Letter from Henry Leck, Founder of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir
I
n 1986, I visited the Chicago Children’s Choir in Hyde
Park and was astounded by what I saw. Not only was
the choir’s musical quality excellent, but many of the
students were impoverished and were using the choir
as a vehicle for escaping their poverty at home. It occurred to
me when I returned home that Indianapolis needed something
similar. We had school choirs and church choirs, but there was a
perceived need for a program that would draw together children
from all racial, social, religious and economic backgrounds,
across the city.
That year, the Indianapolis Children’s Choir was born. I never
could have imagined the impact that the choir would have—it’s
been one grand adventure with the choir leading the way. Moving
moments and memories fill the three decades. In 1994, when
children’s choirs weren’t well recognized, the ICC sang for the
American Choral Directors Association in San Antonio. When
we finished, we received a 13-minute standing ovation from the
audience. Even to this day, I meet directors who tell me that they
remember that performance and who were inspired to become
children’s choral directors.
One of the first times we performed at the Vatican, we sang
for Pope John Paul II, who was Polish. We had heard that he had
a favorite Polish folk song, and learned it to perform for him. He
was moved by it and came over to bless the singers afterwards.
What astonishes me the most is not the quality of music
or the quantity of students, but how life-changing and monumental an experience it has been for so many
thousands of kids. We hear from alumni frequently who keep in contact, invite us to their weddings, and keep
choir memorabilia for decades. One alumnus has told me that he couldn’t believe that he had experienced
more at 16 than many experience in a lifetime.
Over the last 30 years, the choir has grown dramatically, from 150 students to over 3,000. What has
not changed in that time, and has made the choir so successful, is the consistent quality of teaching. Our
instructors are wonderful; most are Kodaly certified and believe in sequential learning. We have a strong belief
that the way we treat kids is with a positive attitude, joy, and respect. That’s what draws kids back—they make
friends and want to come back season after season to learn and to have fun.
My wish is that the ICC will continue to thrive forever, and that it will continue to include children of all
backgrounds, create great music, and create experiences that kids will remember long after the last note of
the final performance has been sung.
1986
Henry Leck
Indianapolis
Children’s Choir is
founded by Henry
Leck; holds first
Choral Festival with
150 singers
3