Singers in the Alexandria’s Children’s Chorus perform music that is daunting to much older singers. But the oldest among them is only 13.
Formed three years ago as part of the Alexandria Choral Society, the Children’s Chorus was supposed to give children an opportunity to learn more difficult music than was being taught in school.
IanHubbard, a sixth grader at Fair Hill Elementary School and a member of the chorus for two years, joined at the recommendation of his elementary school music teacher, Kevin Carr.
“I joined because I heard we got to do a lot of cool stuff,” he said. “And we do. We get to go to concerts and sing on TV and at really cool places like the White House and the Willard Hotel. It’s really fun.”
“We just wanted to find a way to expose children to a variety of music,” said Trish Waters, manager of the Choral Society and the Children’s Chorus.
That’s the philosophy that attracted Carr, director of the Children’s Chorus. He is an elementary school teacher, and was looking for a singing group for his more advanced students.
“I came across an ad for this group,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to have my own children’s choir where I could introduce advanced students to music in different languages and to different types of music. That is what we do here.”
Amber Elliott, 13 and home schooled, has been a member of the Children’s Chorus since the beginning. “Since I have been working with Mr. Carr, my voice has really improved and matured,” she said. “I know most 13-year-olds like to sing pop music but I’m just not very good at it. I prefer classical.”
CHORUS MEMBERS ARE divided into two groups – Dolce and Bel Canto. “The dolces are usually third and fourth graders who don’t quite have as much experience,” Waters said. “The purpose of this group is training. They don’t perform in public as often and our expectations are not as great.”
Bel Cantos are a little older, usually fifth through eighth graders, and a little more experienced, she said, so they perform more difficult music.
Each member of the group must audition every year. “It is by no means a sure thing that every child is going to become a member of the group,” said Waters. “We sometimes have to tell children to try again next year.”
Children who are selected pay yearly tuition of $300 to cover the cost of music, the accompanist and other administrative items. This year, nine chorus members receive scholarships from the group, or from the Alexandria Rotary Club. More are needed, though, because children come from throughout the area. This year, chorus members come from public and private schools in Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria and the District of Columbia.
Most children leave the group at 13, but that’s been changing, Carr said. “The older girls are a lot of help to me and can mentor some of the younger ones,” Carr said. “With the boys, however, once their voices change they can’t really continue with us.”
A teen group has been considered. But that’s just not possible right now, Waters said, due to a lack of manpower and resources. “It’s really too bad because there really is nothing for teenagers to do between the Children’s Chorus and the adult group.”