Kairos teaches vocal development, music theory, and performance to (pre-COVID) 60+ late elementary and middle-school youth. Beginning last summer we are rebuilding enrollment back towards this level from a low of 15 during mid-2020, and are currently at over 40. Choristers are assigned to one of 4 levels, determined by age and prior musical training. Music material is multicultural, being inclusive of classical, popular, folk/traditional, and original material composed by our staff.

Kairos participants represent broad cultural diversity; we offer tuition assistance for 20% of them, and intend to double this percentage as the pandemic recedes and resources permit. Our organizational budget is $159,000 of which 10% is earmarked for tuition subsidies. Tuitions, grants, individual donors, & performance entry fees account for revenue.

Kairos was founded at our current location in Berkeley by professional choral director and classical soloist Laura Kakis Serper in 1990. Kairos has received California State Senate recognition for exceptional community service as well as other local, national, and international citations. We’ve supported the musical development of over 500 Bay Area elementary and middle-school youth – once again 20% from underserved groups – and reached tens of thousands of local, national, and international concert-goers. Performances encompass tours, recordings, festivals, and in-house productions. Between our Directorate, staff, and Advisory Board, Kairos leadership approaches the great cultural diversity of the San Francisco East Bay.