Columbus International Children's Choir won two gold medals at the 2024 World Choir Games

Columbus International Children's Choir won two gold medals at the 2024 World Choir Games

Columbus International Children's Choir received two gold medals at the award ceremony of the 2024 World Choir Games

Columbus International Children's Choir's gold medal performance at the 2024 World Choir Games

Columbus International Children's Choir

Sign up for a Choir Trial

Columbus International Children's Choir begins its 27th season ranked #92 in the world by Interkultur. The choir holds three World Choir Games gold medals and has performed at iconic venues including Carnegie Hall and the White House. We’re now enrolling singers ages 5–18. Try a rehearsal free and see why parents and children choose CICC.

Sign up for a choir trial

FAQ

  • To get started, schedule your visit using the link above.
  • No experience or preparation is necessary.
  • All classes are held on Saturdays from August to May.
  • Enrollment is open throughout the year, and tuition is prorated.
  • To check the schedule and fees, please use the link below.
  • Class location: 1220 Bethel Road,Columbus, OH 43220

See schedule and tuition

World Rank and Awards

  • Ranked #92 in the world by Interkultur, July 2025
  • Gold medal at 2024 World Choir Games in Auckland, New Zealand in the category Youth Choirs
  • Gold medal at 2024 World Choir Games in Auckland, New Zealand in the category Musica Sacra
  • Gold medal at 2018 World Choir Games in Tshwane, South Africa in the category Youth Choirs
  • Gold diploma at 2018 World Choir Games in Tshwane, South Africa in the category Musica Sacra
  • Winner of the category Youth Choirs at 2014 World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia

Memorable performances and tours

  • Carnegie Hall, 2022, 2015, 2006
  • St.Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, 2016
  • The White House, 2015
  • International tours: Canada, China, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, South Africa

Testimonials

"The Columbus International Children’s Choir is a comprehensive organization that provides first-rate choral education for participants from elementary age through high school youth. They develop musical skills through a wide variety of music, build community, and have wonderful travel experiences that help them grow as musicians and humans. They sing with commitment and joy!"
- Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt
Interim Executive Director
American Choral Directors Association

"I'm a big fan of CICC. Tatiana Kats and her colleagues provide superb musicianship and a love of kids. What could be better? I always love hearing the choirs (plural) and featuring them on Classical 101s Music in Mid Ohio! Rock on!"
- Christopher Purdy
Broadcast Manager
WOSU Public Media/Classical 101

"I was a member of the Columbus International Children's Choir and it is an experience I will never forget. From competing in the World Choir Games to performing around the world in some of the most iconic artistic hubs, Tatiana Kats and the other teachers provided a wonderful serious yet greatly enjoyable experience to each of us. I developed greatly as a singer and I learned to love art in a way that I did not think was possible. I would recommend this experience to anyone interested in developing as an artist or in immersing yourself with talented teachers and kids that love art."
- Niki Grotewold
CICC Alumnus


Our Choirs

Creative Notes (ages 5-7)

The youngest children start singing in Creative Notes Choir. These children learn the basics of choral singing, explore their singing voices, and gain confidence in singing alone and with others. They learn breathing techniques, proper singing posture, and following a conductor. This choir performs in at least two concerts per year.

Rainbow of Voices (ages 7-10)

Rainbow of Voices is a choir for advanced beginners. This ensemble is for children who are already comfortable with their singing voices and want to increase their musical knowledge. These children build their music-reading skills and develop healthy singing habits. They learn proper breathing techniques, singing posture, and tone production and develop basic musical artistry using dynamics and articulation. This group focuses on building a beautiful unison sound and begins developing part-singing skills. This choir sings in a variety of languages.

Cantiamo (ages 10-14)

Cantiamo is an intermediate choir. Singers become comfortable using their singing voices and singing in parts. They also learn healthy vocal techniques, sight-reading skills, and musicianship skills. The Cantiamo Choir members can travel and meet with other choirs on a yearly tour.

Vocalise (ages 12 and up)

Vocalise is our most advanced choir. This group performs the most challenging repertoire and demonstrates outstanding musical abilities and responsible behavior. The Vocalise Choir travels on yearly national and international concert tours.

Cardinals (ages 10 and up)

Cardinals is a boys choir featuring a wide variety of singing styles and songs. In this choir, boys learn how to blend well with each others' voices, which range from bass to soprano.

Viva Voce (ages 14 and up)

Viva Voce is a four-part high school choir. It features student conductors who learn how to conduct a choir, choose the right song for the ensemble, and teach the song to the singers.

Staff

Tatiana Kats

Tatiana Kats - Founder, Director, Conductor

Tatiana is the founder and director of Columbus International Children's Choir, Columbus Music and Art Academy, and Central Ohio Singing Competition. She is the conductor of the Vocalise and Concordia choirs and runs a private piano studio in Dublin, Ohio. Tatiana served as R&R Committee Chair for the Ohio Choral Directors Association. She received the Music Educator Award from the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. National Music Certificate Program recognized her as "Founding Teacher ... instrumental in establishing a national standard for developing musicians in the United States of America." In 2023, Tatiana received the Steinway Top Teacher Award. Her students won numerous awards at CMTA and OMTA competitions. Tatiana earned a Master of Arts degree in choral conducting and a Master of Music degree in piano pedagogy from the Ohio State University, where she studied under Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt and Mr. James Gallagher. Before coming to the United States, she worked as a director of a music school and a conductor of youth and mixed choirs in Moscow, Russia.

