Rivera (12, Roosevelt), Kendall Bruce (Grad, Roosevelt), Adrian Motano (10, Lincoln), Tatum Clayburn (12, Roosevelt), Jason Koromo (12, Hoover), Justin Koromo (11, Hoover), Heaven Booker (12, Roosevelt), Esther Ubadigbo (10, Roosevelt), and Teaching Artist Chris Powell sang 3 songs for the World Food Prize Laureate Award Ceremony on Thursday, October 19, 2017. This was the 3rd straight year that City Voices students have been a part of this prestigious ceremony!

Matt Eclatt (Lincoln, 12) and Owen Yoder (Lincoln, 11) were chosen to be members of the prestigious 600-member 2018 Iowa All-State Chorus, two of only 6 students from the Des Moines Public Schools. This is City Voices’ fifth straight year of having at least one member selected for this highly-selective group.

City Voices students Heaven Booker (11, Roosevelt) and Kendall Bruce (2016, Roosevelt) and Teaching Artists Larry Moore and Chris Powell were featured as backline singers for Tony-winning “Hamilton” actor Leslie Odom, Jr. at the 2016 World Food Prize Ceremony, held at the Iowa State Capitol Building. City Voices students J’Ceon Jefferson (11, Roosevelt) and Aaliyah Fenceroy (11, Roosevelt) were members of the back-up choir.

City Voices is pleased to announce that it has received a Project Grant from the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.  Grant funds will support the Summer Music Academy, which will continue to provide individual voice lessons as well as enrichment classes in Music Theory, Musical Theatre, A Cappella and Music Production.

Click here to read about a similar program in Oklahoma – improving access to private instruction is just always a good idea!    Access for Oklahoma students

City Voices students are doing great things!

♦ City Voices students Demarius Fisher (grad, Roosevelt) and Lorena Escobar (12, Lincoln) both had feature roles in the Des Moines Playhouse’s production of “A Chorus Line,” Fall 2017. Demarius is played Richie, and Lorena played Diana Morales.  We are very proud of these young performers, and we are proud that we are helping support the next generation to build the Des Moines arts community!

♦ Heaven Booker (grad, North) is attending Iowa State University on a music theater scholarship, Jenni Martin (grad, Hoover) graduated from Waldorf College on a voice scholarship and is teaching music in the Des Moines Public Schools. Lorena Eclatt (grad, Lincoln) received a voice scholarship to attend Drake University. Michael Xayavong graduated from Columbia College (Chicago) on a Music Theater scholarship. Allegra Hernandez graduated from  Berklee College of Music on a guitar scholarship. Mayte Gomez-Cruz graduated from the University of Iowa as a Music Therapy (clinical track) major and sang in the Gospel Choir, as well as several operas. She will begin an Internship in fall 2020 at the Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, IL. Daniela Ortiz is attending the University of Kansas as a Music Therapy major and president of the Gospel Choir. She will begin an Internship in fall 2021 at the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee, FL. Maddy Sheets graduated from Columbia College in Chicago as a Music Theater major. Antonesia Williams (East, 12) has been offered a scholarship to attend Drake University to study music theater. Albert Jones is studying music at Iowa Central Community College and singing in the choir. Annika Baker is attending Iowa State University on scholarship to study Music Theater, and as a freshman was chosen for the top group, Iowa State Singers: access to college level literature and lessons helps create opportunity!