Find Your Voice with
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Nova and Aurora are award-winning, citywide choirs for 6th to 12th grade students from any Oakland school. This tuition-free choir is designed for vocalists ready to take on the challenge of advanced choral singing in multiple languages and styles.
Singers rehearse and perform an engaging, inspiring, and diverse repertoire of music from around the world. Choir members have the opportunity to perform in local choral festivals, sing alongside Cantare adult choirs, participate in team-building activities and receive professional voice coaching.
Nova rehearsals are held Wednesday afternoons and one Sunday afternoon a month.
Aurora rehearsals are held Tuesday afternoons and one Sunday afternoon a month.
Consistent attendance and a requirement of participation help encourage responsibility, discipline, and commitment. Auditions are now open for the 2025-26 school year.
“I love going to Nova because it is a space where I always feel welcomed, can make friends, and can feel the joy of singing in a group.”
–Connie Tran, Nova Alumni
“My child has developed confidence and learned how to work as a team.”
– Choir Parent
Mentoring Program
One hundred percent of Nova and Aurora graduates complete high school and 98% enroll in college & vocational programs. Many are first-generation college students. High school students can choose to be paired with mentors from the Cantare community who support them beyond choir time. The Cantare Mentoring Program helps nurture each student as they transition from middle school to high school, graduation, and beyond. The program serves to empower our students to be confident, curious, involved, and informed members of our community.
