Return to the Showcase Directory Awards and Recognition: El Pomar Foundation - H. Chase Stone Award 1992; Basic Criteria - Excellence in a small non-profit. Golden Gate International Children's Choir Festival, Oakland CA - Gold Medal 1993; Basic Criteria - Proficiency in vocal production, expression of musical pieces, knowledge of musical literature performed, performance demeanor and accuracy. Colorado Music Educators Convention, Colorado Springs, CO - Selected Performers 1994; Basic Criteria - Aesthetically pleasing performance, proficiency in the areas of vocal production, performance demeanor and accuracy. American Choral Directors Association Regional Convention, Denver, CO - Selected Performers 1994; Basic Criteria - Proficiency in the areas of vocal production, aesthetically pleasing performance, proficiency in the areas of vocal production, performance demeanor and accuracy. Arts Education Background: All 5 of the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale Choirs rehearse twice a week for between 2-5 hours, 9-11 months of the year. These rehearsals include music theory lessons, solo work, ensemble part singing, choreography, acting lessons, stage demeanor and etiquette. The season begins for each singer with a 4-day summer music camp highlighting all of the above areas, with an emphasis on ensemble and team building within the groups. Clinicians such as Dr. Anton Armstrong, director of the f amed St. Olaf Choir and nationally recognized children's choir expert, are featured at the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale summer camps. By having clinicians of this caliber our children as well as our staff are able to gain valuable musical insights in 4 short days that enhance their choral experience throughout the year. The Children's Chorale has also included teacher workshops, open to all teachers in our community, as part of camp program. This allows us to share top notch music clinicians with the educators of the Pikes Peak Region, thus promoting musical excellence and the importance of a sound music education in our school systems. The Colorado Springs Children's Chorale enjoys many collaborations with arts organizations in out community as well as those throughout the state of Colorado and beyond. By participating with these other organizations the children's education is enhanced by working with directors such as Christopher Wilkins, Music Direcotr Colorado Springs Symphony; Murray Ross, Director of Theaterworks and winner of the Governor's Award for Exceleence in the Arts; James Litton, Director of the American Boychoir; Donald J enkins, Direcotr of the Colorado Opera Festival; and Sir David Willcocks Acclaimed English composer and director. Because of the Children's Chorale's partnership with the Kennedy Center's Imagination Celebration and the Colorado Opera Festival, the children have written and performed their own opera, an opera was written for them by local composer and former New York Lyric Opera star, Herbert Beattie. This opera was performed as the showcase piece for the Imagination Celebration's Family Festival Days. The children have had many opportunities to work in recording studios recording Children's Chorale tapes and CDs, and commercials. These opportunities give each singer a broad musical experience. Three of the Children's Chorale's 5 groups tour once a year. Tours have taken the singers to international choir festivals where they have met young musicians from all over the world, to rural communities where they have lived with host families and have been involved in presenting concerts in small nursing homes, schools, and community halls, and to visit with other children's choirs throughout the United States where they make fast friends from large and small cities. Touring with the Children's Choral e includes wonderful musical and a life-broadening experiences, as well as giving the singers the opportunity to serve as musical ambassadors from the Pikes Peak Region. All of the above enhances the weekly instruction of the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale's talented artistic staff which includes 4 directors, each experts in their field; 5 outstanding accompanists, a vocal coach, and a choreographer. The Children's Chorale's artistic staff shares their great love and knowledge of vocal music and performing arts with each one of the singers, encouraging them to become good musicians, appreciators of the arts, and responsible community members. Through the singing of many different styles of music from all over the world the singers are introduced to different cultures and peoples. This broadens their view of the world and encourages respect for all peoples. The membership of the Children's Chorale represents a wide spectrum of our community including kids from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. Not only are these children involved in a program of musical excellence but perhaps more importantly a program that, through the arts, fosters teamwork, self-discipline, commitment, respect and community-building. These are skills that will serve these young people throughout their life's journey. Arts and the Community: Formed in 1977 as a civic children's choir, the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale has grown from one choir of 30 children to five choirs of 200 children, from over 50 schools in eight school districts throughout the Pikes Peak Region. The original founders, Bob Crowder and Brad Peterson, were interested members of the community who felt there was a need in the community for a civic children's choir. The Children's Choral is a not-for-profit organization and as such is governed by a Board of Directors. Until 1989 all administrative work was done by parent