Ensembles and Programs

Children's Chorus

The Children’s Chorus is the entry level experience for young choristers in SHALLAWAY. Children must be 7 years of age by December 31st of their entering year. This ensemble learning setting is designed to foster continuous choral development through 12 years of age. Attention is given to healthy vocal production and the acquisition of the skills and understandings requisite for music literacy and aural proficiency (ear training). Children’s Chorus members learn in a multi-grade (Grades 2-7), setting where peer mentoring is organized and encouraged. The Children’s Chorus also has a day camp during the year and a day tour in the spring which involves a performance and cultural experience in addition to the fun of an outing.

Children’s Chorus rehearsals will have two formats depending on if the full Children’s Chorus is meeting or if it is a Junior (all children in Grade 2 & 3)  or Senior Ensemble (grades 4 and up)   rehearsal.  These two ensembles afford the opportunity for the senior choristers to develop more advanced musical skills and it provides the younger choristers the chance to focus on the developmental aspects particular to their level of musical growth.   Once every few weeks, the Children’s Chorus will meet with all of its members. These rehearsals will likely begin with separate rehearsals of the Boys Ensemble (all the boys in Children’s Chorus) and the Girls’ Ensemble (all of the girls in Children’s Chorus), where they work on their own vocal development and specialized repertoire.  Then, the whole group comes together for the final portion of the rehearsal in a full Children’s Chorus ensemble.  The breaks which punctuate these focused periods are taken all together, so friendships are formed and encouraged across age and gender from the outset of entry to the choir.