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Elgin Children's Chorus |
 The Elgin Children's Chorus debuted in 1986 when fourteen choristers performed with the Elgin Choral Union in Carmina Burana. The chorus was co-founded by Jay Kellner and Kay Paulson drawing membership from singers in District U-46 schools and co-directed by Jay Kellner and Sharon Werning from 1987 to 1989. Mr. Kellner has been the Music Director since 1989. The chorus was invited to be the first in-residence ensemble at Elgin Community College in 1994 and their offices, rehearsal rooms, and performance theater were moved to the Visual and Performing Arts Center that year. The Chorus has grown to over 200 boys and girls, aged seven to sixteen, in four different choirs varying in structure and nature. The Chorus has established a reputation of excellence over the past 21 years.The Elgin Children's Chorus presents three major concerts each year, in addition to performing regularly with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Heartland Voices. Annually, the Chorus works in private clinics with exemplary clinicians, such as Alice Parker, Chanticleer, Nick Page, KITKA, Western Wind, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir, Henry Leck, Dr. David Flood (Choirmaster at Canterbury Cathedral), and Gerald Wirth (Artistic Director of the Vienna Boys’ Choir). You may have heard the Chorus perform with Donny Osmond in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The Chorus has produced two compact disks, Christmastide (1997) and Christmastide Live! (2003). In August of 1999, members of the Chorus conducted 36,000 Cub fans in Take Me Out To The Ball Game at Wrigley Field, which was broadcast to WGN Television and Radio to over 16 million viewers and listeners worldwide. In May of 2000, Life is a Song commissioned by the Chorus and composed by Mr. Nick Page, was premiered and has since been published. On May 21, 2006, Sky-Borne Music, commissioned by the Chorus and composed by Dr. Robert Hanson, had its world premiere. The Chorus toured New York City in June 1999, which culminated in a performance at Carnegie Hall. In the summer of 2002, the Chorus performed in Great Britain at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Canterbury Cathedral, and Westminster Central Hall. During the summer of 2004, the Chorus traveled to Austria and Germany and took part in a clinic and performance with the Vienna Choir Boys’. Besides its regular performances, the Chorus sponsors two annual educational endeavors for the community: VOICES and Honors Fest Camp. During VOICES fifteen hundred area elementary students, along with special presenter Mr. Nick Page, explore the vocal instrument scientifically, artistically, and most of all, experientially. Each summer, during the weeklong Honors Fest Camp, 180 children work on refining the art of vocal performance. As members of the Channing School Arts Partners, we will be working in spring 2007 to bring together students at Channing Elementary School and Elgin Arts Organizations and to harness arts to curricular goals. As a member of the Grand Victoria Capacity Building group, we will be going out in the community to educate the local community about this program and its positive impact on all area-based not-for-profit organizations. Beth Ellis Conductor Beth Ellis received her Bachelor of Music from Northwestern College and her Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music. Mrs. Ellis' master project, Incorporating Drumming Circles and African Folktale Literature into the Music Classroom, has been featured at the Illinois and Wisconsin Music Educators research poster sessions. Ms. Ellis teaches K-6 music in School District U-46 where she also serves as a mentor teacher and annually directs a school musical as part of an after-school program. She has performed throughout the Chicago area as a singer and accompanist. |