School is back in session and so is the San Diego Children’s Choir! All our core programs have begun: Ensemble, School Outreach, Early Years, and Toddler Time. In addition, this month marks the 10 year SDCC anniversary of our esteemed Artistic Director, Ruthie Millgard!

In her 10 years with the Choir, Ruthie has achieved so much and impacted so many people in the choral community - including choristers, families, audience members, and colleagues.  While it would be challenging to highlight all Ruthie’s accomplishments, we wanted to share her top 10 highlights over the years. Join us in celebrating Ruthie’s decade-long artistic leadership with SDCC, and enjoy learning a little more about her time with the organization.

Ruthie began her tenure with SDCC in 2014 as a School Outreach Teacher (previously called Neighborhood Choir). She had just moved to San Diego with her infant son and husband in his pursuit of a master’s degree at USD. By 2015, she had worked up to music director of the four choirs in the Ensemble Program. By 2017, she was promoted to Artistic Director and focused on leading the advanced choir levels.

Her leadership and vision has grown SDCC’s role and scope in the region. Ruthie has created new choir levels, fostered new partnerships and collaborations, commissioned new choral works, developed a nationwide choral festival, and has always championed the belief that SDCC should be a place for any and every child who loves to sing, no matter their level of experience or economic background. 

When asked what motivates her, Ruthie shares, 

“I am most motivated by the sense of community and belonging that choir nurtures in young people. Band, orchestra, and choir are all beneficial for cognitive and academic development, but I believe that a strong choral community uniquely nurtures mental well-being through friendship, cooperation, and the vulnerability of singing as an art form.”

Ruthie’s Top 10 highlights:

1. 2024: Introduction of the San Diego Youth Choral Festival

2. 2023: Introduction of Youth Chorale, an ensemble for middle and high school level youth with all experience levels welcome

3. 2019-2022: Board President, Choral Consortium of San Diego 

4. 2018-2020: Rehearsal director for Voices of Our City Choir, a choir dedicated to serving those living with housing insecurities 

5. 2017: Introduction of mid-elementary level Apprentice Choir 

6. Monthly singing classes for those living with dementia at Vi at La Jolla Village, co-led by SDCC’s Chamber Choir 

7. Guest conductor and workshop/interest session leader: Highlights include the 2022 American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Children’s and Community Choirs National Retreat - led interest session on improvisation; 2023 - Tijuana arts organization, Promotora de las Bellas Artes - led weekend-long teacher workshop and student choir

8. Pioneer for music literacy in SDCC’s programming, preparing students for a lifetime of music making at any level

9. Summer tours with advanced choristers. Ruthie’s favorite tour thus far has been Scotland (2018) because of the amazing historical activities and performance venues

10. Developing a strong and active community of student leadership in the advanced choirs

Explore performance videos on SDCC’s Youtube Channel to see the impact and scope of Ruthie’s direction. (And see her favorite song that she’s directed here.)

Congratulations, Ruthie for everything you have achieved and everyone you have impacted. Looking forward to what comes next!