Children's Choir Releases Ninth Recording

The highly-acclaimed Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, part of the music department at Eastern Mennonite University, has released its ninth compact disc recording, "Shenandoah," representing the 2003-04 and 2004-05 performance seasons.

Song selections include classical, sacred and folk songs from around the world.

Recorded by Bart Reardon of Electric Arts Studio in Singers Glen, Va., the songs are mostly studio-recorded (without audience), although a few are from concert performances. Guest instrumentalists are EMU organist John Fast and guest performers from James Madison University, including Mary Kay Adams, cello; Michele Kirkdorffer, oboe; and Abigail Pack, French horn. Choir directors are Julia White, artistic director and founder, and Joy Anderson, assistant director.

The SVCC, now in its 14th year, has a professional staff of five and six choirs including Angel Choir I (41 children ages 6-7 in two sections), Angel Choir II (22 children ages 7-8), Preparatory Choir (ages 8-11, 33 children), Treble Choir (ages 10-15, 37 children) and Concert Choir (ages 11-17, 68 children).

The SVCC has sung at Carnegie Hall, at the National Pageant of Peace Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, DC, at numerous conferences (Virginia Music Educators, National Kodaly Association, and American Choral Directors Association) and at several festivals, including the Tuscany International Children’s Choir Festival in Italy and the Pacific Rim Children’s Choir Festival in Hawaii.

Upcoming performances for 2005-06 include singing at the James Madison University Contemporary Music Festival, at the American Choral Directors Association Southern Division conference in Charleston, WV, and at a Festival for Advanced Treble Choirs in New York City in April.

"Shenandoah" is available at local outlets, including Artisan's Hope, Barnes & Noble, the University Bookstore, VMRC Main Street Store, Silver Lake Mill and Ten Thousand Villages at the Dayton Farmer’s Market.

CDs are also available from the SVCC office at 540-432-4650 or www.emu.edu/svcc.

— posted October 19, 2005