Learn to sing and make new friends!
Mission
We inspire children through the power of music, nurturing their development in vocal technique, musicianship, and personal growth. Members are encouraged to form lasting friendships, develop leadership skills, and appreciate a diverse repertoire of music. Through a supportive environment, we cultivate not only our students' musical talents, but also empower them to listen, adapt, and thrive both on stage and in life.
Who We Are
Our Values
Artistry
Students receive high quality vocal training in choral rehearsals that allows them to grow as musicians and reach their full potential.
Inclusion
We want all children who join our chorus to feel welcome, and Vivace strives to be both affordable and accessible for all our families.
Leadership
Through music classes and performances, we help children develop leadership skills and poise, preparing them for success in all areas of life.
Community
Vivace is a place where children can make new friends, learn from each other, and feel a sense of belonging.
Collaboration
We emphasize the importance of listening—both to music and to each other—fostering teamwork and a harmonious choral community.
Growth
We guide each child on their individual journey of growth, helping them develop their musical abilities and important qualities like discipline, perseverance, creativity, and teamwork.
FOUNDER
Dr. Ingrid Lestrud
Hello Parents! I'm so excited to be starting a new children's chorus to serve the families on the east side of Montgomery County. I'm a mother of two young boys, and when I began looking for a children's choir for my five-year-old to join last year, I learned that we don't have a children's chorus within a 20 minute drive. The idea for Vivace Children's Chorus was born!
As a conductor with over 20 years of experience working with young voices, I have learned how to help children reach their full musical potential while making learning a fun and joyful experience.
I help children develop their vocal technique, interpret the symbols and terms in their printed music, and improve their listening skills. I believe in making rehearsals FUN, and we'll play musical games that teach all these elements, while also learning songs from many different cultures. Helping children discover the joy of music is extremely rewarding for me, and I am thrilled to starting a new musical journey with Vivace Children's Chorus!
Dr. Ingrid Lestrud enjoys an active career as a conductor and educator. Drawn to music and singing at an early age, she studied vocal performance as an undergraduate and discovered a passion for conducting choral and orchestral music. She went on to study orchestral conducting at the graduate level, eventually completing her Doctor of Music degree at Northwestern University, where she studied with Victor Yampolsky. While living in Chicago, Dr. Lestrud sang with the Chicago Symphony Chorus for several seasons under the baton of Riccardo Muti, performing in the Grammy award-winning recording of Verdi’s Requiem. She spent three years as the Voice Department Chair of the Merit School of Music, a community music school that serves over six thousand students with a focus on underserved communities. Collaborating with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, she worked with Renée Fleming to develop curriculum for Merit’s Solo Voice Program, and her choir performed for and with Ms. Fleming for special events.
Dr. Lestrud has served on the faculty of several colleges in the midwest and on the east coast, leading both choral and orchestral programs. In 2022, she won the Mid-Atlantic Teaching Artists Innovate + Create contest for her work with Performers With Purpose, a youth ensemble she founded that combines music with service projects for the community. Formerly a Principal Associate Conductor of the Grammy award-winning National Children’s Chorus, she has worked with some of the finest young singers in the nation, preparing them for concerts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Kennedy Center.
Dr. Lestrud currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Arlington Chorale, an auditioned volunteer chorus in Arlington, VA that performs well-known masterpieces and compelling new works. Through her leadership, the Chorale has successfully formed several collaborations and partnerships with non-profits not affiliated with the arts, allowing the Chorale to reach new demographics in the community and show local residents how choral music can connect to many social issues. She believes that these connections help audiences to better understand the relevance of choral music to their community, making a difference in the way they experience and appreciate choral music.
The environment Dr. Lestrud creates in every rehearsal is incredibly supportive, where mistakes are encouraged and used for improvement rather than symbols of failure. At the same time, rehearsals are professional at a level many young singers don’t get to experience until they’re older, and I undeniably feel better prepared for future life experiences, both in and out of music!
- Ava Thomas
info@vivacechildrenschorus.org