About Kairos
Our Mission
“To inspire empathy and a sense of collective humanity through the art of choral music at a formative time in children’s development. Music is vital in bringing us together, forming communities, and creating a responsible, compassionate relationship to our world.”
Our Story
Kairos: [Greek; καιρόs Kah-ee-ros] Means in Greek: “Time measured by quality; the moment when all things work together in harmony.”
An emphasis on choral music excellence has carried Kairos Youth Choir since its founding in 1990. Now in its Thirty Fourth Season, Kairos continues to be a vital part of the Bay Area community. Kairos Choir has appeared in many civic and cultural events, including the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, the Berkeley Opera, and the Hard Nut with the Mark Morris Dance Group. More recently, Kairos engaged in a musical collaboration with the California Bach Society for their award-winning performance of St. Matthew Passion, and have been selected for regular performances at the Junior Bach Festival. The representatives from this unique and soulful California choir have sung internationally at Tivoli Gardens in Denmark, throughout Norway in 2000, Tuscany Italy in 2008, at the Festival of the Aegean in Syros, Greece in 2011, and in choral festivals in Austria and the Czech Republic in 2014. Kairos was invited for the honor of return performances at the Festival of the Aegean in Greece again in 2017, and in 2023, won double bronze medals at the Festival of Preveza.
Members of Kairos have different cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. With a common interest in music, they sing together and build relationships, which often grow into lifetime friendships. The Choir maintains contact with growing numbers of Kairos alumni. Many describe the Kairos experience as one of the most important positive influences in their lives.
The program teaches music theory and vocal development, with a focus on how learning these skills can deepen and express our humanity. All choir education reflects an approach designed to nurture leadership, sensitivity, independence and self-discipline.
In January of 2010, Kairos Youth Choir was recognized at the State Senate for twenty years of exceptional community service in the arts.
Kairos was established as a 501(c)(3) organization in September 2014.
