Orozco, who performs internationally before enthusiastic crowds, will be appearing on the invitation of the SVCC, and Harrisonburg City Schools. “He is our gift to the community,” said SVCC artistic director , who has prepared nearly 40 students to sing with Orozco at the festival in Hillandale Park.

Orozco and SVCC share the goal of gathering children, families, and communities around a singing culture, Hostetter said. Orozco’s performances employ a singalong style, through which he engages people of all ages.

“He’s like an Hispanic Raffi!” said SVCC assistant director Joy Anderson.

SVCC begins its 2014 season with Hostetter stepping into the artistic director position; a renovated office location in an 91¶ĚĘÓƵ-owned house on campus; and aspirations for a new set of uniforms to replace the children’s 20-year-old outfits.

To usher in the upcoming term, SVCC held a group retreat at on Sept. 13. Choristers became acquainted with some of this season’s repertoire, while building bonds among themselves and with staff. Rehearsal time, games, dramatic sketches, s’mores, and scampering about the woods packed the 11-hour day at the camp.

Hostetter’s passion for musical education is rooted in her own experiences as a high school chorister. “I learned much about listening and connecting to the people around me in those years,” said Hostetter. “I experienced the way community can be built through the members who give, based on what is needed for the good of the group.”

As a musical instructor, she fondly remembers the transformation of in Dayton (Va.) during her years teaching there. Singing “was not cool” when she arrived, but both attendance and camaraderie burgeoned under her tutelage.

Transposing these experiences into her new position with SVCC is akin to “stepping off a plane into a beautiful flowering field.”

Hostetter is familiar with said field in her prior roles of SVCC parent and guest conductor, but now assumes full responsibility for nurturing SVCC. Studying the choirs inside and out helps her “ensure the ongoing success and continued growth of an already strong and flourishing organization.”

SVCC’s strength and prolificity are evident in their history. They have performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, two Mahatma Gandhi Global Nonviolence Award ceremonies, and the Tuscany International Children’s Chorus Festival in Italy, among other illustrious venues.

“People are always shocked when they hear us,” said Anderson. She says it is “unheard of” to be this well known, given that SVCC is not based in a major urban area.

There are currently 157 students enrolled for the school year in and performing choir programs. Music Explorers consists of students in kindergarten through third grade, with an emphasis on basic choral education. The performing choirs, made up of the preparatory, treble, and concert choirs, are divided based on age and singing prowess. Preparatory choir eligibility begins in second grade, and students must audition for acceptance into each level. Concert choir, with students from sixth to twelfth grade, is the longest-distance touring group of SVCC.

Participants come from families of Mennonite, Jewish, other Christian, and no religious inclination. This diversity of faith tradition is key to SVCC’s character. “We want this to be a very inclusive atmosphere,” said Anderson.

“Cultivated properly,” Hostetter said, “choral ensembles can give students a place of learning and belonging.”

Other upcoming SVCC performances include:

• JMU’s production of “La BohĂ©me” by Giacomo Puccini, in which nine concert choir students will make up the “Ruffian’s Chorus.” Performances on Nov. 7, 8, and 9 in the Forbes Center, Harrisonburg.
• A fall concert in tandem with the , with the treble and concert choirs each having their own sets as well as two songs in conjunction with the orchestra. This is the first time the orchestras and choirs have collaborated on stage. Performance on Nov. 23, 4 p.m., in Lehman Auditorium.
• A Christmas Concert including all three performing choirs performing a collection of Celtic-themed songs. Performance on Dec. 7, 4 p.m., in Lehman Auditorium.

The goal is educational in two parts: It’s not only for the two groups to learn from each other, but for both to learn from a new audience. An added bonus, of course, is that the audience has an opportunity to experience both groups for the price of … well, nothing.

The Fall Concert to be held at 4 p.m. Nov. 24, is free and open to the public; donations will be collected benefiting scholarships for students in the programs.

Last year, SVCC did not participate in the Fall Concert due to a busy performance schedule.

The show will feature the local singing ensemble’s concert and treble choirs, which will take stage following a performance by the entire 50-person youth orchestra at 91¶ĚĘÓƵ’s Lehman Auditorium.

