What a wonderful start to SCC's seventh season!  Thank you all for the words of encouragement and for our singers who contributed to Eliot Pfanstiehl's Farewell concert.  Another thank you to those who came to our picnic and pitched in to cook, serve, and clean at the event.  And, a big thank you for coming to our Parent Orientations!

We are well underway learning repertoire for our December 9 concert: Our Voices, Her Song: Music for Children's Choirs by Women Composers.  If you have not had a chance to peek your head into rehearsals to see how it is going, you are welcome to do so during regular rehearsals.

On a Personal Note

Every day, I am humbled and honored for the opportunity to work with you and your children through Strathmore Children's Chorus.  I remember that my childhood singing in choirs with directors as dedicated and caring as the staff we have at SCC helped me find my voice and showed me a path from poverty and welfare to where I am today.  I work with SCC, and I work to better myself as a music educator and choral conductor, to be able to pay that gift forward.  As I finish my doctoral dissertation this semester, you will see part of the project of that work as we collaborate with Montgomery County Public Schools to bring choir to places that don't have one. If all goes to plan, we should have two middle school groups created by Strathmore's Sing Out initiative joining us at our December concert.

Evaluations

Choristers with us last Spring have experienced the way in which we evaluate student work for SCC.  During regular rehearsals for your ensemble at the end of October and all through November, we will have your ensemble director and other musical adults in the rehearsal space evaluating students on the following criteria:

Singing

Posture, breath support, vowel shaping (relaxed jaw, forward tongue), independence (ability to hold part), intonation (ability to sing in tune), and mastery of repertoire.

Character Development

Self control, cooperation, listening, attitude, focused in rehearsal, and prepared for rehearsals and concerts.

Music Reading

Rhythmic and melodic

Attendance

Amount of absences throughout the season.

If there are egregious concerns with a chorister, we will contact parents as soon as possible so that there is time to identify and address those concerns.  Otherwise, our evaluations will be part of a report sent to parents in mid-December to laud the things your chorister is doing right, and to challenge your chorister's musical and vocal growth for the second semester.

2018-19 Rehearsal Information

Preparatory Chorus: Mondays, 5:30-6:30pm, Strathmore Hall, Room 309

Apprentice Chorus: Tuesdays, 5:15-6:15pm, Strathmore Hall, Room 402

Treble Chorus, Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00pm, Strathmore Hall, Room 402

Concert Chorus, Mondays, 5:30-7:00pm, AMP by Strathmore

Young Men's Chorus, Mondays, 6:45-8:15pm, AMP by Strathmore