Join FYC

Come Sing with Us!

The Fayetteville Youth Chorus comprises two age groups, the Junior Choir (4th – 6th graders) and the Senior Choir (7th – 12th graders). Both choirs meet on Mondays at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1601 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305. No audition is necessary, and tuition is free. Both choirs study and perform music of diverse genres, cultures, and religious traditions, as well as secular music, including patriotic (the National Anthem) and holiday music.

FYC SENIOR CHOIR

Rehearsals are Mondays, 5:15 – 6:30 pm

The FYC Senior Choir is open to 7th – 12th graders and welcomes youth singers in all voice parts (SATB) including both changed and unchanged voices. This choir generally participates in 2 – 4 performances a year. Choir members will develop healthy vocal techniques while building confidence as singers and being mutually supportive as a team. They will learn to read and interpret music in multiple voicings (Unison/2 part in collaboration with the Junior Choir, various voicings independently, and SATB in collaboration with Cumberland Choral Arts) while developing mature vocal tone.  While working together as an ensemble, youth will learn the importance of listening and blending to create a unified choral sound. FYC Senior Choir members 17 and older are eligible to audition with the Cumberland Choral Arts Director for inclusion in that ensemble. If accepted, they must maintain their membership in the FYC Senior Choir while participating in Cumberland Choral Arts.

The Senior Choir Director – Mr. Richard Butler

Richard Butler, Director of the FYC Senior Choir, retired after a 36-year teaching career, encompassing 13 years serving as choir director at Jack Britt High School and 21 years in the same position at South View High School. His ensembles consistently received superior ratings at a variety of choral adjudications and festivals, toured regularly, and ranged in scope from traditional choral offerings to show choir. He was a 2025 Grammy Music Educator Award Semifinalist (Top 25 Nationally) and was both the South View High School (2010) and the North Carolina Music Educators High School Choral (2023) Teacher of the Year. A Fayetteville native, Richard is Nationally Certified and has a Bachelor of Music (Voice) from Methodist University (1988) and a Master’s in Music Education (Choral) from Florida State University (1990). He’s also a trained Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Music Theory Instructor. He currently co-chairs the NCMEA Mentoring Program, which provides support and mentoring to new music teachers across the state, and teaches voice with Snyder Music Academy. He is married to Jennifer, a retired elementary school counselor currently serving as the CCS Social Emotional Wellness Counselor, and has two children: Kelsey, a physical therapist, and Joshua, a Solar Farm Estimator. 

FYC JUNIOR CHOIR

Rehearsals are Mondays, 5:30 – 6:30 pm

The FYC Junior Choir is open to 4th-6th graders with unchanged voices.  This choir generally participates in 2-4 performances a year. Youth will develop healthy vocal techniques while building confidence as singers. They will learn to read and interpret both unison and 2-part music while developing a beautiful vocal tone.  While working together as an ensemble, youth will learn the importance of listening and blending to create a unified choral sound.

The Junior Choir Director -  Mrs. Lisa Packer

Lisa Packer, Director of the FYC Junior Choir, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  She is a National Board-Certified teacher in her 29th year of teaching both elementary music and middle school choral music in Cumberland County Schools. She is the recipient of several teaching awards, including being recognized as the North Carolina Music Educators Association Elementary Music Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Packer has diverse teaching experience, including Kindermusik, K-8 public school music, and church music. Her church music experience encompasses every level: K-5 children’s, 6th-12th youth, and adult choirs. In 2024, she was invited to conduct the CCS Elementary All County Chorus. Her choral students have received Superior ratings at adjudications and festivals, been selected for both the elementary and middle school NC Honors Choruses, and have performed with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.  She and her husband, Michael, live in Hope Mills. They enjoy boating and traveling with their two daughters, Amanda and Megan.