Southern Illinois Children’s Choir
About Us
Mission Statement
The Southern Illinois Children’s Choir exists to enhance children’s lives through choral music education and performance, while building a world-class chorus.
The SICC is organized for the musical enrichment of area children and the enhancement of the musical life of southern Illinois.
In carrying out its mission, the guiding principles are:
- SICC is open to and encourages participation o boys and girls throughout southern Illinois regardless of ethnic background or economic status.
- SICC provides children with a unique and important educational, social and artistic musical experience.
- SICC believes children possess a tremendous capacity for knowledge and growth. By striving for excellence in a disciplined and encouraging atmosphere, children can reach their full potential in choral artistry.
- SICC believes that educating children in the best choral repertoire from the past and present preserves an important part of our culture for future generations.
Program
The Southern Illinois Children's Choir program, now in its second decade, is open to girls and
boys with unchanged voices. The community-based organization consists of four treble choirs,
each based on the skill levels and ages of the children.
KinderChoir is an introductory music experience to open the door to the world of singing. It is a non-auditioned choir for children age four through grade three, with two scheduled performances per year. It meets for 45 minutes, with the focus on age-appropriate music readiness activities.
Apprentice Choir is an auditioned beginning level choir for grades one through four. Children demonstrate the ability to match pitch and exhibit a level of maturity that fosters teamwork. Emphasis is on the Kodály music principles of singing games/activities. With two scheduled performances per year, members meet weekly for 90 minutes.
Singer Choir is an auditioned choir for grades four through six. Children learn healthy vocal technique, sight-reading skills and musicianship skills, with an emphasis on ear training and in-tune singing. The choir combines with the Chorister Choir for rehearsals and performances, including touring. Singers remain at this level until they have mastered the skills and experience required to move to the Chorister Choir.
Chorister Choir is SICC’s premier touring group for grades four through nine. This ensemble is for the singer who has demonstrated the ability to sing independently on pitch and in tune with other voices. Rehearsals move at a faster pace to meet the challenge of learning and performing more sophisticated and advanced repertoire. The director may accept new singers based on age, ability, singing experience and level of maturity.
Choir rehearsals are every Tuesday of the school year at the Altgeld Music Building on the SIUC campus.
Auditions take place in area schools and at the SIUC School of Music at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. Potential members should sing with a clear tone that blends well with others, sing in tune with an unchanged voice, demonstrate a good sense of rhythm and exhibit self-discipline, attentive behavior, and positive attitude. To schedule a child for an audition, parents should call the School of Music at 53M-USIC (536-8742). Please contact Alice Berry at joyousinging@yahoo.com or Stephanie Hanson at stephaniekayhanson@yahoo.com for more information.
Tuition and registration fees for the 2007-08 school year are $90 for the KinderChoir, $110 for the Apprentice Choir, and $150 for the Singer and Chorister Choirs. Families with more than one choir member receive a $15 discount for each additional child. Semester payment plans and other payment options are available. Needs-based scholarships are also available. Members of the Singer and Chorister Choirs have additional uniform rental and purchase costs. Tuition is payable to SIUC for the Southern Illinois Children’s Choir. Whether payment is by the semester or by the year, it is assumed that families are making a commitment for a full year.
Summer Choir Camp is open to the community at large on a non-audition basis. The half-day camp takes place in July/August. All young people who enjoy singing and making new friends are invited to participate in the week-long camp. Participants who wish to be a part of SICC may audition during the week of camp. Needs-based scholarships are available.
Performance History
The Southern Illinois Children’s Choir Performance History Highlights
1990
- Founded in the spring with 45 charter members
1992
- Performed in the State Capitol Rotunda in Springfield
- Performed at the Illinois Music Educators All-State Conference
1993
- Toured the southeast, performing at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina
1994
- Performed in the Shepley Music and Art Series at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis. premiering Gregg Smith’s Four Sandburg Songs.
- Recorded a set of folk songs collected from members of the international community at SIUC as part of a grant from the Association of International Educators.
1995
- Toured Washington, D.C., sang for the Lincoln Legacy awards, performed in the National Cathedral and in the Grand Foyer Series at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
1996
- Toured Chicago sang with "All God's Children." Performed at St. James Cathedral and the Chicago Cultural Center. Sang the national anthem at a White Sox baseball game
1997
- Traveled to Tennessee and performed at Opryland in Nashville and at the Museum of Art in Knoxville
1998
- Traveled to Canada and performed with several children's choirs
1999
- Invited to the Crescent City Children's Choral Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Performed Festival repertoire and sang solo in the St. Louis Cathedral
2000
- Traveled to Branson, Missouri to celebrate a successful concert season
2001
- Sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a St. Louis Cardinals’ baseball game
2002
- Sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a St. Louis Cardinals’ baseball game
- Participated in the International Children's Choir Festival in Canterbury, England, performing solo and with seven other children's choirs in Canterbury Cathedral with Henry Leck, Director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and David Flood, Organist and Master of Choristers at Canterbury Cathedral
- Performed in London at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church and the Methodist Central Hall
2004
- Performed with the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra in The Nutcracker
2005
- Participated in the Heritage Music Festival in Chicago, Illinois, training with well-known composers and singing with children’s choirs from throughout the United States in the Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago and Alice Millar Chapel at Northwestern University
- Sang “God Bless America” at the St. Louis Cardinals’ baseball game
2006
- Performed with the Southern Illinois Festival Orchestra in Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni
- Sang “God Bless America” at the St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball game in the new stadium
- Performed with the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the Marjorie Lawrence Opera Theater in the opera Hansel and Gretel
Other Performance Highlights for Singer and Chorister Choirs
- Holiday concert in December and a spring concert in May
- The Lights Fantastic University Mall Sing
- WSIU studio taping for WSIL TV-3 "Sounds of the Season"
- Pepsi MidAmerica Dinner
- Martin Luther King Community Memorial Service
- Arts in Education Festival
- Jackson/Perry County Teacher Institute
Fundraisers
- Poshard Foundation for Abused Children
- Murphysboro Youth and Recreation Center
- American Cancer Society Relay for Life
- Carbondale Women’s Center
- Good Samaritan House