The Jacksonville Children's Chorus

The Jacksonville Children's Chorus (JCC) was founded in 1995 at Jacksonville University to fill a need for a children’s music program in the area. Led by Dr. Frances B. Kinne, then Jacksonville University president, the plan to create a local choir was implemented by Dr. Jon O. Carlson and Jim Taylor, who served as the first conductor. In that first year, JCC had only 16 voices. Since then, it has grown to serve over 1000 singers annually through its programs. JCC faced many challenges because it was a small arts organization with little financial support or visibility in the community. JCC gained name recognition in 2001 when it was named the designated children's chorus of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (JSO). To ensure diversity among its members, JCC established a scholarship program in 1998 to provide financial assistance to those families who cannot afford tuition.