Orcas Boy Choir Seeks Additional Voices

First rehearsal Monday January 23 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m

The Orcas Boy Choir is having its first rehearsal on Monday January 23 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. in Martin Lund’s music room (band room) at the public school.  The choir is open to all boys aged 6 – 12, regardless of singing ability and all are encouraged to come to this first meeting and discover the excitement of singing together.

The tradition of boy choirs is rich throughout the world with such famous choirs as the Vienna Boys Choir. Boy choirs have been shown to give an excellent musical education whilst developing personal confidence through performance and development.

The group will be led by Mary Will Allen, a professional musician from San Juan Island. Mary has a masters degree in music, with a focus on voice and harp. She has experience teaching music in elementary and high school, as well as conducting numerous choirs including a community chorus.

Mary is very excited about this choir. She writes “a group must come together, learn to sing, breathe, respect each other, share what they know, listen to individual and group pitch and most of all have fun together. We will plan to sing unaccompanied (acapella) and with harmony. There is so much exiting music to choose from, sea chanties, world music, folk music and the music the group participates in composing. I am a composer and I teach theory with whatever else I am doing. The more students know, the clearer it becomes”.

The group has the support of Angel Michaels, and the Island Acappella group, who are excited about the possibility of performing together in the future.

The first session will run January 23 – April 2, with no rehearsal when school is closed for public holidays. The cost is $50 for the 10 week session, partial scholarship may be available for those in need.

For more information please contact Mary Will Allen on 378 2387 or Rachel Bishop 376 5003.