“Our kids … get to hear the orchestra, and the orchestra gets to hear the choir,” said Joy Anderson, assistant director of the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir, explaining the benefits of the group’s joint concert with the symphony.

“Even though I think there’s a lot of overlap in the audience, it’s a different audience.”

The children’s choir consists of three choirs and two classes – only the eldest two perform during the Fall Concert. The treble choir has about 33 students, typically ages 9 to 14, while the concert choir rounds out to roughly 60 participants, usually 11- to 18-year-olds.

Public, private and home schoolers come from as far as Staunton, West Virginia and Lexington to participate in the group, according to Anderson.

“Most big cities have a civic children’s choir program, but it’s not as typical to have it in more of a small city,” she explained, adding that the SVCC has travelled as far as Italy and Hawaii, and performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House.

“We’re really happy to be performing with the orchestra,” she said. “It’s a nice way to kind of kick off the holiday season.”

The youth orchestra consists of students from 7th to 12th grades, typically, although one particularly gifted 7-year-old is currently involved, according to , administrative director for and manager of the youth symphony.

This year’s orchestra soloist – a position set aside for a high schooler on his or her way out of the program – will be Caleb Schrock-Hurst, a senior at . The symphony includes students from many local high schools, as well as home-schoolers, the occasional middle-schooler and local college students who fill in the blanks.

For some parts, especially the brass positions, high school students at the level necessary to join the group don’t audition, Miller explained.

Courtesy Daily News Record, Nov. 16, 2013

“SVCC is thrilled to be able to offer this great opportunity to our community,” said Joy Anderson, assistant director of SVCC. “We thank Bill and his band for partnering with us to get families singing together.”

91¶ĚĘÓƵ Bill Wellington

Wellington has entertained children for over 25 years. He began presenting programs at elementary schools in 1977 in West Virginia, where he served as artist-in-residence in several mountain communities. Since that time he has performed widely, from one-room schoolhouses to elementary schools with over 1,400 children.

In 1990 Wellington created as a vehicle to spread his love of folk music, storytelling, and folklore. Since then he has shared the message of WOOF with many thousands through his recordings and live performances.

Wellington is married to , who is a pianist, a harpsichordist, and an associate professor of music at 91¶ĚĘÓƵ. They have a daughter, Sophie.

Admission

General admission is $5 for adults, children with adults and music teachers are free. Park View Mennonite Church is located at 1600 College Avenue in Harrisonburg. For more information contact the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir at 540-432-4650 or email svcc@emu.edu.

“’Dr. V.’ will be directing the Treble and Concert Choirs and has been hard at work already, choosing exciting new repertoire,” said , assistant director of the SVCC. “The SVCC staff has worked closely with her so that the beginning of the choir year will run as smoothly as always. We can’t wait for the choristers to meet and work with Dr. V!”

Van der Vat-Chromy serves as director of choral activities at James Madison University (JMU), leading the Madison Singers, the JMU Chorale and the University Women’s Chorus. Her academic responsibilities include graduate thesis supervision, undergraduate and graduate choral conducting, high school choral methods, graduate choral literature and student teacher supervision.

“For over 20 years, the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir has exemplified a tradition of musical excellence in children’s choral singing here in the Shenandoah Valley,” said van der Vat-Chromy.  “I look forward to working in conjunction with the SVCC leadership team, as well as the 91¶ĚĘÓƵ arts faculty and administration, as this wonderful organization navigates its next cycles of development.”

Van der Vat-Chromy is succeeding Julia J. White, who founded the choir with 37 children in grades 4-8 in 1992 and nurtured it into dozens of children performing widely. Over the years, the SVCC under White produced 15 recordings, had White House and Carnegie Hall appearances, and was otherwise recognized nationally. White left her position as artistic director this summer.

Formerly on the music staff of , Van der Vat-Chromy served as the vocal music director at the , in the Netherlands. Her work at ASH included directing six choirs and co-directing two concert bands, teaching rock music history, musical theater and directing the ASH Community Choir.

