Youth chorus to add children’s ensemble

By The Vindicator

the vindicator

SALEM — The Salem Community Theater Youth Chorus is adding a children’s ensemble to its program this fall.

Boys and girls ages 9-13 are welcome to audition. No experience is necessary.

As with the Salem Youth Chorus, the Children’s Chorus will be implemented as a musical “honors” ensemble, said artistic director Jon Simsic. In addition to challenging repertoire, children will receive training in reading music, solfege (do, re, mi system) and a host of other musical and ensemble skills.

There will be weekly rehearsals with scheduled performances in conjunction with the Youth Chorus program. Rehearsals will be on Sunday afternoons from 1:30 to 2:45, with a more intensive rehearsal schedule approximately two weeks before concert performances. The first rehearsal will be Sept. 6 at Salem Community Theatre, 490 E. State St.

There is no need to prepare an audition song. Simsic will individually vocalize singers in order to get an idea of voice and abilities. Call Salem Community Theatre at (330) 332-9688 to schedule an audition or for additional information.

There will be a fee of $100 for the Children’s Chorus season (September through May), which can be paid in a single payment or in payments spread out over the season. The fee covers music, folders and administrative costs.

“The Children’s Chorus will be a great opportunity to expand your musical knowledge and abilities and to take a further part in our thriving theatrical and musical youth program,” said Simsic.

The Salem Youth Chorus was founded in 2007 in order to provide teens in the greater Salem area with the opportunity to sing sacred choral music as crafted by the compositional masters. The current ensemble has 22 members, age 14-18. In addition to a number of local concerts, the chorus has performed at Bruton Parish Church in Colonial Williamsburg, Va., and then sang Choral Evensong at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. It traveled to New York City in July to sing at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

The chorus will travel to the United Kingdom to perform next summer.

Simsic also will be accepting auditions for the Youth Chorus. All teens age 14-18 are welcome to audition. Again, no audition song is necessary. Qualified teens must bring a high level of talent, team work, discipline and dedication to the Youth Chorus. Rehearsals are Sunday afternoons from 3 to 5:30 with a more intensive rehearsal schedule approximately two weeks before the concerts.