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Founded in January 2009, the Park Avenue Youth Chorale is a free, professional music training program for children and youth from grades 3-12. A ministry of Park Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a Protestant congregation on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the program is quickly establishing itself as a place where young people can gain the skills, confidence and focus essential for musical and academic success. The program includes a free summer music camp, weekly rehearsals, social events and regular performances in worship services and in the community.
Participants in the Youth Chorale are from neighborhoods and schools around the New York City area. We invite families from all faith traditions, denominations and churches, and respect those who profess no faith or have chosen different paths to the sacred. All are welcome!
Acceptance into the Park Avenue Youth Chorale is based on a short audition and interview. Although students from grade 3 to grade 12 may apply, those 13 and under are considered to be part of the junior ensemble and those older than 13 are part of the senior ensemble.
Applicants will not be turned away for lack of musical experience or skill. The program is intended as a place of learning and growth and the most important requirement for membership in the program is regular, committed attendance at rehearsals and performances.
To schedule an audition, please contact Paul Vasile at pvasile@parkavenuechristian.com or by calling (212) 288-3246.
The Park Avenue Youth Chorale offers a truly unique musical experience to youth and families in New York City. Participants will:
• Receive free professional music training within large group and individual settings;
• Experience music from diverse styles and cultures, including Classical, World Music, Gospel, Jazz, Broadway and more;
• Express and explore faith through regular worship leadership in a welcoming and diverse congregation;
• Develop an active awareness of music, art, language and history;
• Form new and lasting friendships with other children from across New York City and beyond.
Families interested in participating in the Youth Chorale are invited to call the director, Paul Vasile. at 212-288-3246 (x105) or email. He will be happy to provide additional information and to set up an in-person meeting with prospective families.
For recent Youth Chorale updates and information, including pictures and video, check out our blog: Park Avenue Youth Chorale Blog
WEEKLY SCHEDULE AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE YOUTH CHORALE
The primary duty of the Youth Chorale is to help lead the congregation’s 11 a.m. Sunday Worship Celebration. Chorale members are expected to attend either the Wednesday or Saturday rehearsal and to be present on Sunday morning.
The schedule is as follows:
Mid-week rehearsal: Wednesday, 4:30 –5:30 p.m.
Weekend Rehearsal: Saturday, 1-2 p.m.
Sunday Warm-Up/Rehearsal: 10:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship Celebration: 11 a.m.
All rehearsals are held in the Choir Room on the first floor of the Adams Building, unless otherwise noted. Rehearsals begin promptly. Youth Chorale members should plan to arrive early enough to change into robes (on Sundays), collect music, and be ready to sing at the scheduled time. For reasons including children’s safety, parents are asked to please let the directors know in advance when circumstances require that they will be absent or arrive late.
All are strongly encouraged to arrive early for Wednesday and Saturday rehearsals and are welcome to stay up to 30 minutes after rehearsal. This time is used to review written work and for short, one-on-one singing sessions with the Director and Assistant Director.
Families are expected to plan around the Youth Chorale schedule. The Sundays following Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter (among others) are days off, as are the Columbus Day and Memorial Day weekends. In addition, choir members may miss one Sunday in the fall and one Sunday in the spring.
The schedule as planned for the 2010-11 season can be found here.
The community of Park Avenue Christian Church invests in its future by making an excellent musical education available to our children and youth free of charge. This investment in the chorale members not only includes books and robes, social events and private instruction, but the time, energy, and expertise of the music staff and clergy. In return, we ask that youth and parents commit to regular participation in every aspect of the Youth Chorale program.
We expect that Youth Chorale participants will:
• arrive punctually to all rehearsals, services and performances.
• bring a positive attitude, an open mind and willingness to learn and grow;
• follow direction given by the directors and designated adult leaders;
• treat their fellow singers with respect at all times;
• complete assigned work in their Voice for Life workbooks;
We expect that Youth Chorale parents will:
• ensure that their children arrive to rehearsals, services and other events punctually;
• support and affirm their child(ren) as they grow musically;
• volunteer regularly as a parent chaperone at rehearsals, Sunday services and at other events;
• communicate in a timely way with the directors.
In the event that a chorale member exhibits behavior problems, negativity, consistent tardiness or absenteeism, a meeting will be held with the directors, child and parent(s). If improvement is not shown, the child will be asked to leave the Youth Chorale program.
CONCERT AND SUNDAY ATTIRE
For all concerts and worship services, chorale members are asked to wear black pants/skirt, black dress shoes (not sneakers), dark socks, and a white collared shirt. Girls’ shoes should not be open-toe or sandals and hose should be black or tan.
THE CURRICULUM
The Youth Chorale curriculum is divided into four levels, each with a corresponding workbook from the Royal School of Church Music Voice for Life series:
Progress from one level to the next is made by completing a modest amount of weekly written homework and passing simple, informal tests. Assessments are given within the context of weekly rehearsals and during short sessions (10-15 minutes) when the director meets with 2 or 3 choristers at a time before or after rehearsals. The levels do not correspond to age or years in the program. There is no time limit; each choir member works at his/her own pace.
Each level provides training in five core areas:
1. Using the voice well: teaching choir members how to develop good vocal technique
2. Musical skills and understanding: developing knowledge of music theory and notation; encourages chorale members to demonstrate this understanding through sight-singing and aural skills
3. Repertoire: developing a good understanding of the musical and historical context of the music they perform
4. Belonging to the choir: encouraging chorale members to view their choir as a team. They are invited to reflect upon and develop their contribution and commitment to the team
5. Choir in context: exploring the wider context of choral music
Copies of the Voice For Life workbooks are always available for review and are provided free to registered choir members.
BEYOND THE CURRICULUM
The Youth Chorale program includes a number of social events and singing opportunities beyond services at Park Avenue Christian Church. Social events will include parties, movies, pizza lunches and concerts about one Sunday each month.
PARENT SUPPORT AND YOUTH CHORALE PARENT MEETINGS
There are countless opportunities, small and large, for parent support; all are crucial to the growth and success of the Chorale. These include:
• reading your child’s workbook & helping with homework
• taking photos
• serving pizza lunches
• helping choir members robe up
• reaching out to potential new choir members
• chaperoning choir trips
• talking with new choir parents
• seeing that choir members arrive early for services, rehearsals, lessons, and singing sessions
• offering ideas for activities
• cleaning choir robes
• helping with choir fundraising
• sharing ideas from other successful children’s programs…
Another such opportunity is being present at Youth Chorale parent meetings, which include parents, supporters and staff. The committee meets approximately every six weeks with the mission of improving every aspect of the Park Avenue Youth Chorale program.
PARENT HELP ON SUNDAY MORNINGS
Parents are expected to help (on a rotating basis coordinated with the directors) with Sunday morning responsibilities as follows:
10 AM – Help with robes before 10:15 AM warm-up
10:30 AM – Help usher chorale from Choir Room to the Chancel for AM rehearsal
10:35 AM – Take attendance and call parents of chorale members who are absent without notice to ensure that they know that their child has not arrived.
10:45 AM – Help supervise chorale members, particularly when they have been dismissed on break
10:50AM – Help usher chorale members to the Parlor to line up for the Processional.
Having a parent on hand to assist before, during, and after the Sunday morning warm-up/rehearsal is important for a number of reasons, the first of which is safety. The Parent on duty should be available in case a singer is feeling ill or needs something from the first aid kit.
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