A Decade of Children Singing

Story by Lindsey Chester | April 28, 2010 | Tags: Cary Children's Concert Choir, children, concert singers of cary, music

Roberta Thomason, Director of the Cary Children's Concert Choir

Cary, NC- Ten years ago, three people got together to spearhead a choral program for the youth of Cary as an extension of the successful adult group, Concert Singers of Cary. 

Roberta Thomason, Joy Ennis and  Steve Mulder began by identifying where they could rehearse and who would be their accompanists. They hired Ruth Pardue, (she currently teaches music at Turner Creek Elementary) to play for the group and The First Reformed Church on Old Apex Road agreed to let them use their space for rehearsals. Cary Children’s Concert Choir was born. They have since moved to Greenwood Forest Baptist Church.

I met with Roberta, whose passion for teaching children is evident as she discussed the musical programs they perform.  She said that in their first season 24 children auditioned and performed in the fall of 2000 as part of The Cary Concert Singer’s Holiday Concert. They didn’t have uniforms yet, but wore white shirts and black skirts or pants. The following spring, they sang a full concert of 12 songs at the Cary Senior Center.

Who Can Join?

Auditions are held each August for children in grades 3- 6.  Only under the most extreme cases will a child not be accepted, I was told.  Once they have auditioned, Roberts explained, they can stay on, with the commitment of at least one semester. Tuition is $125 per semester. The groups typically perform about 8 concerts per year.

New This Year

New this year is the Cary Youth Chorale (CYC) which accepts children in grades 6-8. Roberts said several middle schools lack a chorus, so this group grew out of that need. She uses the 6th graders as a bridge between the groups, and often these children perform in both. This group will sing the popular “Seasons of Love” from Rent as well as a patriotic piece.

What’s Coming Up?

A special anniversary concert is planned May 7th beginning at 7 pm at Greenwood Forest Baptist Church. Roberta was excited to relate how a special piece has been commissioned by Mark Patterson titled, ““Music, Like a Radiant Light” to mark  the anniversary. Another feature of this special concert will be several other pieces written by area artists including ” Let The Earth Resound” by Sally Albrecht and several by Andy Beck, both of Alfred Publishing.

Last year the group traveled to Charlotte to perform with the Charlotte Children’s Choir. This year that group is coming to Cary May 15th to sing  at 11:30 with C4 at Greenwood Forest Baptist Church.

Looking toward next season, Roberta was excited to hint at a program including 8 chamber singers coming to teach and share from ECU for the fall and a Nashville strings player assisting with a Celtic/American music program in the spring.

Look on our Calendar for other C4 and Concert Singers events.