Paint the Town Red 2012

At 9 am on a chilly Wednesday morning, almost 3000 children ranging in age from 8-18 gathered together in Pritzker Pavilion to celebrate Arts Education Day as declared by Governor Pat Quinn.  For 55 years, the Chicago Children’s Choir has been dedicated to teaching children music from diverse cultures and choral favorites.  Today, they showcased just how many people they touch and recognized the In-School Programs, Neighborhood Choirs, and Concert Choir singers and conductors for the hard work that they do.

Rehearsal at Pritzker Pavilion for the Paint the Town Red

Paint the Town Red is an event that gathers all levels of the CCC to celebrate their willingness to being excellent through music education.  The singers learn discipline, music theory, and quality vocal techniques at every level of the program.  Whether it’s a 40 minute class at one of our In-School programs, a 1-1.5 hour rehearsal at our Neighborhood Choirs, or a 2.5 hour rehearsal at our Concert Choir, the singers have shown their commitment to “expecting the best” from themselves and their fellow choir members.  The songs they learn are not easy by any means; they just make it look that way.  They are able to do so because of the hardworking conductors and their dedication to teaching their singers to be the best they can musically.

I was once again honored to be working with the Chicago Children’s Choir today.  To be in Millennium Park with fellow CCC staff, alumni, Board Members, family,  friends, and countless other people who just happened to be passing through was a pure delight!  Mitchell Owens, Composer in Residence at the Choir, debuted his newest piece “Let Music Rain” at the event.  Mitchell is an alum of the CCC and is doing great things in collaboration with the Choir.  He stated how great it was to be a member of the Choir for many years and how honored he is to be working with them now.  He even told all 3000 singers that they were “sounding great, great, great, great, GREAT!”  It was truly a magical musical moment!

The singers left Pritzker Pavilion to have picnic lunches in the park before

Select group of Beverly Neighborhood Choir

heading back to their schools and around the city to share music with their communities.  With singers in 52 Chicago Public Schools, 8 after school Neighborhood Choirs, and the Concert Choir, it’s really easy to see how the Chicago Children’s Choir can “Paint the Town Red” in song.  If you missed it today, you missed something spectacular!

If you know a child who’s in 3rd grade (or older), I invite you to come to one of our All Sing Days!  This is an opportunity for a child who loves to sing to join in a rehearsal at one of our Neighborhood Choir locations.  There’s even an opportunity for them to audition at the end!  Please visit http://ccchoir.org/events for more info.

For the woman who taught me Dodi Li

I sadly heard the news last night that a wonderful conductor I had the pleasure of learning from has passed away.  Lucy Ding had come to us at the Chicago Children’s Choir from the Glen Ellyn Children’s Choir and was a vibrant, energetic conductor who demanded us to be the best.  When her face wasn’t showing a furrowed brow of concentration while teaching us to sing, it was glowing with a sweet smile and joined by gentle laughter.

Lucy will be greatly missed, I’m sure, by many a student she taught and colleagues that  she worked with.  My deepest condolences go out to her family and friends.  I am saddened to know that she is gone but glad that she is no longer hurting and had a great support system as she dealt with her cancer.

Lucy’s family has been updating her blog with information about her services.  Please visit http://graciousfire.wordpress.com for the most up to date information.  Please share with any others whom you know would like to know.

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Spring Break’s Over…

Hi my lovely readers!

I’m sorry I’ve been gone for a while.  The CCC has been busy with fundraisers, tours, and performances and I’d encountered a case of writer’s block.  I’m human; it happens!

I’m glad to be back though as we’ve got a lot in store for everyone.  The Albany Park, Beverly, and Pilsen/Little Village choirs have been working hard to prepare for their tour to Wisconsin.  This group of talented singers will be sharing their diverse repertoire with the Oneida Youth Singers.  I can not wait to see what our hosts have in store for us!  Keep an eye out for photos from our weekend.

In addition to that, there’s Canto Latino which highlights our Rogers Park and Humboldt Park Neighborhood Choirs.   This wonderful performance is part of our Target Community Concert Series.  It’s free and open to the public so for more info, visit Canto Latino.

Got a love for music from Britten to Bernstein? Have we got a concert for you!  Held at the Chicago Cultural Center‘s Preston Bradley Hall, this free and open to the public performance will showcase the Madrigals Ensemble singing Rejoice in the Lamb by Benjamin Britten and the Concert Choir performing Leonard Bernstein‘s Chichester Psalms (a personal favorite of mine!).  For more details, visit From Britten to Bernstein.

