The Long Island Children's Choir hopes to provide musical opportunities for children of all socioeconomic backgrounds on Long Island.
We have had a lot of interest, but there are still openings available. It is one of those ‘if you build it, they will come’ situations. Now all we need to do is let kids and parents on Long Island know that we have built it.
Dix Hills, NY (PRWEB) July 24, 2013
Like many other Long Island parents, Jennifer Shaer and Roger Lao were frustrated by budget cuts to school music programs. So, they decided to take matters into their own hands and teach their children, as well as other music-loving children throughout Long Island an invaluable lesson. “We wanted to show our kids that, when faced with a problem, they can choose to sit back and dwell, or they can be part of the solution. In establishing the Long Island Children’s Choir, we hope to provide musical opportunities for children of all socioeconomic backgrounds,” said Shaer.
LICC includes three ensembles for different age groups. Prelude is for grades 1 through 4, Harmonia is for intermediate and advanced singers in grades 5 through 12 and Lyric is for advanced singers for grades 7 through 12 who have excelled in the Harmonia program. Acceptance is by audition only.
Auditions for the Long Island Children’s Choir will take place on September 17th at Five Towns College. Tuition is per semester; the Fall semester will run September through January and Spring semester will go from February through June. The fee for Prelude is $225, Harmonia is $250 and Lyric/Harmonia is $350. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.
Shaer is very clear about the purpose of LICC, and does not want it to be seen as competing with school music programs in any way. “We do not want to replace school music programs. We simply want to supplement them for those who want more. This is why we require a recommendation from a child’s school chorus teacher to participate.”
The choir has an exciting season planned, set to begin at the end of September 2013. There will be a performance at the end of each semester at the Dix Hills Performing Arts Center. The entire choir will perform at a NY Islanders game at Nassau Coliseum in January. The Lyric ensemble will also perform at The National Children’s Festival Chorus at Carnegie Hall on March 24, 2014.
Even without formal advertising, there has already been a lot of interest surrounding LICC. “We have had a lot of interest, but there are still openings available,” continued Shaer. “It is one of those ‘if you build it, they will come’ situations. Now all we need to do is let kids and parents on Long Island know that we have built it.”
About The Long Island Children’s Choir
The Long Islands Children’s Choir is a non-profit corporation whose mission is threefold:
- To unite children in song and to create music artistry by providing opportunities for children to engage in all components of music, singing and choir.
- To instill confidence, creativity, cooperation and a feeling of community to children of all backgrounds, ages and levels of experience with comprehensive musicianship.
- To provide instructional lessons to school age children within the Long Island community in music literacy and vocal techniques, and to provide opportunities for performance.
The Choir’s inaugural season will launch in September 2013 and still has openings in its three ensembles, Prelude, Harmonia and Lyric.
Prelude will rehearse weekly on Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30 PM in Dix Hills under the direction of Christa Braunreuther.
Harmonia will rehearse weekly on Wednesdays from 6:00-7:30 PM in Dix Hills under the direction of Colleen Regan.
Lyric will rehearse on Wednesdays from 7:40 – 8:30 PM, following the Harmonia rehearsal, in Dix Hills under the direction of Colleen Regan.
To learn more about the Long Island Children’s Choir, or for audition details and/or to register, visit http://www.lichildrenschoir.org.