The Arlington Children’s Chorus

The Arlington Children's Chorus (ACC) is a Virginia 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing exceptional choral music education to children in Arlington, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., and throughout the Northern Virginia area. Founded in May 2010 under the visionary leadership of Mr. Kevin Carr and now lead by Artistic Director Felix Polendey, the ACC has rapidly established itself as a cornerstone of youth choral music in the region.

Our talented young voices have performed at some the most prestigious venues in the nation, including The White House, The Kennedy Center, The National Gallery of Art, and the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. The ACC also entertained audiences at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, The Greenbrier Resort, and various national conferences. The ACC's reputation for excellence has been recognized by media outlets, with features on PBS' Top of the Town, WTOP radio, News Channel 8, and Fox 5 News in Washington, D.C.

The Choral Groups

The ACC is structured into three progressive tiers, welcoming diversity and singers of all levels. Auditions are held 2-3 times a year. Please visit the auditions section for more information on how to join.

Our Dolce Chorus, designed for elementary school children in grades 2 and above, focuses on fundamental skills such as basic vocal production, music reading, solfege, and rhythmic training. The repertoire for this group is primarily in English, with an introduction to foreign language pieces, helping young singers grasp the concept of ensemble performance. The Dolces appear in self-sponsored concerts and occasionally sing in independent concerts when opportunities for their special talents arise.

As choristers advance, they progress to our Troubadour Chorus, the intermediate level tier. Here, children build on their foundational skills, tackling more sophisticated musical structures, texts, voicing, and languages. Troubadours can expect to perform multiple times throughout the year, participating in ACC's seasonal concerts and community events. On occasion, individual students may be called upon to perform with the Bel Canto Chorus in major orchestral, operatic, and choral productions.

Our most advanced tier, the Bel Canto Chorus, represents the ACC at national and regional events and collaborates with professional groups such as the National Symphony and the Wolf Trap Opera Company. These talented youngsters work with complex, multi-lingual repertoire across various styles and cultures, striving to achieve a superior sound and the highest level of artistic musicianship.

Through our programs, we aim not just to nurture young voices, but to enrich lives through the transformative power of music.