From the Artistic Director
Dear SCC Community,
In the years 2011 and 2012, I worked with Christopher Guerra in
many musical ways. I interviewed him and observed his work at Loiederman Middle
School for the Performing Arts in Wheaton, as he was one of several colleagues
whom I included in research for a presentation on Middle School Choirs best
practices. I was an adjudicator for MCPS choral festivals and had worked
with him and with his choirs in that capacity--and I always ran the clinic
portion of that adjudication because we worked together at Faith United
Methodist Church in Rockville, where he at one time led the children's choir at
that church.
Christopher and I exchanged many ideas during that span, and those ideas became his founding of Strathmore Children's Chorus, celebrating its tenth season this year. He believed that since Strathmore Hall is the premier venue for music in our area, he could add a premier children's choir program as part of how Strathmore reaches more families and more diversity. And, his thinking was in line with Strathmore Hall Foundation's founding CEO and President Eliot Pfanstiehl, who similarly believed that children's choirs have a vital role to play in shaping arts organizations.
SCC has collaborated with Canadian Brass, Chieftains, MCYO, Baltimore Symphony, American University, Maryland Young Voices Festival, Dresden Children's Chorus, and many other national and local artists in our hall and around the area. Little did any of us know that would include virtual choir and video conference learning!
We succeeded, survived, and thrived because of each of you, singers and families. You devote time, talent, gifts, and effort to produce beautiful music through rehearsals and performances. Thank you!
Our Spring Concert, to be held at 7:00pm, Thursday, May 19, 2022 has a theme of Numbers. There are numbers in the names of and the lyrics in many of our repertoire selections, like Seasons of Love (from Rent), Sing a Song of Sixpence, Four White Horses, I Ask for One Day, and more. Numbers is a synonym for musical selections, and we have music that fits more broadly into the program by that thinking. Most importantly, we continue to live into increasing diversity and representation in our music, to have music that represents Native American, Latin American, and African American sources, composers and arrangers. We made conscious choices to include female composers and arrangers as well.
And, it all culminates in Christopher Guerra coming back to lead our combined Treble, Concert and Tenor Bass Choruses in the spiritual Children, Go Where I Send Thee.
For now, we continue to come to rehearsals, learn the notes, and improve our musicianship and our art. For May, please invite your family and friends for what will be a beautiful celebration of SCC's ten years in Montgomery County.
CLEAR TO GO!
Please remember to complete your student's SCC health screening on Clear-To-Go the day of rehearsal. We appreciate it!
Preparatory Chorus
Our Preparatory Choristers
LOVE to Sing and Share!
During the month of January, our Preparatory Choristers were having fun meeting new and returning choristers. Each week, some choristers share their favorite winter activities: Building snowmen and Drinking hot chocolate.
Our choristers love to sing, and one of their favorite songs that we are working on is entitled: “Four White Horses”. This song is from the Caribbean and many of our singers have connections to this beautiful place, along with having the many opportunities to ride horses!
Keep on sharing and singing, Preparatory Choristers!
Apprentice Chorus
Our Apprentice Choristers LOVE to Explore and Discover!
During the month of January, our Apprentice Choristers enjoyed meeting new and returning choristers. Each week, students who arrived early to rehearsal had the opportunity to share “getting to know you” and team-building activities. Many of our choristers discovered that they love winter activities, such as ice skating, and sledding.
In our rehearsals, we have begun to explore the French language in some our choral repertoire. One of our selections is a French Children’s Song entitled: “Deux Poules Françaises” (Two French Hens) and it is a collection of two songs:
1. “Hopi, Hop”
2. “Une Poule Blanche”
Within these two songs, they discovered all the fun adventures that hens could have with children and with themselves!
Keep on exploring and discovering, Apprentice Choristers!
Treble Chorus
Our Treble Choristers are Enjoying In-Person Singing and Exploring their Spring Repertoire!
During the month of January, our Treble Choristers have been enjoying singing together in-person and having opportunities to share their winter activities and experiences. Many of our Treble Choristers like skiing and spending time with family and friends.
Our choristers have shared an eagerness to explore the different genres in their Spring Repertoire Selections. From the Jazz elements like scat singing in “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?” to the energetic syncopation in the “Alleluia”, and the sacred, melodic, polyphonic phrases in “Psalm 150”, along with energetic gospel arrangement of the spiritual, “Go Where I Send Thee, our Treble Singers are enjoying the opportunities to experience and perform an array of musical styles.
