Oakland Interfaith Youth Choir

The Oakland Interfaith Youth Choir introduces gospel music to youth ages 12 to 17. The choir first started in 1997, and now includes over two dozen members from diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds.

  • Touring and recording opportunities

  • Develop music & performance skills

  • Community Service Credits

  • Riley West College Scholarship opportunity

  • Professional and life skills experience

  • Perform in exciting spaces!

  • Open auditions from August to May


OIYC rehearses weekly on Saturdays, from 5pm to 6:30pm from August through May.

Choir tuition is $225 per semester (Aug-Dec, Jan-May). No one is turned away due to lack of funds!

COVID protocols – As of May 2023, OIGC does not require proof of vaccination. However, due to continuing COVID concerns, masks are required at rehearsal until further notice. Any updates in the future will be communicated and all participants in the organization are required to comply with OIGC's COVID protocols to participate. Find OIGC’s complete COVID protocols at http://www.oigc.org/governance.


Upcoming Events:

The youth choir was voted the Best Youth Gospel Choir in the 2007 Northern California Gospel Academy Awards. It has performed at local events such as the San Jose Jazz Festival, Women’s World Cup Games, Oakland Museum’s Juneteenth celebrations, “Voices of Youth” at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, and Eastlake Music Festival. The youth choir produces its own events as well, including showcase concerts and the annual holiday concert. They also tour to places such as Vancouver, BC, where the Canadian Memorial United Church was wowed by their performance. Their latest tour was to Costa Rica in January 2020, and Hawai’i in February 2017.

In addition to providing musical education and training, the choir mentors local youth and provides support for academic success and admission to college. Alumni have gone on to a variety of prestigious institutions, including Berklee College of Music, Brown University, Morehouse College, Spellman College, Stanford University, and the University of California, Berkeley. Members are frequently recruited for local musical productions.

Music Video: Let There Be Peace on Earth

Andra Day’s Rise Up
arr. Terrance Kelly

Black History Month Video Essay 2021

OIYC’s Tour to Costa Rica