About the Highlands Youth Ensemble

The Highlands Youth Ensemble, under the direction of Jane DeLoach Morison, is a highly auditioned ensemble for singers in grades 9-12 (plus changed male voices in the 8th grade) throughout the Mountain Empire region. The choir performs primarily a cappella repertoire in four-part (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) harmony and is committed to performing the greatest choral music from throughout history and around the globe.

Many HYE singers received their early training in earlier MECCA choirs. Members are regularly awarded places in All-County, All-District, All-East, All-State, Governor’s Schools, Regional, and National honor choirs. Some have even been national soloists. 

HYE singers regularly receive both music and academic scholarships to universities across the nation.  Many former HYE singers are now teaching and performing professionally.​​

What We Do

​The Highlands Youth Ensemble performs a wide range of choral repertoire in several annual concerts throughout the Mountain Empire region. In addition to performing their own concerts, HYE sings every Christmas with the Symphony of the Mountains and at the Biltmore Estate. They also produce an annual Valentine's Cabaret as a fundraiser for their parent organization, the Mountain Empire Children's Choral Academy. 

​​Notable past performances include International Chamber Choir Competition, Pecs, Hungary (2007); Carnegie Hall (2006, 2010, 2016); Festival of the Aegean, Syros, Greece (2014); and a concert tour in Ireland (2018). In 2016 HYE was one of only sixteen choirs selected by audition to perform for the American Choral Directors Association Southern Division Conference. ​​

Rehearsals

HYE rehearses on Monday evenings from 7:15-9:15pm throughout the school year. Rehearsals are held at First Presbyterian Church in Bristol, TN. All music is learned outside of rehearsal, so singers are required to practice on a regular basis at home.

Come Sing with Us!

Tuition

Tuition is tuition is $380 for a year (this includes a $50 music fee). 

MECCA believes that all children who want to be in choir should be in choir. MECCA will help qualified families on a sliding scale, and assistance may be based on available resources. If your child needs tuition assistance, please see the tuition assistance information in our FAQs.

​Uniform Information