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.
Kinder Choir is an introductory music experience to open the door to the world of singing and music. It is a non-auditioned choir for children age five through third grade. It meets for 45 minutes weekly, with the focus on age-appropriate music readiness activities. Two performances are scheduled during the year, including one each in the fall and spring semester.
Apprentice Choir is an auditioned beginning level choir for singers in grades one through five. Emphasis is placed on ear training and in-tune singing, with a curriculum based on the Kodály music principles of singing games/activities. Members meet weekly for 90 minutes. Two performances are scheduled during the year, including one each in the fall and spring.
Singer Choir is an auditioned intermediate level choir for grades four through eight. Basics of vocal production and musicianship are taught, with an emphasis on ear training, in-tune singing and the development of performance technique. The choir rehearses and performs as an individual choir and combined group. Singers remain at this level until they have mastered the skills and have the experience required to move to the Chorister Choir.
Chorister Choir is SICC’s premier performing and touring group for grades four through ten. This ensemble is for the singer who has demonstrated the ability to sing independently on pitch and in-tune with other voices. Each singer is assessed as being able to learn complex melodies and harmonies. Rehearsals move at a faster pace to meet the challenge of learning and performing sophisticated and advanced repertoire. The director may accept new singers based on experience, ability, age and maturity level.
Rehearsals are each Tuesday evening of the academic school year at Altgeld Hall on the SIUC campus. Choral music educators include Stan Willis and Alice Berry.
Auditions take place 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 and demonstrate a good sense of rhythm while exhibiting self-discipline, attentive behavior and a positive attitude. For more information or to schedule a child for an audition, please call the School of Music at 53M-USIC (536-8742) or e-mail Alice Berry at joyousinging@yahoo.com.
Tuition is $80 for KinderChoir, $95 for Apprentice Choir, and $125 for the Singer and Chorister Choirs. Members of the Singer and Chorister Choirs have additional uniform rental/purchase costs. Families with more than one child in choir receive a $15 discount on registration fees for each additional child, plus a $15 discount on tuition. Semester payment plans and other payment options are available. Needs-based scholarships are also available. Tuition is payable to SIUC for SICC. Whether payment is by the semester or by the year, it is assumed that families are making a commitment for a full year.