In addition to her doctoral degree in music education and choral conducting from Florida State University, van der Vat-Chromy holds a MM in horn performance from Bowling Green State University, a BA in music from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a teaching certification from the University of Michigan.

Her research interests include the kinesthetic connections in conducting pedagogy, choral acoustic music measurement, curriculum/assessment strategies for middle and high school choirs, and the sociological impact of choral cultures on student learning.

In addition to Van der Vat-Chromy and Anderson, the SVCC staff includes Maurita Eberly, principal accompanist; Yvette Peake, manager; Ethan Zook, choir president; and Kris Shank Zehr, office assistant and Explorers manager.

Audition or Explore!

Dr. Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy, interim director, and Joy Anderson, assistant director, will hold auditions for Preparatory (ages 7-11), Treble (ages 9-14) and Concert (ages 10-18) Choirs on August 15 and 22 between 4-6 p.m., at 91¶ĚĘÓƵ. To schedule an audition, please call the SVCC office at 540-432-4650 or email Kris Shank Zehr, office assistant, at kris.shankzehr@emu.edu. For more information about the choir, visit our website at

The offers an active, game-based program for children ages 5-8. New students are welcome.

Children will learn beginning music reading, aural skills, and music fundamentals in a fun, gentle, and developmentally appropriate environment. This program is based on the Kodály approach to music education, which has been associated with increased math and reading skills as well as musical ability. Instructor: Joy Anderson. For more information and for registration materials contact Kris Shank Zehr, Explorers manager, at 540-432-4667 or email kris.shankzehr@emu.edu.

The

Teddy Bears will be invited guests when the (SVCC) presents its 12th annual Christmas concerts 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, in Lehman Auditorium at 91¶ĚĘÓƵ.

All audience and choir members are asked to bring a new teddy bear to be sent to Long Beach, Miss., Harrisonburg’s adopted city that was demolished by Hurricane Katrina.

The Christmas concerts will feature 150 children in three choirs including the Preparatory Choir (ages 8-11), directed by Joy Anderson; the Treble Choir (ages 10-15) and the Concert Choir (ages 11-17), directed by .

The Preparatory Choir will sing "Christmas Comin’" and "The Cuckoo Carol." The combined Preparatory and Treble Choirs will sing "Sans Day Carol" and "Shalom, Friends," a Chanukah song.

The Treble Choir alone will sing a new arrangement of "Deck the Hall" and the familiar carol, "In the Bleak Midwinter."

The Concert Choir, the SVCC’s touring choir, will sing a variety of holiday songs, including Britten’s "This Little Babe" from "A Ceremony of Carols" and "Cuncti Simus," a Spanish medieval song with processional. Familiar holiday songs include "Gesu Bambino" and "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts roasting. . .), both with soloists. Randall Thompson’s "Solstice" and Bach’s "Duet No. 15 Laughing and Shouting for Joy" will be included in the program.

The traditional Jewish folk song, "S’vivon" (Spinning Top), will be sung in Hebrew and will include violin accompaniment. A variety of child soloists will be featured in the literature as well as audience sing-alongs.

Guest instrumentalists will include 91¶ĚĘÓƵ faculty members and Maria Lorcas on violin, who will accompany the choir and present solo works for violin. , organist and long-time friend of the SVCC, will accompany the violinists and lead the audience in familiar carols.

Tickets are available through the 91¶ĚĘÓƵ box office at 540-432-4582. The box office is open 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday but will be closed November 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving. Reserved section seats are $12, general adult admission, $10, seniors and students $8, and children under 12, $5.

For more information contact Judy Leaman, choir manager, at 540-432-4650.

The highly-acclaimed

The will present its spring concerts 7 p.m. Saturday, Apr. 16 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Apr. 17, at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren.

The Preparatory Choir (ages 8-11), the Treble Choir (ages 10-15) and the Concert Choir (ages 11-18) will join in singing choral music that includes classical and international music, songs from the Pacific Rim, spirituals, and newly-composed works.

The Preparatory Choir, under the direction of Joy Anderson, will sing the spiritual, "This Little Light of Mine," and the folk song, "Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be?."

The Treble Choir, the SVCC

One hundred and fifty children