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Pine Street Inn Performance. As the singers
of the
beginner Treble Choir arrived
at the Pine Street Inn on the 14th of March,
residents in the women’s Inn were waiting anxiously
in the holding room, preparing for another night
without a permanent home. After the young singers
warmed their voices, Scottie Wait, Director of
Volunteer Programs, shared the mission and vision of
the Inn with these children and their families.
Our Treble Choir’s performance was uplifting for not
only the women and staff of the Inn but also for the
singers and their families. Led by Neighborhood
Chorus Site Director, June Ambush, the children sang
songs of freedom, hope and joy. They were very well
received and to end the performance were joined by
the women in an impromptu rendition of This Little
Light of Mine. Led by the voices of our young
singers, the women clapped their hands and sang at
the top of their voices. One of the residents
remarked, “I love to sing; I’ve sung all of my life.
It makes me feel good about myself and gives me
hope.”
Our performances take us all across greater Boston,
celebrating life in this fine city. These
opportunities to perform help shape our young
singers into the compassionate young citizens we
know they can be. It is important that our voices be
heard and that we hear the voices of the many
people
that make Boston what it is today. Though displaced
or homeless, each of the residents at the Pine
Street Inn has a voice – and we were glad to sing
with them.
As we were departing for our respective homes, the
sounds of the final song resonated in the holding
room as several women continued singing: This
little
light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Contributed by David Howse, Director of Programs &
Community Impact
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Our "Roving Reporter" recently spoke with June Ambush, our Neighborhood Chorus Site Director Q: What is it like to work with young children
(some as young as 7) to teach them the discipline
and artistry of singing?
A: Working with young children is a rewarding and challenging experience. At this age, they are extremely vibrant and energetic. Many disciplines must be learned in order to develop artistry: learning to sit properly in their chairs with proper posture (especially seven year-olds!), learning to read a musical score, understanding musical terms and notation, mastering breathing techniques and developing pure and open vocal tones. Children have to adapt to performing multi-level tasks simultaneously, which can be very challenging. Q: How do you inspire and maintain children's
love of singing, while teaching them the
purposefulness and focus needed to learn and grow
musically?
A: Children learn best when the rehearsals are fun and musically stimulating. They love to be entertained! It motivates them to become more focused and productive. Creating an environment that fosters a love for learning, singing, and developing musical excellence is the key factor in the inspiration and success of our children. Q: How do you facilitate bringing together
children from different backgrounds for a common
purpose? Are there particular challenges in working
with a multicultural group of children?
A: When the Neighborhood Chorus was preparing for the holiday concert, I asked each of them how their families celebrated the holidays. What an amazing response! The hands went up as the children eagerly waited their turn to share. They also discovered many similarities and differences in these celebrations. Making connections musically, socially, and culturally – as it relates to them personally and collectively, bridges the multicultural gap. Language barriers can be a challenge if you work with a group of children who do not speak English. This is not the case with the Boston Children’s Chorus, but it is important to validate and embrace our children who represent a rainbow of diversity. Darren Dailey (our Artistic Director ) has done an excellent job of selecting choral repertoire that reflects this diversity. Q: Describe a “beautiful moment” with the
Neighborhood Chorus.
A: A “beautiful moment” with the Neighborhood Chorus is seeing the joy and the love of singing in their faces. Their vocal quality has improved considerably since September, coupled with their level of confidence as a choral group. Singing with the other choirs has enabled them to improve their stage presence in concert. One of my singers who is also a student of mine at the John Marshall School came up to me one day and gave me a big hug. She said to me, “Miss Ambush, I love singing with the Boston Children’s Chorus!” She is a quiet, poised young girl who never showed any affection toward me until then. This, to me, is the most affirming beautiful moment defining the mission of the Boston Children’s Chorus. |
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Get your walking shoes on! Join the Boston
Children’s
Chorus family by participating in the Walk for
Music on April 30 to support our programs.
Click here
to sponsor a singer.
Come hear us at our annual Spring
Concert, May 18 at Roxbury Community
College.
Due to the incredible response to our recruitment
efforts for the upcoming performance season, the
Boston Children’s Chorus is introducing not one, but
two new Dorchester-based
NeighborhoodChoirs beginning
in Fall 2006! We’re also
pleased to announced a new
Young Men's Voice Class,
designed for young men ages 12-18 who desire
training in vocal production with an emphasis on
developing the changing voice (an audition is
required).
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The Boston Children’s Chorus performs for royalty
on
May 20, as Her Royal Highness The Princess of
Hanover (Princess Caroline of Monaco) receives
UNICEF’s 2006 Children’s Champion Award. Each
year,
the Children’s Champion Award recognizes a public
figure as an international leader in working to improve
children’s lives around the world. Past recipients of
the Children’s Champion Award include Nelson
Mandela, Sir Roger Moore and H.M. Queen Noor of
Jordan.
H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover will be honored at a
reception, award presentation and dinner at the
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She serves as
President of the World Association of Children’s
Friends (AMADE/Association Mondiale des Amis de
l’Enfance), an international child advocacy
organization founded by her mother, the late Princess
Grace of Monaco, and based in Monaco. In 2003, The
Princess of Hanover was named United Nations
Goodwill Ambassador in acknowledgment of her work
to improve the lives of children and families around
the world.
The Boston Children’s Chorus is proud to take part in
this extraordinary event, and will perform
Siyahamba (a South African song) and I
Dream a World (our commissioned work
based on a poem by Langston Hughes).
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Our Applause Goes to:
The Margaret Stewart Lindsay Foundation for helping BCC singers to see the world. For the second year in a row, the Margaret Stewart Lindsay Foundation is helping the Concert Choir travel the globe. Last year, the foundation was the lead supporter for our first international tour to Japan. This year, the Lindsay Foundation has offered the BCC a way to further increase the impact of their gift by offering a challenge grant. The foundation will match donations from other funders of our Chicago Tour up to $15,000. To help us take advantage of this generous challenge, please click below. "There is no doubt Margaret would love the
Boston
Children’s Chorus because she loved music and its
power to enrich, stimulate and move people. She was
particularly drawn to talented young people who
were not bashful about their own love of music and
could also be uninhibited while performing."
- J. Brian Potts, Fiduciary Trust Contributed by Lynn Williams, Director of
Development & Marketing
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The New England Conservatory of Music is our lead
artistic partner
phone:
617/ 778-2242
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