volunteers on a working board of directors, who did an excellent job, allowing the organization to grow to a point that hiring a general manager and establishing a permanent office were necessary. In 1990 the CHorale formed it first Parent Council. The Parent Council took over the jobs of the working board allowing the Board of Directors to focus t heir attention on building a strong organization with sound policies and financial stability. The Board has always kept the mission of the Chorale to offer the children of the Pikes Peak Region a chance to participate in a program of musical and personal excellence in the forefront of their responsibilities. The music program of the CSCC continues to grow, with our expert directors choosing a wide variety of literature for the children to sing, and by expanding our music theory program. With high caliber performance opportunities available, the CSCC's fine reputation has been built successfully over the years, gaining the CSCC recognition as one of the top children's choirs in the nation. What makes the CSCC special though, is the children's ability to tough the emotions of their audiences through music. Th ey are a choir with heart and have the ability to sing beautifully, and with such feeling, that it lifts music to a higher plane. Audiences, whether they be at Pikes Peak Center, a cathedral, or a senior citizen center, leave performances knowing they have had a special musical experience. No audio available at this time Return to the top
Arts Education Background:
All 5 of the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale Choirs rehearse twice a week for between 2-5 hours, 9-11 months of the year. These rehearsals include music theory lessons, solo work, ensemble part singing, choreography, acting lessons, stage demeanor and etiquette. The season begins for each singer with a 4-day summer music camp highlighting all of the above areas, with an emphasis on ensemble and team building within the groups. Clinicians such as Dr. Anton Armstrong, director of the f amed St. Olaf Choir and nationally recognized children's choir expert, are featured at the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale summer camps. By having clinicians of this caliber our children as well as our staff are able to gain valuable musical insights in 4 short days that enhance their choral experience throughout the year. The Children's Chorale has also included teacher workshops, open to all teachers in our community, as part of camp program. This allows us to share top notch music clinicians with the educators of the Pikes Peak Region, thus promoting musical excellence and the importance of a sound music education in our school systems. The Colorado Springs Children's Chorale enjoys many collaborations with arts organizations in out community as well as those throughout the state of Colorado and beyond. By participating with these other organizations the children's education is enhanced by working with directors such as Christopher Wilkins, Music Direcotr Colorado Springs Symphony; Murray Ross, Director of Theaterworks and winner of the Governor's Award for Exceleence in the Arts; James Litton, Director of the American Boychoir; Donald J enkins, Direcotr of the Colorado Opera Festival; and Sir David Willcocks Acclaimed English composer and director. Because of the Children's Chorale's partnership with the Kennedy Center's Imagination Celebration and the Colorado Opera Festival, the children have written and performed their own opera, an opera was written for them by local composer and former New York Lyric Opera star, Herbert Beattie. This opera was performed as the showcase piece for the Imagination Celebration's Family Festival Days. The children have had many opportunities to work in recording studios recording Children's Chorale tapes and CDs, and commercials. These opportunities give each singer a broad musical experience. Three of the Children's Chorale's 5 groups tour once a year. Tours have taken the singers to international choir festivals where they have met young musicians from all over the world, to rural communities where they have lived with host families and have been involved in presenting concerts in small nursing homes, schools, and community halls, and to visit with other children's choirs throughout the United States where they make fast friends from large and small cities. Touring with the Children's Choral e includes wonderful musical and a life-broadening experiences, as well as giving the singers the opportunity to serve as musical ambassadors from the Pikes Peak Region. All of the above enhances the weekly instruction of the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale's talented artistic staff which includes 4 directors, each experts in their field; 5 outstanding accompanists, a vocal coach, and a choreographer. The Children's Chorale's artistic staff shares their great love and knowledge of vocal music and performing arts with each one of the singers, encouraging them to become good musicians, appreciators of the arts, and responsible community members. Through the singing of many different styles of music from all over the world the singers are introduced to different cultures and peoples. This broadens their view of the world and encourages respect for all peoples. The membership of the Children's Chorale represents a wide spectrum of our community including kids from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. Not only are these children involved in a program of musical excellence but perhaps more importantly a program that, through the arts, fosters teamwork, self-discipline, commitment, respect and community-building. These are skills that will serve these young people throughout their life's journey.
