Durham Childrens Choir Inc

DURING THE 2023 - 2024 YEAR, THE DURHAM CHILDREN'S CHOIR PROVIDED MUSIC EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES TO A DIVERSE GROUP OF 86 CHILDREN FROM DURHAM, NC AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. THESE CHILDREN, IN GRADES K-12, WERE FROM 35 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS - PUBLIC, PRIVATE, CHARTER AND HOME SCHOOLS. THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR FOR VIVACE, AN INTRODUCTORY MUSIC CLASS FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K - 1. THE CHILDREN EXPLORED MUSICAL CONCEPTS BY MOVING, DANCING, PLAYING RHYTHM INSTRUMENTS AND LISTENING. CHILDREN IN GRADES 2 - 4 WERE IN CANTARE, A PREPARATORY CHOIR. THEY FOCUSED ON LEARNING TO SING AS PART OF A GROUP AND REINFORCING MUSIC CONCEPTS. THEY PERFORMED TWICE DURING THE YEAR. THE OLDER STUDENTS WERE IN BEL CANTO, THE PERFORMANCE CHOIR. CHOIR REHEARSALS INCLUDED INSTRUCTION IN MUSIC THEORY AND APPRECIATION, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY RECEIVED THE BENEFIT OF THE OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PERFORMANCES BY THESE YOUTH DURING 10 DIFFERENT PUBLIC PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, WE PARTICIPATED IN THREE CHORAL EVENTS THAT INVOLVED SEVERAL OTHER YOUTH CHOIRS FROM ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA. FIRST, DCC WAS SELECTED AS ONE OF SEVERAL YOUTH CHOIRS TO PERFORM IN THE CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL CHOIR FOR THE OPENING CONCERT AT THE AMERICAN CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION (ACDA) NC CHAPTER CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS HELD IN DURHAM AT DUKE UNIVERSITY IN OCTOBER. DURING THIS CONFERENCE, SEVERAL OF OUR CHORISTERS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN "NC SINGS!" THIS ONE-DAY YOUTH CHORAL EVENT BRINGS YOUNG SINGERS TOGETHER FROM AROUND THE STATE TO JOIN IN LEARNING MUSIC UNDER A GUEST CLINICIAN AND PERFORMING AT DAY'S END. RECEIVING MUSIC UPON ARRIVAL, THE FOCUS OF THIS EVENT IS ON THE PROCESS OF LEARNING TOGETHER AS A CHOIR. FINALLY, IN MARCH, WE PARTICIPATED IN THE PIEDMONT INVITATIONAL CHILDREN'S CHOIR FESTIVAL (PICCF). HELD THIS YEAR IN GREENVILLE NC, THIS TWO-DAY EVENT WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER SEVERAL YOUTH CHOIRS FROM ACROSS THE STATE ENDED IN A FREE PUBLIC PERFORMANCE.