Paint the Town Red is coming up in just a few weeks.  What’s Paint the Town Red you ask?  It is a performance in which we gather almost 3000 singers from our In-School Programs, Neighborhood Choirs, and Concert Choir together for free performances through the day.  This year, we’ll be celebrating Arts Education Day as declared by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.  Wear something red and help celebrate with us at  Millenium Park’s Pritzker Pavillion.  For more info, visit Paint the Town Red.  Check out the video from a previous PTTR performance at the Auditorium Theater.

Paint The Town Red: Chicago Children’s Choir from EQ404Hz on Vimeo.

I hope you’ll be able to stop by to some of these performances.  Trust me, you’ll love them!  The singers work hard and the best way to see how the CCC is effecting change in children’s lives is by seeing them shine while doing what they love – singing.  Until next time, keep singing everyone!

Alumni Profile: David Perez

There are always people, places, and things you remember when you’re a performer or a staff member working with performers.  Some people’s energy is contagious and that rings true for this particular alum.  I remember having to tell the gentleman in today’s profile to ensure that his energy helped those around him.  David Perez takes a moment to tell us his story about his time in the Chicago Children’s Choir.

MSJCCC:  Hey David!  How are you?

DP:  I’m great Ms. Jackie.  How are you?

MSJCCC:  I’m wonderful.  Let me say thanks for taking time to tell the readers about your time in CCC.  Why don’t we get started?

DP:  No doubt!  What do you wanna know first?

MSJCCC:  Introduce yourself to the readers for me.

DP:  Hey everyone, I’m David Perez. [waves]

David (right) is shown here with his Alaska Tour roommate, Hunter.

MSJCCC:  [Chuckles] Dave, they can’t see you waving.  How long were you a member of the CCC?

DP:  I was in for a total of 7 years, from 2003-2010.  I began as a student in the Choir Academy and then joined Concert Choir in 2004.

MSJCCC:  Can you share with us a favorite memory of your time in the Choir?

DP:  In my final year, I was a part of the Show Choir. In the 2010 fall concert, I showed off a little more talent by beatboxing along with a fellow alumn, Neil Geistlinger.  It was always fun to have another talent highlighted along with my passion for singing and performing.

MSJCCC:  That is pretty cool.  I always loved when I’d be working behind the scenes at dress rehearsals and seeing what you guys had come up with for concerts including members of the Choir who would play instruments or just jam out on pieces.  That is a fun perk of being in CCC.  Did you go on any tours?

DP:  Let’s see – I went on the Prague Tour, the Freedom Tour, the South Korea Tour, the South American Tour, and finally, the Alaska Tour.

MSJCCC:  You really got to travel the world!  That is great.  Alright, take a moment to think about this one.  What was your biggest take-away from being a member of the CCC?  What did you learn?

DP: I guess I could say that CCC started to shape the person that I am today. My seven years in the Choir has helped me understand music more. During my final years, I was able to show in my body what the music was trying to say [in my own way]. With the help of the Choir, I became more outgoing and started to become a leader. I am now able to stand out and help make a difference.

MSJCCC:  That is wonderful, David.  What are you doing these days?

DP: I am currently attending Columbia College in Chicago with a Vocal Performance Major and an Acting Minor.

MSJCCC:  I love it!  A performer working to perfect his craft.  Anything you’d like to share with the readers?

DP:  Believe in yourselves. Don’t be afraid to dream, try, and do good. Strive and work hard to reach your dreams. Oh yeah, don’t forget to have fun in life!

MSJCCC:  David, it was so much fun catching up!  Thanks again for sharing your story with us today.  Readers, thanks for stopping by and everyone remember…Keep singing!

Men’s & Women’s Fests!!!

It’s spring time and that means it’s time for us at the CCC to showcase our Concert Choir in a bit of a different light.  At our Men’s and Women’s Festivals, we highlight each group separately with an honored professional guest artist or group.  I’m very excited about our festivals this year and hope you’ll find you way to enjoy them with me!

Men’s Festival Saturday, March 24, 2012, 6:00 PM

Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium, 5500 N St. Louis

Hailed as one of the finest male choruses in the world The University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club led by Dr. Eugene Rogers will be joining the Men of Chicago Children’s Choir for a powerful performance.

Tickets: $10
Free for all current Chicago Children’s Choir singers and Alumni

Click here to learn more about the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club.

Women’s Festival Saturday, March 31, 2012, 7:30 PM

Northwestern University
Thorne Auditorium
375 E Chicago Avenue
Chicago, Illinois

In a stunning performance experience, the women of the Concert Choir will join vocal Jazz supergroup, JaLaLa, which features Janis Siegel and Laurel Massé, founding members of The Manhattan Transfer and Lauren Kinhan of New York Voices.

Tickets $10
Free to all current Chicago Chilren’s Choir singers and Alumni

For more information about either of these performances, please call the Chicago Children’s Choir office at 312.849.8300.

