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Photo Credit: Saydi Shumway Photography
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JANE WILBURN SAPP BRINGS THE JOY OF MUSIC!
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Each year our youngest singers perform their own concert with a leading music educator as part of BCC's work supporting the professional development of local music teachers. The event is a partnership between Boston University's College of Fine Arts and BCC with support from the Boston Public School Arts Expansion Fund and EdVestors, an organization working to change and improve urban schools.
As you can see from the above photo, our singers' love of music is evident. The sold out concert of parents, friends and board members had the chance to share one of the best concerts this year! One of the reasons, beyond the hard work of our singers and staff, was our guest educator Jane Wilburn Sapp.
Over March 10 to 12, Jane gave a workshop about the importance of giving youth a voice through music, worked with music teachers and singers in a song writing workshop and conducted part of our concert entitled "Found in Translation." What everyone found working with Jane is the power and joy of making music together. One teacher said, "The songwriting was inspirational in many ways. I really enjoyed bringing the children's words to light in the song. I also learned a lot from the other teachers and how they utilize music for awareness and change." Jane emphasized through her words and actions that a "choir is a community," and a community is what the singers created that weekend.
Happy Spring! Click the image below to see Jane working with our singers. We hope this video brings a smile to your day.
 |  |  | (L-R) Hubert and Jane Sapp, Ben Hires, BCC Director of Programs, Corinne and Tim Ferguson, BCC Board Chair. Photo Credit: Tina C. Lin
| Video of Jane working with BCC singers. Photo Credit: Saydi Shumway Photography
| (L-R) Jane Sapp speaking with music educator Cheryl Noel at BCC's professional development workshop. Photo Credit: Saydi Shumway Photography
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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ATK?
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As many of you know, President and Artistic Director Anthony Trecek-King began a research trip at the end of January. He is traveling to different parts of the globe to research how other organizations tackle issues of social justice, equity and music. His first stop was Costa Rica and now he is in Kenya. Click here to read about his travels!
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 Photo Credit: Liza Voll |
Premier Choir and Young Men's Ensemble sang at the Citi Wang Theatre on Monday, February 29 for the American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) Gala "Boundless." The choir had the opportunity to meet and sing with Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe-nominated artist Matthew Morrison, who is known from his work on the TV show Glee and his leading role on the Broadway production Finding Neverland.
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 Ateha singing solo on "Every Time I feel the Spirit" in Berlin, Germany on the 2015 Liberation Tour to Prague and Berlin.
Photo Credit: Martin Walz |
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HEAR THE VOICE OF BCC ALUMNI: ATEHA BAILLY
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About a month after returning home from the amazing BCC tour to the Czech Republic and Germany this past summer, I departed on another journey. This time, it was to Reed College in Portland, OR where I am currently in my freshman year. As of now, I'm not sure what my major will be, but I still feel a strong pull towards music.
This pull inspired me to apply for the Kaspar T. Locher Creative Summer Scholarship offered by my school. The scholarship awards four students $1800 to pursue a creative project over the summer. My proposed project is a song album about race and religion in America through the lens of my religious and racial background. I grew up in and around both Christianity and the spiritual organization Ananda Marga. As an African-American, this mixture of religious ideas has altered and, at times, added complexity to the way in which I view racial issues. I intend on utilizing traditional songs from the African-American diaspora that have Christian undertones and juxtaposing these with original songs that explore the Hindu ideology found within the teachings of Ananda Marga. In doing so I hope to pose the question: To what extent can people rely on faith in the face of injustice?
My time in the Boston Children's Chorus had a major impact on the idea for this project. The annual Martin Luther King Jr. concert exposed me to the wealth of music within the African-American diaspora such as Negro Spirituals, Folk, and Gospel. Also, through the opportunity for travel which the BCC provided me, I was able to reinterpret these songs based on the unique struggles and hardships of the people for which we sang. In doing so, I participated in taking these powerful traditional songs and broadening their context. Ultimately, this lead me to realize that viewing songs such as these with a wider perspective not only highlights connections between seemingly disparate cultures and ideas but it also accents the nuances of the songs themselves.
I don't find out the results of the scholarship until May, but I know, if I do receive it, the skills and experiences I gained in the BCC will undoubtedly be needed to bring my project to fruition. - Ateha (BCC 2015)
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 Photo Credit: Ashley Mac |
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INTRODUCING SALLY K. DALE
BCC'S DIRECTOR OF INDIVIDUAL GIVING
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BCC Director of Programs Ben Hires spoke with Sally K. Dale about her new role.
What inspires you about joining the BCC team?
BCC's work sits right at the intersection of things that bring me joy and hope - music, performance, young people, and positive social change. It's a great place to apply my energy and experience. And it's fun to have come just as the organization is planning how to achieve a whole new level of impact. The need has never been greater for embracing differences and dissolving barriers.
How do you see your role at BCC?
