Programming at CREATE
CREATE’s programming is designed to ensure that every child in Merced has access to high-quality arts education, regardless of background or circumstance. Grounded in music and choral education, our programs are led by professional teaching artists and supported by a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate curriculum that prioritizes inclusion, consistency, and student connection. Every offering is guided by a simple but powerful principle: leading with heart while building access, equity, and lasting impact through the arts.
At the core of our work is a commitment to building strong partnerships with schools and community organizations to bring meaningful arts experiences directly to students. Through in-class engagement, after-school programs, and community-based ensembles, CREATE provides students with opportunities to develop musical skills, confidence, collaboration, and a sense of belonging.
Programs
Merced Children's Holiday Choir
A free, community-based choir that brings students together through singing, service, and celebration throughout the year. Students explore music connected to a wide variety of cultural and seasonal holidays, building vocal skills, confidence, and ensemble technique along the way. The choir regularly shares its music with the community through performances at senior centers and partnerships with organizations such as the Merced Symphony, creating meaningful opportunities for connection across generations.
Merced Sings!
Merced Sings provides free, on-site after-school choirs for elementary students, creating a consistent space to sing, belong, and grow. Through weekly rehearsals led by CREATE teaching artists, students build ensemble skills, musical understanding, and confidence while forming strong peer connections. The program emphasizes access, routine, and community, offering students a meaningful arts experience beyond the school day.
Tiny Tunes
An early childhood music program for Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten students rooted in joyful, developmentally appropriate practice. Through singing, movement, and hands-on exploration, young learners build foundational music and social-emotional skills. Teachers participate alongside students, strengthening classroom connection and long-term learning.
El Nido Sings!
A districtwide music education program serving all TK - 4 students through weekly, in-class instruction. Students engage in singing, movement, and choral literacy tailored to their developmental level, culminating in an end of year performance that celebrates growth and community. The program builds a sustainable foundation for long-term arts education.
