Forms

There is a $25 registration fee for each chorister, due by February 25.
Late registrations after February 25 are $30 and cannot be guaranteed a t-shirt.

Choristers will spend the day singing, drumming, dancing, acting, creating art and ringing bells! In addition to all this, the teens will work on vocal pedagogy specific to their needs. The day will conclude with a chorister-led worship service that is overflowing with music and the liturgical arts. 

Repertoire
​ Selections for Children’s Choir
(NB: for small choirs, it is acceptable and encouraged to focus on melody!)

Gathering Song 
Kye Kye Kule by Greg Gilpin

Thanksgiving Theme
Hine Ma Tov, arranged by Allan Naplan

​Christmas Theme
A La Nanita Nana, arranged by Ruth Elaine Schram

​Pentecost Theme
Wind Song (As the Wind through the Trees) by Helen Kemp

General
Draw the Circle Wide, set by Mark A. Miller
Selections for Advanced Teen Choir
(NB: Teens should also prepare the Children's Choir music, focusing on harmony!)
​
Advent Theme 
Lost in the Night by Kyle Haugen

Easter Theme 
Revelation 19  by Jeffrey LaValley/arr. Schrader
Additionally, we hope to use "Halle, Halle," from Halle, Halle: We Sing the World Round during the worship service with the congregation. We'd also like the treble singers to learn "Yaa Quddsa RuuhilLah," an Arabic folk song with a beautiful text adapted by Andrew Donaldson, published in Hosanna! Ecumenical Songs for Justice and Peace, published by Oikoumene: World Council of Churches Publications. We are in the process of getting permission to make copies of these individual pieces so that you won't have to purchase the books for all of your singers, but strongly encourage you to explore these wonderful publications on your own. 

Festival Preparation

Children and teens are asked to learn all music ahead of time. The repertoire corresponds to the liturgical calendar so that it can be rehearsed and used throughout the year. Directors are also encouraged to come to the October 12 workshop (see below) for detailed instruction from our clinician on how to best prepare your choristers. ​

Directors' Festival Prep Workshop in October! 
Friday, October 12, 6-9 pm

Dinner and a workshop with this year's clinician at our host church in Norton (TCC!) Get instructions from Jason on how to prepare festival music and tips on how to adapt it for your ensemble. Learn some new teaching tools and conducting techniques, socialize with fellow directors, and more! Cost is $25 per person, and includes dinner. RSVP to Trey Pratt. 

Festival Teen Choir Rehearsal & Pizza
Friday, March 29, 6:00-8:30pm

The advanced teen ensemble will rehearse their music & eat pizza the Friday night before the festival with Jason Holmes at TCC! This will enable the teens to go to their own break out sessions on Saturday.

Choral Clinician

Jason Alexander Holmes
Associate Director of Choirs at Boston Children's Chorus

Jason will lead chorus rehearsals and direct both the children's choir and the high school ensemble on the day of the festival. Jason has been a successful vocal and general music teacher-conductor at the elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels; he has also served as conductor, music director, and keyboardist for numerous school, amateur, and professional productions. Jason is the chorus master Finger Lakes Opera and is on the faculty of the Geva Theatre Summer Academy. As a bass-baritone, Jason has performed in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (soloist), Handel's Messiah (soloist), Gershwin's Porgy and Bess (Porgy), and Jason Robert Brown's Parade (Newt/Riley/Jim). Jason is a proud graduate of the Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY) and Ithaca College; he is currently the Associate Director of Choirs at Boston Children’s Chorus.

Breakout Sessions

Handbells: Griff Gall 
Back Bay Ringers

Griff will lead handbell breakout sessions which will culminate in an Orff-inspired, improvisatory contribution to our worship service. We are excited to have him back to offer his unique perspective to both children and adults, teaching us how to best utilize these wonderful instruments pedagogically and liturgically!

Dance: Bethany Lynch
Director and Master Teacher of Dance at Jackson Mann K-8 School

Bethany returns to our festival to lead the dance breakout sessions which will culminate in collaboration with one of the choral pieces to be sung during worship. Bethany’s work will certainly be a creative avenue for the children, will develop their body movement and awareness and will illuminate ways in which our directors might use this work on their own. 

Drama: Merle Perkins
Urban Improv

Merle will direct the children in a dramatic depiction of a story from scripture. A regional actor with credits including HBO's Six Feet Under and the film Mermaids, she has been a member of Urban Improv since its inception in 1992. Her love of and trust of children's creativity shines through her work; we are so excited to have her back!

Percussion: Ed Sorentino
South Shore Conservatory 

Ed returns to our festival to lead our drumming breakout sessions! His vast experience with children and the percussion instruments we have in our churches will surely invigorate the children’s interest and embolden our directors to use their hands in a different, percussive manner!

Visual Art: Erica Sutherland
Gateway Arts

Erica moved to Boston from Cape Cod in 2006 to pursue a degree in Art Education. She now works at Gateway Arts, a day program in Brookline for adults with disabilities, and occasionally in the Art Lab at the Institute for Contemporary Art. She is excited to join us for the first time this year, leading our children in visual arts that will certain bring life and color to our worship service!