The Colorado Springs Children's Chorale enjoys many collaborations with arts organizations in out community as well as those throughout the state of Colorado and beyond. By participating with these other organizations the children's education is enhanced by working with directors such as Christopher Wilkins, Music Direcotr Colorado Springs Symphony; Murray Ross, Director of Theaterworks and winner of the Governor's Award for Exceleence in the Arts; James Litton, Director of the American Boychoir; Donald J enkins, Direcotr of the Colorado Opera Festival; and Sir David Willcocks Acclaimed English composer and director. Because of the Children's Chorale's partnership with the Kennedy Center's Imagination Celebration and the Colorado Opera Festival, the children have written and performed their own opera, an opera was written for them by local composer and former New York Lyric Opera star, Herbert Beattie. This opera was performed as the showcase piece for the Imagination Celebration's Family Festival Days. The children have had many opportunities to work in recording studios recording Children's Chorale tapes and CDs, and commercials. These opportunities give each singer a broad musical experience.
Three of the Children's Chorale's 5 groups tour once a year. Tours have taken the singers to international choir festivals where they have met young musicians from all over the world, to rural communities where they have lived with host families and have been involved in presenting concerts in small nursing homes, schools, and community halls, and to visit with other children's choirs throughout the United States where they make fast friends from large and small cities. Touring with the Children's Choral e includes wonderful musical and a life-broadening experiences, as well as giving the singers the opportunity to serve as musical ambassadors from the Pikes Peak Region.
All of the above enhances the weekly instruction of the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale's talented artistic staff which includes 4 directors, each experts in their field; 5 outstanding accompanists, a vocal coach, and a choreographer. The Children's Chorale's artistic staff shares their great love and knowledge of vocal music and performing arts with each one of the singers, encouraging them to become good musicians, appreciators of the arts, and responsible community members. Through the singing of many different styles of music from all over the world the singers are introduced to different cultures and peoples. This broadens their view of the world and encourages respect for all peoples.
The membership of the Children's Chorale represents a wide spectrum of our community including kids from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. Not only are these children involved in a program of musical excellence but perhaps more importantly a program that, through the arts, fosters teamwork, self-discipline, commitment, respect and community-building. These are skills that will serve these young people throughout their life's journey.
Arts and the Community:
Formed in 1977 as a civic children's choir, the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale has grown from one choir of 30 children to five choirs of 200 children, from over 50 schools in eight school districts throughout the Pikes Peak Region. The original founders, Bob Crowder and Brad Peterson, were interested members of the community who felt there was a need in the community for a civic children's choir. The Children's Choral is a not-for-profit organization and as such is governed by a Board of Directors. Until 1989 all administrative work was done by parent volunteers on a working board of directors, who did an excellent job, allowing the organization to grow to a point that hiring a general manager and establishing a permanent office were necessary. In 1990 the CHorale formed it first Parent Council. The Parent Council took over the jobs of the working board allowing the Board of Directors to focus t heir attention on building a strong organization with sound policies and financial stability. The Board has always kept the mission of the Chorale to offer the children of the Pikes Peak Region a chance to participate in a program of musical and personal excellence in the forefront of their responsibilities. The music program of the CSCC continues to grow, with our expert directors choosing a wide variety of literature for the children to sing, and by expanding our music theory program. With high caliber performance opportunities available, the CSCC's fine reputation has been built successfully over the years, gaining the CSCC recognition as one of the top children's choirs in the nation. What makes the CSCC special though, is the children's ability to tough the emotions of their audiences through music. Th ey are a choir with heart and have the ability to sing beautifully, and with such feeling, that it lifts music to a higher plane. Audiences, whether they be at Pikes Peak Center, a cathedral, or a senior citizen center, leave performances knowing they have had a special musical experience.
The Children's Choral is a not-for-profit organization and as such is governed by a Board of Directors. Until 1989 all administrative work was done by parent volunteers on a working board of directors, who did an excellent job, allowing the organization to grow to a point that hiring a general manager and establishing a permanent office were necessary. In 1990 the CHorale formed it first Parent Council. The Parent Council took over the jobs of the working board allowing the Board of Directors to focus t heir attention on building a strong organization with sound policies and financial stability. The Board has always kept the mission of the Chorale to offer the children of the Pikes Peak Region a chance to participate in a program of musical and personal excellence in the forefront of their responsibilities.
The music program of the CSCC continues to grow, with our expert directors choosing a wide variety of literature for the children to sing, and by expanding our music theory program. With high caliber performance opportunities available, the CSCC's fine reputation has been built successfully over the years, gaining the CSCC recognition as one of the top children's choirs in the nation. What makes the CSCC special though, is the children's ability to tough the emotions of their audiences through music. Th ey are a choir with heart and have the ability to sing beautifully, and with such feeling, that it lifts music to a higher plane. Audiences, whether they be at Pikes Peak Center, a cathedral, or a senior citizen center, leave performances knowing they have had a special musical experience.
