Olney Community Youth Choir

Click here to register for our 2024-2025 season!

SCYC Singers

The Details

Student membership in the choirs is open to all students in grades 4-8, regardless of their school affiliation. Students learn basic elements of choral singing, proper vocal technique, and note/score reading, all while building a community of friends.

The choir rehearses weekly on Mondays at the Sandy Spring Friends Lyceum Great Room (17801 Meeting House Rd, Sandy Spring). Each semester culminates with a community concert performed with the Sherwood Community Chamber Choir.

The fall semester takes place from mid-September to mid-December. The spring semester takes place from mid-January to early May. Tuition for the fall semester only is $200.00. Tuition for both the fall & spring semesters is at the reduced rate of $375.00.

Needs-based scholarships are available. Inquire at SherwoodCommunityYouthChoir@gmail.com.

Choir Offerings

We offer two choirs, based on student age/experience:


Cavatina:
Designed for budding singers in grades 4-6, Cavatina offers a nurturing environment where children discover the beauty of music, develop confidence, and unleash their creative potential. Led by OCYC Artistic Director Mrs. Ashley Grantham, our chorus members explore a diverse repertoire ranging from traditional folk songs to pop tunes, all while learning essential vocal technique and musicianship skills. Rehearsals: Monday afternoons from 4:30-5:30pm

Crescendo: Crescendo is a vibrant community of talented singers in grades 6-8 who are dedicated to spreading the joy of music through captivating performances and heartfelt melodies. Led by OCYC Director Ms. Sidney Clarke-Lequerique, choir members not only refine their vocal skills but also cultivate friendships and a deep appreciation for the power of music to carry them into high school. Rehearsals: Monday afternoons from 5:45-6:45pm

Register for the 2024-2025 Season Here!

Still unsure of what choir to sign up for?

Reach out to SherwoodCommunityYouthChoir@gmail.com with any questions or concerns.

Our Story

Retired Sherwood High choral teacher, Mr. William Evans envisioned the youth choir to fill the need for singing opportunities for children in the Olney area. The Sherwood Community Youth Choir kicked off its inaugural season in Fall 2022 with 32 enthusiastic singers. The choir has become a community for all who wish to sing, just as SCCC has done for Sherwood HS alumni and friends in the past ten years.

The 2024-2025 season brings exciting changes for the choir. We have announced a rename to Olney Community Youth Choir (OCYC), showing our greater commitment to expanding choral opportunities in the greater Olney community. We also have expanded our offerings to singers in grades 4 through 8.

Parent Testimonials

OCYC is a warm and inviting space full of joy, connection, friendship, and growth. My daughter has gained confidence, formed friendships, and experienced the delight and magic of creating beauty through music. When the choir sings there is a bright light that shines from each singer, a light that is equally matched by the wonderful choir directors.  We are so grateful to be a part of the OCYC community. -‘22-’24 Parent

We found the youth choir on Facebook, and it has been the best thing for my daughter. We live in Rockville. The meeting place and rehearsal schedules has been great. The director’s communication has been spot on. I think the kids are having a blast and learning more about choir every day. We have been very pleased with our experience and will be back for the fall. —Spring 2023 parent

Meet the team behind OCYC

  • Ashley Grantham, Artistic Director

    Ashley Grantham is a music educator with fifteen years experience working with elementary and middle school students. She is a graduate of Sherwood High School, received a Bachelor of Music from University of Delaware, and a Master’s in Music Education from Boston University. She returned to Montgomery County ten years ago, working first as an elementary general/choral music teacher and now as a Consulting Teacher who supports fellow educators through instructional coaching. In her public school experiences she has a reputation of growing her choral programs to 80-100 students. She currently is the Membership Chair of the Maryland Music Educators Association and a teacher at the UMD Hatchling Community Music School. Ashley has previously worked for the Strathmore Children’s Chorus and MCPS Elementary Honors Chorus and has studied the Kodaly Method at New York University and choral pedagogy and conducting through Doreen Rao’s Choral Music Experience. She believes in the social and emotional betterment achieved through music-making and that choral music should be accessible to all students. She is excited to be the artistic director of OCYC and give back to the Olney community, where her inspiration for teaching was formed.

  • Sidney picture

    Sidney Clarke-Lequerique, Director

    Sidney Clarke-Lequerique is in her seventh year teaching choral/general music in Montgomery County Public Schools. She is currently the choral director at Richard Montgomery High School, where she teaches the choral ensembles, music theory, and guitar. In addition to classroom instruction, she also sponsors the Music Honor Society and assists with the Marching Rockets. Ms. Clarke is currently the manager for the Montgomery County Youth Chorus and serves the state of Maryland as the Advocacy Chair on the board of Maryland Music Educators Association. She received her bachelor's degree in music education from Florida State University. Outside of classroom teaching, she is an Assistant Music Director and also with DC's 18th Street Singers and enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with loved ones!

  • Michele Rohan, Collaborative Accompanist

    Michele Rohan, a native of Western New York, received a Bachelor of Music from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Music from The Catholic University of America. She has been teaching, performing, and directing in the DC metropolitan area for over 25 years. Michele has served on the board of both Music Teacher’s National Association and Montgomery County Music Teachers Association and was a contributing author to American Music Teacher Magazine. Outside private teaching and performing, Michele has served as musical director and teacher at Imagination Stage, The Levine School of Music, and Prince George’s County Public Schools. Her most recent performance endeavors have brought her to live music venues, as keyboardist/vocalist with the band Hudson River Line: The Music of Billy Joel and as vocalist in One Particular Harbour, a Jimmy Buffett tribute. Michele is passionate about music education and is thrilled to be part of this community project!

  • Zoe Bulitt, Choral Manager

    Zoe Bulitt is an educator with MCPS and an Olney homegrown with deep roots in the Sherwood music community. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Monmouth University and a Master’s of Arts in Teaching from UMBC. Her love of music and performing has not dulled over the years, and is excited to be joining her two passions of teaching and music by working with the Olney Community Youth Choir.

Sherwood Community Youth Choir is supported in part by funding from the Montgomery County Government and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County