Alyse Hancock-Phillips

Alyse Hancock-Phillips - Conductor of Cantiamo Choir

Alyse Hancock-Phillips is a passionate music educator with a Bachelor’s in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Capital University and a Master’s in Special Education from Youngstown State University. She is in her third year of teaching at Genoa Middle School in Westerville. Also, she teaches private lessons in her studio. Alyse's rich performance background includes singing with groups like the Capital University Chapel Choir and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus, as well as performing with artists such as The Eagles, Kenny Loggins, and Jason Mraz. She brings energy, expertise, and a nurturing spirit to every classroom, helping students grow in both confidence and skill.
Roksalana Justice

Roksalana Justice - Conductor of Creative Notes and Rainbow of Voices Choirs

Roksalana Justice received her Bachelors of Music in Music Education from Capital University in 2023. Her passion in choral music began at Columbus International Children’s a choir which she graduated from in 2019. At the moment, she teaches at South Bloomfield Elementary K-5 in the Teays Valley District. Aside from the public school work, Roksalana continues to run her own voice and piano studio as well that she has had since 2016. She wants to continue her education and receive her masters degree in special education to combine her passion and create an inclusive learning environment for her students.
Miljan Krunic

Miljan Krunic - Conductor of Cantiamo, Viva Voce, and Cardinals Choir

Miljan Krunic, a graduate of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria, studied classical voice under Univ.Prof. Mag.art. Dr.phil. (University Professor, Magister of Arts, Doctoral in Philosophy) Ulf Bästlein, receiving vocal performance instruction from Stacey Bartsch and Julius Drake. Miljan has been fortunate to take part in numerous master courses taught by world renown artists such as Robert Holl, Rudolf Jansen, Emma Kirkby and many more. His collegiate repertoire includes L’enfant et les sortilèges (Ravel), Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nikolai), Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali (Donizetti), King Arthur (Purcell), and Asteroid 62 (Kourliandski). Miljan has over ten years of professional experience as a choral singer, including performing with the company of Opera House Graz, mixed choir “Unser Klangraum” in Austria, and mixed youth choir “luventus Cantat” in Serbia. He is a trained, classical singer in the Bel Canto technique, which he teaches to his students.
Amy McLaughlin

Amy McLaughlin - Conductor of Creative Notes and Rainbow of Voices Choirs

Amy McLaughlin has served as a dedicated music educator in the Lower School at Columbus Academy since 2005. As the music teacher for Grades 2-5, her duties include preparing individual concerts for 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Grade, co-directing the 4th Grade Broadway-style Musical, co-directing the All-Lower-School Closing Programs in Winter and Spring, and conducting the after-school 3rd-5th Grade Choir. Prior to joining the Academy community, she was a traveling elementary music teacher in the West Clermont School District near Cincinnati and a graduate teaching associate while completing her master’s degree at The Ohio State University. She is the recipient of several prestigious awards at Columbus Academy, including the Milt Taylor Innovation Grant, the Putnam Grant, the Anasis Grant, and the Dream Big Grant, as well as numerous music-based honors recognizing her professional excellence. Amy graduated summa cum laude with both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ohio State and holds membership in the national honor societies Sigma Alpha Iota and Mortar Board. She also remains actively engaged in performing music as a member of her church's praise team and choir. Amy and her husband, Matt, live with their sons, Daniel and AJ, in Westerville.
Sarah Milo

Sarah Khatcherian Milo - Assistant Conductor of Vocalise choir and Voice Teacher

Sarah Khatcherian Milo received Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees from Westminster Choir College, and a Doctorate in Musical Arts from The Ohio State University, where she specialized in Singing Health. A Fulbright scholar, she also holds a degree in Lieder Study from the The Hannover University of Music, Drama and Media in Hannover, Germany. Her singing engagements have led her across the United States and Europe, notably the New York tri-state area, Switzerland, Germany and France. She currently lives in Dublin, Ohio, where she holds a private studio and singing health consultancy, HealthyVocals. Sarah also gives workshops on vocal health and presentation for business professionals as part of the Swiss based Business Leadership coaching module, Quantum Leader. The soprano enjoys performing in art song recitals with a specialty in German Lieder, French melodies and operetta.
Irina Utkina

Irina Utkina - Conductor of Sunny Smiles Choir

Irina Utkina graduated from the Saint Petersburg Music Conservatory in Russia as choral conductor. Before coming to the United States, she worked as a director of adult and children's choirs and as accompanist in Moscow, Russia. She has been working as conductor and principal accompanist of the Columbus International Children's Choir since 1998. Mrs. Utkina also arranges music for the choir.