Bridging America and the World…

I think that part of my success in being a Program Assistant with the Chicago Children’s Choir has been in part to my once being a member.  When I speak about what a family can expect in regards to the program, it’s backed by the fact that I have 8 years of singing, traveling, and performing experience under my belt with the CCC.  So when the questions come up about tours, families seem to feel that I know what I am talking about.

The "Mandela 9" and Nancy Cardstedt with President Mandela

I toured with the CCC to a small town called Sparta, Illinois.  I traveled to Canada and surrounding areas on the Great Lakes Tour.  I traveled to South Africa for a month.  On all of these tours, I stayed in people’s homes.  People I had never met until the day we were scheduled to spend the night.  I wouldn’t change a thing about those experiences.  You learn so much more when you’re “living with” a family who shares with you what they love about their city or their country.  It’s nice to have home cooked meals or to go out for dinner and realize that you’re really not that different.  And the entire time, you’re with someone from your choir who you may not have ever really gotten to know if not for the tour.  That is what makes the tours so special – the time you get to spend with new friends.

Tours provide the singers with the opportunities to travel without their families and learn about different cultures through music and home stays.  The children are paired off and stay with a family connected with another organization that collaborated with the tour in the area i.e. when Hyde Park & Lincoln Park/DePaul toured to Denver and stayed with families from the Rocky Mountain Children’s Choir.  I compare it to a foreign exchange program.  Families host our singers for a few days and provide them with life changing experiences, just by opening their homes.

"The Sylvies" aka CCC Staff members from tour to Denver, CO

There are times in which we stay in hotels due to limitations unforeseen by all involved.  This is why the Choir is selective in which staff members go on which tours.  When staying in hotels, it’s always best that the singers have their conductors, an accompanist, and “moms-away-from-moms” who they are used to in addition to office staff members who can focus on other aspects of the tour.   You have someone who acts as a Merchandiser and PR manager per say and a Tour Manager whose focus is on payments to bus companies, hotel bookings/check-ins/check-outs, etc.  These key people are in place so that all other staff are focused on the singers and making sure that they are having the best times of their lives on tours.

So why am I talking about tours today?  Well, our Rogers Park & Humboldt Park Neighborhood Choirs are currently on tour in Fort Wayne, IN on the first tour of the 2011-2012 season.  They’ve reconnected with CCC Alum Phillip Armstrong and by the looks of the photos on Facebook, they’re having a great time!  There are more tours lined up for each of our neighborhoods including Dallas (Lincoln Park/DePaul), Appalachian Tour (Hyde Park), and Oneida Nation tour in Wisconsin (Albany Park/Beverly/Pilsen-Little Village).  The Concert Choir will be traveling to Italy this summer.  These “Bridging America”  & international tours are a key factor in the growth of our singers by connecting them with people and cultures they might never be exposed to and providing our hosts with the opportunity to learn about CCC.  Stay tuned to Facebook as the page will be updated with photos from each tour!  Keep singing everyone!

 

Singer Profile: Michael St. Peter

Every now and then you meet someone who you know is going to be a superstar.  They may not be in film or perform on Broadway, but they are meant to be a star in whatever field they choose to work in.  With a name like Michael St. Peter, I just knew this kid would be a star.  It remains to be seen but I gotta feeling (shout out to the Black Eyed Peas for that song) that he’s going to be great.

MSJCCC:  Michael!  Thanks for talking with me today!

MSP:  Ms. Jackie, anything for you dear.

MSJCCC:  I’m going to keep this brief since I know you have Show Choir rehearsal to get to.  Let’s start at the beginning – state your name for the readers.

MSP:  Michael St. Peter

MSJCCC:  How old are you & just how long have you been in Choir?

MSP: I’m 17 and I am a high school senior.  I’ve been in the Concert Choir for 7 years.

MSJCCC:  This is your final year.  Are you mentally preparing for your final concert?  Are you ready for life without Choir?

MSP:  I can’t say that I’ve started to prepare but I know it’s a going to be a sad day.

MSJCCC: Well let’s just focus on what you’ve doing so far.  Can you tell me about your favorite memory about Choir so far?

MSP:  One of my fondest memories of the Choir occurred on our tour to Alaska, while we were white water rafting. Our leader taught us this trick we could do where we all hold hands and stand up on the outer rim of the raft while the raft is moving. The raft I was on wound up doing it almost 5 times, and every single time we would be able to balance. I loved the rafting, but I also loved the feeling of bond and trust that went along with standing up in the raft. In addition to that I will never forget Jo’s random (but always interesting) speeches, and Judy’s ability to never get a full night of sleep and have more energy than me.

MSJCCC:  Why is being a member of CCC important to you?  What have you learned?

