To curate a professional-level vocal arts program which emphasizes work ethic, perseverance, team dynamics, creative problem-solving, self-growth and independent learning through a rigorous and demanding regimen of rehearsals, workshops and live performances – all key skills which enhance post-high school pursuits.
ABOUT US
The Vocal Music Program at Burbank High School in Burbank, California is the nation’s premiere high school choir program directed by Brett Carroll with assistant director Randy Sage.
Under their direction, the vocal performance groups utilize professionally created vocal arrangements, cutting-edge choreography, and theatrical elements to create new and exciting outlets for talented student singers.
The program benefits from professional instruction by nationally recognized arts educators and professionals from the performing arts industry.
Over the years, the choirs have been awarded 1st Place with caption awards for Outstanding Musicianship and Showmanship at every competition in Southern California as well as multiple national titles and awards at festivals in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Nashville, Indianapolis, Boston, Cincinnati, Orlando and Toronto, Canada. The students have been featured in many professional concerts/shows over the years. In the past, the choir was hired to perform in the pilot episode of “GLEE” the television series and recently performed as the opening act for Megan Hilty, star of Broadway’s “Wicked.
Many of our talented students have gone on to make their mark in the entertainment world. Here are just a few of our noteworthy alumni:
Blake Lively (“A Simple Favor”/”Gossip Girl”/”The Age of Adeline”)
Dove Cameron (Disney’s “Liv & Maddie”/“Descendants”)
Aijia Grammer (singer-songwriter/wife of recording star Andy Grammer)
Julie Adams (2014 Metropolitan Opera Winner/professional opera singer)
Kevin Zambrano ( Westside Story on Broadway, 2020)
Ellen Marlow (Frozen on. Broadway and Kinky Boots International Tour)
Matt Rosell (professional Broadway performer)
Chloe Bridges (actress starring in Disney’s Camp Rock 2)
and many, many more have gone on from Burbank High School to have highly successful careers in professional performing. We are extremely proud of these notable students but also find great pride in the thousands of other students who may not have pursued a career in music yet carried the skills they learned into the rest of their lives. The program emphasizes work ethic, team dynamics, creative problem solving, and self-growth through a rigorous and demanding regimen of rehearsals, workshops, and live performances.
The performance choirs of this urban and multicultural public high school have weathered the storms of economic uncertainty and have managed to continue providing an exceptional and unusually high-quality music education experience to thousands of high school students consistently over the past 25 years. As a self-funded co-curricular arts program, the choir relies on donations from parents, friends and fundraisers as the primary means of financial support. The Burbank Youth Vocal Arts Foundation, a nonprofit 501c3 corporation, was created by the parents of these students to support their efforts in vocal music performance. The Foundation provides logistical and event support as well as pursuing fund raising through multiple events every school year. Burbank High is not a “wealthy” school and provides outstanding music education to a student body that is 43% economically challenged.
At current federal and state education spending levels, this kind of program does not exist without generous support and help from a wide community of outside patrons of the arts who wish to see this wonderful experience continued for our talented and deserving children. Each year, our program’s budget starts over “from zero” without aid from any endowment or annual gifts. The students and community must work together each year to ensure that the students are able to benefit from this nationally recognized performing arts program.
Annually, the choirs travel to National Competitions and festivals and have been named Grand Champions and Outstanding Vocal Artists at multiple events over the year. Most recently- “In Sync”, our advanced mixed group, was awarded Grand Champion honors (as well as captions for Best Vocals and Best Visuals) at the Show Choir Nationals 2017 competition in Nashville, TN where the group performed on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Recent graduates have gone on to win scholarships to prestigious universities including AMDA N.Y.C., Los Angeles College of Music, while others and have gone on to study Musical Theatre and/or Production at NYU, Cal Arts, Columbia, USC, UCLA, UC Berkeley and Pepperdine.
If you’d like to help out our choir, please come to our shows, volunteer to help where you can and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, & Flickr for the latest news, live shows and early-bird specials on tickets!