HOW TO JOIN
We use a site called CHOIR GENIUS to
manage all registrations.
Have more Questions?
Get in touch with us!
Rehearsal Info
The Park Church,
208 W Gray St.
Elmira, NY 14901
Enter the Sanctuary through the Accessible door to the left of the office and kitchen entrance of the church parking lot.
Tuition Information
Arts should be accessible to everyone,
regardless of financial circumstances.
Sliding Scale Tuition Model based on Household Size and Household Income
VEST is committed to making music accessible for all families and to remove barriers. Access to life-changing vocal arts education should not be the exclusive privilege of those with higher levels of expendable income. Therefore, we provide a cultural and economic equalizer which empowers families to pay tuition based on their financial ability. This commitment stands on a foundation of fairness and equity and enables families across all socioeconomic brackets to access the quality music programs of VEST.
Our suggested tuition is based on local and national demographics. This tuition structure is based on an honor system.
VEST provides barrier-free access to ensemble singing as part of our mission, and we never want financial stress to restrict the ability to sing with us. Pay what you are able using this chart as a tentative guide.
Children, Youth, and Young Adult Ensemble
Annual Tuition
September 14, 2026 - May 8, 2027:
AdVESTure in Music (2nd - 3rd grade; Tuesdays 5:00 - 5:30pm)
InVESTigators (4th - 5th grade; Wednesdays 5:00 - 6:00pm)
VESTed Voices (6th - 9th grade; Wednesdays 6:15-7:15pm)
VESTige YPC (10th grade - age 22; Wednesdays 7:30 - 8:45pm)
SongVEST Collective: Singer-Songwriter Ensemble (10th grade - age 20; Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm, Vocalists & Instrumentalists)
Annual Tuition: $800*
*See the Sliding Scale Tuition Information Below for our Pay What you are Able Tuition Model
Adult Weekend Intensive Ensemble Tuition
Community Sing Intergenerational Weekend Intensives
All are welcome! Non-auditioned for all skill levels:
Suggested Registration $25 - $100
HarVEST Sing (October Intergenerational Community Sing Weekend Intensive)
Holiday VESTival (December 19th Intergenerational Community Sing Weekend Intensive and Combined Concert)
GospelVEST (January & February Intergenerational Community Sing Weekend Intensives)
BloomVEST (May Intergenerational Community Sing Weekend Intensive and Combined Concert)
Empire State VESTival Voices
Auditioned Semi-Professional Ensemble Weekend Intensives
Weekend Intensives (exact dates TBA):
Retreat - August 2026 (Ithaca, NY),
Weekend Intensives (Friday evening-Saturday all day):
October 2026 (Potsdam, NY), December 19, 2026 (Elmira-Corning, NY with all choirs), January/February 2027 (Albany, NY), May 2027 (Hamilton, NY)
VEST Tuition Payment Policy
Annual tuition may be broken into 4 monthly payments. If a member withdraws from the ensemble prior to the second month, they may request a refund for their first monthly payment. These refunds must be requested in writing and approved by the Board of Directors. Withdrawals on or after the second month are not eligible for any refund.
This tuition structure is based on an honor system. All information is kept confidential and used solely to determine tuition amount.
Payment information is collected upon registration using the site vest.choirgenius.com/registration
FAQs
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Everyone has a voice—and at VEST, every voice is welcome. Whether you’re a child just discovering music, a teen looking for creative expression, an adult returning to singing after years away, or someone who's never sung a note in public, you belong here.
You don’t need to read music. You don’t need formal training. All you need is the desire to sing.
We offer a wide range of ensembles for all ages and skill levels—including choirs for children, teenagers, and adults. Our goal is to meet you where you are and help you grow musically and personally in a supportive, joy-filled community.
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Music is a human right—not a privilege.
At VEST, we believe that everyone deserves the chance to sing, grow, and connect through music, regardless of age, income, identity, or ability. Far too often, opportunities to participate in high-quality music are limited to the few who can afford private lessons or meet rigid audition standards.We’re changing that.
We remove barriers—offering financial assistance, inclusive programs, and a welcoming space for all. When voices from different walks of life come together, the result is more than beautiful music. It’s a community where empathy, cooperation, and belonging thrive.
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VEST isn’t just a choir—it’s a community.
We don’t focus only on performance; we focus on people. We don’t just teach music; we cultivate growth, joy, and connection. We celebrate diversity in every sense—musical genres, cultural traditions, personal identities, and life experiences.
Our programs are designed to uplift and empower, whether you’re singing pop, gospel, classical, or musical theatre. Our ensembles don’t just perform—they become family.
With VEST, excellence and inclusion go hand-in-hand. We believe the most powerful performances come not from perfection, but from authenticity, shared experience, and the courage to be heard.
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When you donate to VEST, you’re not just supporting a nonprofit—you’re opening a door. You’re helping a child find their confidence, a teen discover their voice, an adult rediscover joy, or a singer feel truly included for the first time.
Your support funds scholarships, pays for inclusive programming, buys sheet music, provides musical opportunities across genres, and ensures our doors are open to all—regardless of means or ability.
Every dollar helps someone be seen, be heard, and belong.
Because when voices rise together, communities heal. And you make that possible.

