Embossed logo with the words "SFEMS Youth Choir" and a figure of a person playing an ornate trumpet.

The SFEMS Youth Choir is ready to foster the next generation of singers!

Founded this fall, the SFEMS Youth Choir is rooted in our mission to expand access to music education. This choir will empower young singers to develop their voices, artistry, and sense of community. Through rigorous training and meaningful performance opportunities, it builds pathways for lifelong engagement in the arts.

A boys' choir practicing or performing in a formal setting with a conductor leading them. The boys are dressed in white shirts and dark pants, some holding sheet music. They stand in a semi-circle on a wooden floor inside a spacious room with cream-colored walls.

The SFEMS Youth Choir is a vibrant training and performance program for young singers, offering exceptional musical education grounded in centuries of choral tradition. Participants will explore a wide range of repertoire, develop healthy vocal technique, and build strong ensemble skills under the guidance of experienced faculty. Through rehearsals, performances, and community-building activities, choristers learn the discipline, teamwork, and artistic expression that define great singing.

In addition to local concerts, the choir will participate in tours and competitions, giving young musicians the opportunity to share their artistry with audiences across the country and around the world. These experiences foster confidence, broaden cultural understanding, and create lifelong memories for participants.

The program currently offers middle school and high school ensembles, with future plans to expand to younger students, ensuring a clear pathway for early musical engagement and growth. We hope you will join us on this journey!

If you think you may have a young singer who is interested, please contact Willa Albrecht at walbrecht@sfems.org.

Stay tuned for an announcement soon about elementary school singer enrollment in the spring!

Meet the Faculty

  • Black and white portrait of a man in formal attire with short hair, wearing a tuxedo and bow tie, against a plain background.

    Derek Tam

    DIRECTOR

    The Executive & Artistic Director of SFEMS as a whole, Derek has extensive experience working with youth choral ensembles. For four years, he served as artistic director of the 70-voice Star Valley Children’s Choir, and he was also responsible for resurrecting a choral program at Berkeley High School in 2013, He is excited to work again with developing singers to expand their knowledge and passion for choral singing.

  • A young woman with short brown hair, smiling, wearing a green top, earrings, and a necklace, outdoors with trees and a metal gate in the background.

    Willa Albrecht

    INSTRUCTOR

    A Pomona College graduate with a B.A. in Music, Willa has a deep background in choral performance, leadership, and education. She has sung with the Pomona College Choir, Glee Club, and Coro Des Moines Choral Festival, performing a wide range of repertoire in both domestic and international settings. As choir manager and ensemble president, she helped build strong musical communities and support her fellow singers. She has also mentored students in music theory and worked extensively with young performers through musical theater camps. Willa is excited to bring her love of choral music and teaching to SFEMS Youth Choir.

  • A portrait of a young man with curly brown hair, blue eyes, and light facial hair, wearing a white T-shirt against a black background.

    Evan Alparone

    INSTRUCTOR

    A Bay Area native with 15 years of teaching, conducting, and accompaniment experience, Evan Alparone earned his B.A. from University of California, Los Angeles and studied choral conducting at San Francisco State University. He served as Choral Director at Moreau Catholic High School and has music-directed more than 90 musicals, including Off-Broadway productions and major Bay Area theatre projects. Currently Music Director at Bethany United Methodist Church in San Francisco, Evan brings his passion for ensemble singing and musical theatre to every rehearsal and performance.