MSP:  CCC is important to me because it has helped me broaden my spectrum of musical styles, and helped me to learn how to properly sing many different genres of music. CCC has also helped me choose my ideal college path as a vocal performance major. Most importantly, the Choir has helped me to become a well-rounded individual. CCC has helped me understand the different lifestyles that people lead, and that the world is full of beautifully, different people. Since I have grown up in the west suburbs, I probably wouldn’t have such a developed such social openness without the CCC and am truly thankful to have learned the lifelong trait of acceptance.

MSJCCC:  That is beautiful Michael St. Peter.  Thanks again for sharing your story with me today.  Go on into Show Choir rehearsal & please…Keep singing!

When Marian Sang & the CCC

This year, members of our In-School Programs participated in concerts at Navy Pier’s Grand Ballroom.  The theme this year was based upon the book When Marian Sang.  Chicago Children’s Choir Alumna Allison Semmes gave her voice to portray Marian Anderson while Director of Choral Programs Judy Hanson read the story.  In between story segments, the school choirs sang various pieces  ranging from spirituals to pop songs by prominent African-American artists.  At the end of the program, each school that participated received a copy of the book.  

Every year, the In-School Choirs present these Black History Month concerts.  The concerts give them the opportunity to perform outside of their schools and to see what other schools are learning.  They learn how to be an active audience member as well as a performer.  They are exposed to talented musicians who were also a part of the Chicago Children’s Choir.  It’s also a wonderful opportunity for Alumni members to come and give back the where it all started for many of them.

I’m honored to work with an organization where our talented In-School Conductors travel to 50+ Chicago Public Schools to provide quality Music Education to the students.  Sure, anybody can teach kids to sing as a group.  What makes Chicago Children’s Choir different is that the conductors actually teach them the science & math behind the music.  What does that mean?  It means that they translate all the lines & dots on a page of music and make it make sense to your kids.  Sounds awesome right?  From the In-Schools, students can then progress to the Neighborhood Choir level where the music education is more in-depth and from the Neighborhood Choirs they may then have the opportunity to join the uber-selective and talented Concert Choir.

Does your school not have a music education curriculum?  Do you feel that it should?  Find out how you can Bring Chicago Children’s Choir To Your School!

Make Your Voice Heard!

Below is a letter sent from the Chicago Children’s Choir’s President and Artistic Director, Josephine Lee asking families to attend Chicago’s Cultural Planning Town Hall Meetings.  Though this is short notice for today’s meeting, however, you can still RSVP for one of 3 other dates.  I hope you take a moment to give some insight into what you’d like to see presented when it comes to the Arts and Culture in the city we call home, Chicago!

Dear Choir Families,

 I would like to invite you to attend one of four upcoming Town Hall meetings, hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, providing a forum for public input in developing the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan. The meetings are a great opportunity for each of us to have a voice in shaping the future of our city. At Chicago Children’s Choir, we are proud to reflect the diversity of this great city. Together, our voices can have a profound impact. Please consider representing the Choir and your community by lending your voice to the process.

 The Town Hall meetings will be held on the following dates at four locations throughout Chicago:

 Wednesday, February 15: Columbia College from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 16: Nicholas Senn High School from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m

Saturday, February 18: DuSable Museum from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 21: National Museum of Mexican Art from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

To learn more or to rsvp,  please visit www.chicagoculturalplan2012.com.

 Sincerely,

Josephine

 Josephine Lee

President and Artistic Director

Chicago Children’s Choir

Oh What a Night!!!

Hey there readers,

I’ve just gotten in from a wonderful evening of music brought by the CCC.  Tonight, the Chicago Children’s Choir performed in the heart of Hyde Park at Kenwood Academy.  Presented by Target, the Hyde Park Neighborhood Choir, Madrigals from the Concert Choir, Pershing East’s In-School Choir and our special guests, the Children of Uganda took the stage and wowed us all.  Each group sang their hearts out to a full audience whose ears were blessed with amazing music.  The concert was free of charge, the music was free-flowing, and the standing ovations were well deserved.

Part of the CCC’s mission is to provide quality music education to every child that participates in any level of the program.  Tonight, our singers represented each level of the program with a wide array of repertoire.  We heard everything from Rockin’ Robin to pieces from the Republic of Georgia.  Our singers sat in awe and amazement as our guest performers provided us with a wondrous show of music from various parts of Uganda.  The dances, the drums, the music, the voices, the artistry from each and every child on the stage tonight was amazing!

Over the next two days, our In-School Choirs will be performing at Navy Pier for Black History Month.  The performances are free and open to the public.  Come and see where it all begins for many of our singers!

For more info about the Children of Uganda and their 2012 Tour of Light, please visit http://www.uccf.org/

For more info about the CCC In-School Black History Concerts, please visit  Black History Month Concerts – Day 1 or Black History Month Concerts – Day 2