Our Beginnings
Founded in 2008 by Merced native Jenni Samuelson, the Merced Children’s Holiday Choir was born out of both love and necessity. Having grown up in Merced during a time when school choirs were thriving, Jenni was surprised to discover, after returning home and enrolling her daughter in local public schools, that elementary choirs no longer existed. Determined to fill that gap, she launched a free, inclusive choir from her living room with a simple and enduring mission: to connect children to their community through singing and service.
That first season, twenty children gathered to rehearse and share music at local senior centers, setting the tone for a program rooted in joy, generosity, and belonging.
Over the years, the choir grew well beyond its humble beginnings, expanding through community partnerships, volunteer support, and an ever-widening vision of what choral music could offer young people. From Veterans Day ceremonies at the Merced College Field of Honor, to Earth Day park singing and clean-up events, to performances at the Merced Theatre alongside the Merced Symphony and the UC Merced Children’s Opera, the choir became a vibrant and beloved presence throughout the community.
With sponsorship from the Merced County Office of Education beginning in 2019 and the addition of multiple age-based ensembles, the Merced Children’s Holiday Choir continued to evolve while remaining firmly grounded in its original purpose: making music accessible, meaningful, and deeply rooted in community connection.
From Choir to Community Impact
In 2024–2025, this work expanded significantly through a pilot program sponsored by the Central Valley Opportunity Fund and the Merced County Office of Education. Over eight months, the pilot marked a pivotal shift; moving music education beyond a single program and into public school classrooms and after-school spaces across Merced. This period of growth laid the foundation for a broader vision; one that addressed long-standing gaps in arts access while building sustainable pathways for future impact.
CREATE Today
Following the success of the pilot program, CREATE was officially launched in August 2025 as both an engine for growth and a framework for sustainability. Today, CREATE focuses on curriculum development, educator training, and partnership building across multiple school districts.
Through strategic collaborations with the Merced County Office of Education, Merced City School District, Weaver Union School District, and El Nido School District, CREATE expands access to music and arts education through in-school, classroom-based music and arts instruction, after-school programs, and mentorship for emerging music educators committed to community-centered practice.
At its core, CREATE is dedicated to making high-quality arts education accessible to all.
Let’s Sing!
