Northern California Youth Chorus
Our Mission
The mission of Northern California Youth Chorus is to nurture the human spirit of all children through a choral music program that provides excellent training in vocal technique and musicianship skills, teaches repertoire from diverse cultural and historical periods, and provides a variety of performance opportunities in local, national and international venues.
Meet our Directors
Founder and Artistic Director
Judy Britts
Judy Britts is a music teacher, vocal coach, educator, encourager, conductor, and performance trainer simply translated to, “I teach children to sing”. As founder of the Northern California Youth Chorus, her goal in creating the chorus was to give children and youth an excellent choral experience from the surrounding area of Sacramento.
As a music performance major at San Jose State University, she studied conducting with Dr. Charlene Archibeque and presented her senior recital in choral conducting with a choir of 60 girls she had worked with the previous summer. Mrs. Britts received her master’s degree in education from CSU, Sacramento. During her career, Mrs. Britts has worked in churches conducting children, youth, and adults, and she taught at private schools in Santa Rosa and Sacramento.
A nationally sought after festival director and music workshop clinician, Ms. Britts has provided workshops for organizations including; American Choral Directors Association, American Guild of Organists, Choral Conductors Guild and Choristers Guild. She has served on the Board of Directors for Choristers Guild as President and taught for several years in the music department at California State University, Sacramento. Most recently she has been appointed as Director of Chanteuse, a semi-professional women’s chamber choir in the Sacramento area.
Primo Voce Director
Sarah Van Hoy
Sarah Van Hoy has been the director of Primo Voce for over a decade. She is a gifted teacher who engages the children from the moment they enter the room.
“I just love watching Sarah teach. She has a way with the singers where they feel like they are playing; but she is working on tone, or singing high notes, or learning to read a rhythm pattern. Singers love being with her because she makes them feel good about themselves.” (Judy Britts, Artistic Director)
Ms. Van Hoy teaches elementary general music and choir in the Western Placer Unified School District for 20 years. She is passionate about teaching children and participates in regular professional development through Education through Music (ETM) and the American River Orff Schulwerk Association. She is part of the support staff with ETM helping to lead classroom teachers on how to incorporate music into their elementary classroom.
What keeps you so passionate about your work?
“For me, it’s seeing the light bulbs go off. It’s watching progress—from the first rehearsal when we barely know each other, to when everything clicks, and it feels like we’re one. Those magical moments, especially for the youngest children, are so special. They get excited, and I live for that. Plus, we just have a good time.” Sarah Van Hoy
Ms. Van Hoy earned her BA in Music with emphasis in Music Education and Vocal Performance from California State University, Chico. She studied under nationally recognized choral director Dr. Jeffrey Gemmell and participated in national tours with the A Cappella and Chamber Choirs. She has extensive experience as a participant, assistant, and board member with children’s choirs including the Marin Girls’ Chorus, the Children’s Choir of Chico, and the Northern California Youth Chorus.