Millennial Choirs & Orchestras (MCO) is an American musical organization that was founded in 2007 for the purpose of teaching sacred and classical music, especially to its youth.[1] The organization prioritizes in offering music performance education, with a focus on the works and styles of classical composers.
Organization
MCO was founded in 2007 by brothers and musicians Dr. Brett Stewart and Brandon Stewart. The organization's artistic staff also includes the following musical directors: Dr. Joni Jensen, Dr. Jodi Reed, Emily Cook, and Christina Bishop.[2] MCO operates under the parent organization Millennial Music, which is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Annually, more than 5,000 individuals participate in MCO.[3] MCO has seven locations: California (Orange County), Arizona (East Valley), Texas-Dallas, Texas-Austin, Utah (Wasatch Front), Idaho (Treasure Valley), and Missouri (Kansas City).[4] Each location comprises four youth choirs, an adult choir, and a symphony orchestra.[5]
Young Singers Chorus: Young children (age 4–1st grade)
History
Orange County Mormon Choral Organization (OCMCO) is founded in Orange County, California in the fall of 2007.[7] The name would eventually be changed to Millennial Choirs & Orchestras.
MCO expands to East Valley (Phoenix metropolitan area), Arizona in the fall of 2009.[8]
MCO releases its debut album That Easter Morn on December 1, 2009.[1]
MCO releases its second album Messiah in America on December 13, 2011.[1]
MCO releases its third album O Holy Night, also their first Christmas album, on November 6, 2012.
MCO releases single "How Great Thou Art" on November 12, 2013.
MCO releases its fourth album To Be American on July 1, 2014.[1]
MCO expands to the Boise, Idaho region in the fall of 2015.[11]
In June 2016, participants from MCO's five locales participated in its "God & Country Tour" to Washington, D.C.[1]
MCO releases Amazing Grace, its fifth album on October 28, 2016.[1]
In June 2017, participants from MCO's five locales performed and recorded selections from their Be Still, My Soul concert repertoire in the Salt Lake Tabernacle at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.[1]
MCO releases singles "Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains" and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" on December 22, 2017.
On July 12–13, 2019, participants from MCO's five locales performed two concerts with selections from their Nearer, My God, To Thee concert repertoire at Carnegie Hall in New York, New York, featuring soloists Jenny Oaks Baker (violinist) and [1]Erin Morley (soprano). The third concert, which included participants from California and Utah, was cancelled due to the Manhattan blackout of July 2019.[1]
MCO releases single "Be Still, My Soul" on July 31, 2019.
MCO releases Millennial Song, its sixth album, on October 25, 2019.[1]
MCO releases Star of Wonder, its seventh album, on December 16, 2020.[1]
MCO releases single "Gloria" on December 29, 2020.