HOW TO JOIN
Registration will open for 2026 - 2027 on August 15, 2026
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.
VEST YPC
(Children, Youth, and Young Adult Ensembles)
bravestimo! Dementia and Community chorus
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)
BraVESTimo! Dementia and Community Chorus
Wednesdays 1:30 - 3:00pm
suggested Semester Tuition: $400*
Annual Tuition: Receive 10% off if register for the entire year
*See the Sliding Scale Tuition Information below for our Pay What you are Able Tuition Model
Our mission includes barrier-free access to vocal music ensembles
for the health and wellness of our singers.
Utilize our pay-what-you-are-able tuition model for any financial constraints.
No application or scholarship needed. Just name what you can pay.
Adult Weekend Pop-Up Chorus Tuition
Suggested Tuition:
$400 for Each Full Season
Community Sings (4 concerts) or Empire State VESTival Voices (4 concerts)
$800 for both full seasons
OR
$120 per Weekend
Both Ensembles
Community Sing Intergenerational Weekend Intensives
All are welcome! Non-auditioned for all skill levels:
HarVEST Sing October 24th, 2026
Intergenerational Community Sing)
Holiday VESTival December 12th, 2026
Intergenerational Community Sing Weekend)
GospelVEST January 30th-31st, 2027 & February Saturdays
Intergenerational Community Sing Weekend Intensives)
BloomVEST May 14th - 15th, 2027
Intergenerational Community Sing Weekend Intensive and Combined Concert
Empire State VESTival Voices
Auditioned Semi-Professional Ensemble Weekend Intensives
Weekend Intensives:
Retreat - September 2026 Corning-Elmira, ny
Weekend Intensives (Friday evening-Saturday all day):
October 2nd - 3rd, 2026
Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, NY
December 18th - 19th, 2026
Elmira-Corning, NY with all choirs
January 22nd - 23rd, 2027
Siena University, Albany, NY
April 23rd - 24th, 2027
Ithaca, NY
*See the Sliding Scale Tuition Information below for our Pay What you are Able Tuition Model
Our mission includes barrier-free access to vocal music ensembles
for the health and wellness of our singers.
Utilize our pay-what-you-are-able tuition model for any financial constraints.
No application or scholarship needed. Just name what you can pay.
Community Sings and Empire State VESTival Voices Tuition Guide
Community Sings Season:
HarVEST Sing, Holiday VESTival, GospelVEST, BloomVEST
Empire State VESTival Voices Season (Auditioned):
SUNY Potsdam, Corning-Elmira, Siena University, Ithaca College
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.
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.

