Berks Youth Chorus

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Berks Youth Chorus (BYC) is a children's and youth chorus in Reading, Pennsylvania. It sings classical, contemporary, and popular music, with members in grades 3–12 from Berks County and nearby areas. The group started in 1992 as the Berks Classical Children's Chorus, founded by Donald Hinkle. Its first concert was on November 8, 1992, at Governor Mifflin High School in Shillington. In 1993 they joined Reading Choral Society to perform Carmina Burana. The chorus began with about 60 singers and grew to more than 100. Their first tour was in 1996 to Washington, D.C., and that year the high school MasterSingers group began. Dail Richie became executive director in 1997, and in 1999 Hinkle became Artistic Director, the first in that role. In 2005, BYC moved to the GoggleWorks arts center, and Hinkle retired. In 2009 BYC started free Summer Sing camps for grades 3–6 in downtown Reading. In 2012 the group changed its name to Berks Youth Chorus to reflect its wider repertoire. Today Sam Barge is the Executive and Artistic Director, and BYC continues to provide music performance, education, and advocacy in Berks County.