Organization

Ragazzi Boys Chorus is a premier, GRAMMY award winning, choral organization dedicated to transforming the lives of boys through the power of music, educational discipline, and performance excellence. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ragazzi serves over 230 young singers between the ages of five and 18 each year through a comprehensive training program that emphasizes vocal technique, music literacy, and personal growth. The organization presents a wide range of performances, from classical masterworks and contemporary choral compositions to multicultural repertoire, appearing in major concert halls, community venues, and collaborative productions with leading arts organizations. Ragazzi Boys Chorus is committed to excellence in musical performance and education. The Ragazzi experience instills self-confidence, cooperation, leadership, sensitivity, and tenacity, helping boys develop into young men of character and distinction. Ragazzi serves its singers and the broader community by performing a diverse selection of choral works to the highest artistic standards. Central to the organization’s mission is a commitment to artistic excellence and character development, fostering confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills that extend far beyond the stage.

Founded in 1987, Ragazzi is the largest boy choir in the San Francisco Bay Area and has grown into one of the leading boys’ choruses in the United States, with multiple ensemble levels that provide a structured progression from beginning singers to advanced performing groups. The Chorus performs a robust annual season that includes subscription concerts, regional, national, and international tours, and high-profile collaborations with symphonies, opera companies, and professional ensembles. Ragazzi singers have appeared with organizations such as the San Francisco Symphony and Opera, and have participated in prestigious festivals and international tours, earning recognition for their musical precision and expressive performances. Ragazzi singers were invited to perform at the Chorus America conference in 2023 and the ACDA conferences in 2012, 2024, 2025, and 2026. The program’s curriculum integrates rigorous rehearsal schedules with music theory and sight-singing instruction, ensuring a well-rounded and immersive musical education.

Ragazzi’s administrative offices and primary rehearsal facilities are housed at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Redwood City. While an active congregation, the site also serves a range of community uses, including other nonprofit and commercial tenants, reflecting a shared, community-centered environment. Ragazzi maintains dedicated access to multiple upper-floor classrooms for regular instruction, while also utilizing shared first-floor spaces, including the Sanctuary, Parish Hall, and smaller breakout rooms, for full ensemble rehearsals, sectionals, and meetings. To broaden access and support younger singers, Ragazzi operates additional satellite rehearsal locations for its Primary Group in Burlingame at the First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame and in Palo Alto at the First United Methodist Church.

Performance activity takes place across a network of venues throughout the region, underscoring Ragazzi’s strong community presence. Regular concert sites include First United Methodist Church in Palo Alto, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, Hillsdale High School Theater and Aragon High School Theater in San Mateo, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Redwood City, and Old First Church in San Francisco. These venues provide a range of performance settings, from intimate sacred spaces to larger theater environments, allowing Ragazzi to engage diverse audiences across the Peninsula and San Francisco.

Ragazzi’s impact extends beyond performance through its strong emphasis on education and community engagement. The organization partners with schools and community groups to expand access to high-quality choral training, while offering need-based scholarships to ensure that financial barriers do not limit participation. Alumni of the program frequently continue in music and leadership roles, reflecting Ragazzi’s long-term influence on artistic and personal development. Through its commitment to excellence, accessibility, and community connection, Ragazzi continues to serve as a vital cultural resource and a nurturing environment for the next generation of musicians and leaders.

Ragazzi has a 10-member board of directors led by President Linda Enger. The Artistic Director reports to the Board of Directors and supervises artistic staff, conductors, accompanists, and teaching artists associated with the choral program. For the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024, Ragazzi's audited financial statements reported total revenue of $2 million, including 11.5% from contributions, 85.5% from earned revenue sources, and 3% from investment income. The projected revenue for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2026, is $2.1 million, including 87% from earned revenue sources and 13% from contributions.

Sources: edited from ragazzi.org; propublica.org