Youth Choir

The Knoxville Symphony Youth Choir is open to all vocal ranges of students grades 3rd through 12th. Previous choral experience is preferred but not required.

KSYC Fees:
Audition Fee: $25
Tuition/Membership Fee: $300
New Member Folder Fee: $35

Applications for the 2026-2027 Knoxville Symphony Youth Choir season are NOW OPEN! Click below to apply!

Tuition assistance and scholarships are available. Contact [email protected] for more information.

2026-27 Audition Information:

 August 14-15, 2026

Location:
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s Administrative Offices
100 S Gay Street, Suite 302
Knoxville, TN 37902
(Located upstairs in the Emporium)

2026-27 Audition Guidelines:

The audition process will consist of 3 main sections: 
Vocalization/Range Assessment
Prepared Songs
Listening Assessment

Section 1:  Vocalization/Range Assessment: The audition proctor will guide each singer through several warm-ups in order to assess tone and singing range.

Section 2:  Prepared Songs: Singers will prepare two songs, one of students choosing and one from the list provided.

1) Singers will prepare their song of choice. (Please choose a song you feel confident singing)
For the prepared song of your choosing please provide a backing/accompaniment track. Singers may either bring a phone to play their track, or send a link to Erin Johnson ([email protected]). Find a track for your song by searching YouTube for “song name karaoke/instrumental”

2) Select one of the following songs to prepare:

Students in grades 3-5
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Happy Birthday

Students in grades 6-12
Please choose a voice part – soprano (S), alto (A), tenor (T), or bass (B) – to sing a Capella (with no accompaniment) from the “The Star-Spangled Banner” music linked below.

The Star-Spangled Banner

Section 3:  Listening Assessment: Singers will be asked to listen and repeat pitches, basic rhythms, and note patterns.

Basic music theory and sight-singing assessments will be provided, based upon ability to read music.

KSYC Meets on Thursdays.

Rehearsal Location:
Webb School of Knoxville
9800 Webb School Lane
Knoxville, TN 37923

2026-27 Season Calendar (COMING SOON)

2026-2027 REHEARSAL TIMES:

Junior Choir:
Check in: 4:45pm – 4:55pm
Rehearsal: 5:00pm – 6:15pm

Senior Choir:
September, October, January, February
Check in: 6:00 – 6:10pm      Rehearsal: 6:15 – 7:30PM
&
November, December, March, April, May
Check in: 5:30 – 5:40pm      Rehearsal: 5:45 – 7:30PM

Erin Johnson
Erin Johnson is a graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Vocal Performance. As a Knoxville native, she has worked with students throughout the area, through her previous roles at Church Street United Methodist as the choral assistant and director of children’s choirs, as well as through her work as a clinician and voice coach with students in Knox County Schools. Erin maintains a voice studio in Knoxville, specializing in the vocal development of adolescent singers and helping young musicians navigate their voices through choral and solo settings. She is a proud member of the American Choral Directors Association and the Knoxville Choral Society.

Jean Helbig
Jean Helbig is currently the arts department chair at Webb School of Knoxville and has also served as the assistant choral director and accompanist at Webb for 30 years. Additionally, Mrs. Helbig teaches private piano classes and is the accompanist at Robertsville Baptist Church in Oak Ridge. She accompanies yearly for an honor choir at the All East Tennessee Choir concert. She was an accompanist for the Tennessee Ambassadors on their 7-country performance tour of Europe. Jean is originally from Melbourne, Florida, and received her Music Education degree from the University of Central Florida. She is married to her husband David and has 3 sons and 7 grandchildren.