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Children's Choir to Hold Newcomer Auditions

The Shenandoah Valley Children's Choir rehearses in Martin Chapel for an upcoming public program.
Photo by Jim Bishop

The Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, now celebrating its 15th year, is holding newcomer auditions for children ages 8-15 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, at EMU.

The auditions will be held in room 11 on ground floor of EMU's Lehman Auditorium.

Children are being accepted for the Preparatory and Treble Choirs. Choristers must have a music teacher recommendation, have seen the SVCC perform (live or DVD performance) and be able to sing a tune. The 10-minute audition consists of singing familiar songs and rounds, pitch-matching, rhythm matching and an interview with the director.

The Preparatory Choir, ages 8-11, rehearses 4:45-6 p.m. Mondays at EMU, beginning Sept. 11 and is directed by Joy Anderson.

The Treble Choir, ages 10-15, rehearses 4:45-6 p.m. Mondays at EMU and is directed by Julia White. The Preparatory and Treble Choirs meet alone and also as a combined choir on Monday evenings and perform at the Christmas and spring concerts.

The Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, founded in 1992 by Julia White, has grown to include six choirs, 225 children ages 6-18, and a staff of four.

Upcoming SVCC performances include Christmas concerts with the Washington Symphonic Brass, spring concerts in March and, for the Concert Choir, a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City in May.

Monday evening choir rehearsals for the auditioned choirs include instruction in vocal production, diction, breathing, score study, musicianship, theory, and performing skills. Singing a cappella as well as in two to four parts, the choristers experience a broad range of choral literature including classical music, folks songs of many countries and cultures, and sacred and secular songs with an emphasis on themes of love, peace, beauty, friendship and nature. Kodaly-based solfege instruction is used in the choir program.

Openings are also available for the Cherub Choir, ages 5-6, and Angel Choir, ages 6-8, that meet on Monday and Tuesday evenings and are directed by Joy Anderson.

For more information, call Choir Manager Judy Leaman at 540-432-4650 or contact .

— article by: Jim Bishop; posted August 1, 2006