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We're just back from Chicago and our participation in
the
exhilarating 3rd Annual International Children’s
Chorale Festival. The Chicago Tour, which
brought
together children from various Japanese and U.S.
choirs, was another opportunity for our singers to
demonstrate their exceptional
skills as "Ambassadors of Harmony," as they were
named in a Boston Globe editorial.
As you might imagine, the Tour had many musical and
social highlights, but one standout is the day we
visited the Off the Street Club - a camp where 4 to
18 year old kids can go to get off of the streets of
the west side of Chicago. This site is a safe
haven for youth and children.
Like many camps, there are various activities, from
arts
and crafts to horseback riding to biking. However,
what made this place so special for us was the
camp’s
custom of hugging every guest upon arrival.
As we unloaded the buses full of children from Japan
and other visiting U.S. choirs, the youth at the Off
the Street Club lined up to give all of us hugs! What
a powerful moment for all who witnessed this genuine
and warm expression of welcome. Throughout the
afternoon, our singers made connections with
children from different cultural, linguistic, geographic
and socio-economic backgrounds. Our experience at
the camp helped us to remember that we are all
connected in various ways despite our differences.
Another major highlight of our Chicago Tour was the
culminating event: our final concert in Millennium
Park. Seeing our singers onstage with children from
Japan, Colorado and Chicago, all in their colored T-
shirts making music together, was a beautiful moment
for us all.
We are proud of our singers for their artistic
sensitivity and positive attitude throughout the
Tour.
They were committed to the music and the
concerts were both musically excellent and
emotionally quite moving! I know that Mr. Dailey was
quite proud to end his tenure with the BCC on such
a
high note. Thanks to parent Donna Strezpa – our tour
nurse. Donna’s patience, expertise and calming
presence was very welcomed -- and we all
were glad to have her on board. And a special thanks
to our amazing tour host, the Chicago Children’s Choir!
Contributed by David Howse, Director of Programs
and Community Impact
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Summer Camp for Young Singers: You are
invited to the final concert showcasing
new singers in our Summer Camp, a week-long
program from August
14-18. Concert time is 6:30 p.m. in the Media Arts
Building Auditorium, Roxbury Community College. The
event is free and open to the public. Click here for more on our Summer
Camp for Young Singers.
Our first CD Recording: We're delighted to
announce the release of our first
CD -- Sing! -- in September. The CD
highlights the BCC's first three years, with
voices from our Concert, Lyric, Treble and
Neighborhood Choirs, including our first
commissioned piece, Trilogy of Dreams, by
Rollo
A. Dilworth. Under the direction of former Artistic
Director
Darren Dailey, “Sing!” takes the listener on a musical
journey with songs in Latin and Hebrew, a Japanese
lullaby, African-American spirituals, gospel songs and
American anthems. Please join us at our CD Launch
party on September 24th (details will follow
soon).
BCC sings at Fenway: On September 6, the
Boston Children's Chorus will give the Red Sox a much-
needed boost as singers once again take to the
microphone at Fenway Park. Members of our Concert
Choir will sing the national anthem as the Red Sox
take on the Chicago White Sox. Go
Red
Sox!
Boston Lyric Opera "Residency Talks": During
the week of September 11-15, the Boston
Lyric Opera is organizing a community residency
program, especially oriented for students and their
families, to be held in schools, community centers
and churches in Boston's diverse neighborhoods.
These "Residency Talks" will feature five artists who
will speak about the various pathways and
opportunities for performers, especially nonwhite
performers, to succeed in opera. The
talks will include performances and opera excerpts
with piano accompaniment. The BCC joins the
BLO to invite you to a "Residency Talk" on September
14 at Tremont Temple Baptist Church, from 7-8 p.m.
For more information, contact David Howse at
dhowse@bostonchildrenschorus.org.
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Parent Association News... We hope
everyone is having a good summer. We are
looking forward to another year with BCC for those of
you who are returning, and for all new families we
welcome you into the BCC community!
Here are a few highlights of what is to come this
fall:
Buddy Families: Each family new to BCC will be paired with a returning family to orient them to the Chorus and to be a resource to answer any questions that may arise. These Buddy Family partners will be identified in late August, so expect a call in the next few weeks! Potluck Get-Togethers: We are also
scheduling potluck get-togethers for each of
the Choirs, in conjunction with rehearsals - so
after rehearsal we
can have a meal together. We hope that everyone
will be able to
attend to get to know each other, and for the
Parent Association to share plans for the coming
year. Dates for each potluck get-together will follow
soon.
Parent Leaders: As we begin our new
performance season, we are
looking for parent leaders to represent their child's
choir. We must have a lead parent from each
choir, and will speak more about this at
each
potluck get-together.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and we will see you in
the fall!
Contributed by Marcie Osinsky
(marcieosinsky@excite.com) and
Dawn Lewis (dlewis@ccebos.org)
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In September, we are launching not one, but two
new Dorchester-based Neighborhood Choruses,
in partnership with Dorchester House, a multi-service
community and health center in Fields Corner. We are
delighted to welcome Mary Louise Schecter
(pictured) as Director of both of these new
programs.
Over the years, Mary Louise has inspired children of
diverse backgrounds and musical experience. She
brings 37 years of rich musical
experience to our Dorchester-based Neighborhood
Choruses. A teacher of elementary music, and middle
and high school choral music, Mary Louise developed
choral and general music programs at The Rivers
School, Milton Academy, and the Weston Public
Schools.
We would also like to welcome Cecilia
Yudha,
Accompanist; Tyree Burch, Site Coordinator;
and Marta Dominguez, Teaching Fellow.
A special thank you goes to our new partner,
Dorchester House!
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Our applause goes to:
The Hunt Alternatives Fund, advancing
innovative and inclusive approaches to social change
at local, national, and global levels. Since its founding
in Denver in 1981, the Fund has contributed $50
million to social change through a blend of grant
making and operating programs. Today, the Fund
operates out of Cambridge, MA, and is focused on
strengthening youth arts organizations, supporting
leaders of social movements, and advocating for the
full inclusion of all stakeholders in peace processes.
The Boston Children's Chorus receives support from
ARTWorks for Kids, a program of the
Hunt Alternatives Fund. Focusing on Eastern
Massachusetts, ARTWorks for Kids serves and
empowers youth by promoting the arts in classrooms,
after-school programs, and the larger community to
encourage young people to stay on track.
"ARTWorks for Kids is an amazing Coalition that
Ambassador Swanee Hunt
started to ensure that smaller arts organizations who
serve low income youth
in eastern Massachusetts receive the attention and
funding that they need
and deserve," says Lynn Williams, Director of
Development at the BCC.
"ARTWorks for Kids does so much more than help over
30 non profits raise
money. The Coalition brings organizations together -
proving that our
combined knowledge and resources make us more
visible and that together, we
can raise the level of attention that is needed for our
important arts
organizations to continue the work that we all do for
the children in
Boston."
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The New England Conservatory of Music is our lead
artistic partner
phone:
617/ 778-2242
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