People are moved by our performances and our work. Family members see their young singers transformed. Community leaders witness our diverse choirs united in the joy of singing together. People believe in the power of music to inspire acceptance and compassion. They see that our choral programs - steeped with lessons in social justice - instill confidence and resolve in our young singers. My job is simply to invite and encourage everyone who is moved by this to make a gift, small or large, to help sustain our work.
How can people who care about the BCC help ensure our success?
We really do need everyone's help in whatever amount people can share. It's amazing to me that three-quarters of our yearly budget comes from gifts - and a big percent of that comes from individuals! The foundations and the companies that support us need to know that behind their gifts there is this solid community of people who give to us each year. And the more support we have, the more we can do.
What kinds of expenses does BCC need support for?
This year we made a major commitment to increasing artistic excellence and growing our impact. We expanded the number of choirs we train. We added choir conductors and added rehearsals to the weekly calendar. We continue to self-produce at least four concerts a year. We continue our essential partnership with the music teachers of the Boston Public Schools. And we remain committed to bringing our choirs on tour in the US and internationally: travel totally expands their perspective and our impact. All of this needs the financial support of those who love our work.
What else would you like our readers to know?
Please come watch our rehearsals - they are really inspiring. AND DO come see us perform. Our concerts are a joy and totally uplifting.
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SPRING TRAVELS FOR BCC SINGERS
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CIA IS HEADED TO WASHINGTON
Michele Adams' Central Intermediate Advanced (CIA) Choir will travel to Washington, DC from April 8 to 10 to participate in the annual "3 Trebles Festival" with the Children's Chorus of Washington and the Princeton Girlchoir. All three choirs will give a performance at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church on Sunday, April 10 at 4:00pm. This will be CIA's second excursion out of the state. The trip provides amazing opportunities for musical growth for these young singers as well as the chance to develop maturity and independence. Our group would love to see any friendly faces in the audience!
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BCC WILL TRAVEL TO MONTREAL
Michele Adams will also lead Concert Choir on their annual excursion from April 15 to 18. Their trip will start with a visit to former conductor Irene Idicheria's (Ms. I) school in Lawrence, MA. Then, after a stop to collaborate with choirs in Vermont, the group will travel to Montreal where they will visit Mont Royal, perform at St. Andrew and St. Paul and have a workshop at McGill University. The group is also going to Notre-Dame Basilica. Our singers are looking forward to making music with new friends, sleeping on the bus and of course, poutine! Obtenez vocale. Rejoignez-nous!
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March 26 at 11:00am
Music Exchange with the Boston String Academy and YOFES String Program
Harvard Ed Portal
224 Western Ave., Allston
West End House Training Choir
Free and open event
April 2 at 3:00pm
Still I Rise With Guest Conductor Dr. Rosephanye Powell Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Premier Choir and the Young Men's Ensemble $12 - $27 | Purchase online or at 617-278-5156
Each spring, the Boston Children's Chorus invites a prominent conductor to work with its talented young singers. Past guest conductors have included Julian Wachner, Simon Halsey, and Maria Guinand; this year, Rosephanye Powell, one of the United States' premier choral music composers, will conduct a performance of her own works. Featuring arrangements of folksongs from Nigeria and Zimbabwe, arrangements of African American spirituals, and original compositions based on texts by Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes, this program will showcase the power and resilience of African and African American artforms. Don't miss this opportunity to get to know one of our nation's most dynamic composers and conductors!
April 6 at 6:00pm
The Seaport Hotel
Concert Choir
Ticketed Event
April 7 at 7:00pm
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children: Together Against Abuse
Fairmont Copley Plaza
United South End Settlements Training Choir
Ticketed Event
April 9 at 11:30am & 1:00pm
The Boston Children's Museum Community Performance
The Boston Children's Museum
Choral Union and Jr. Men's Ensemble
Performance with paid entrance
April 10 at 3:00pm
Hope Out Loud: Annual event using music and art to foster social justice
Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry at 10 Putnam Street, Roxbury
The South Boston Perry School Training Choir
Free and open event
April 12 at 7:00pm
Project Manna presented by Temple Emanuel of Newton &the Massachusetts Avenue Baptist Church
Temple Emmanuel at 385 Ward Street, Newton
Central Training Choir
Ticketed event. All proceeds support the church's Project Manna hot meals program and food pantry.
April 30 at 1:30pm
First Parish Dorchester Advanced Training and Intermediate Choirs
Free for families
May 14 at 3:00pm
RAW TRUTH encore performance at Rockport Music
Rockport Music's Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport
Premier Choir and the Young Men's Ensemble
$15 | Purchase online or at 978-546-7396
May 22 at 2:00pm
A May Bouquet: BCC's Season Finale Concert
Strand Theatre, Dorchester
All 13 BCC Choirs
$12 | Tickets online shortly.
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BPS Arts Expansion Fund at EdVestors
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Boston Children's Chorus 112 Shawmut Avenue, Boston MA 02118 (617) 778-2242
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Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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