KCC Happenings

IMPORTANT NOTICE –

PLANS DURING THE PANDEMIC

Our Plans for a Great Season

The Kettering Children’s Choir has established a plan for the 2020-2021 season that will prioritize the safety of our families while still fulfilling our mission to offer high quality vocal technique, music education with a focus on musicianship skills, service opportunities, and social connection for our youth. Due to the pandemic and potential elevated risks of spreading germs during the act of singing, it may possibly take some extra time for it to be safe for the choirs to meet in person. The GREAT NEWS is that no matter the medium for instruction, the Kettering Children’s Choir will be here providing valuable music training, a unique creative outlet, and much needed opportunities for connection.

Read on to learn more about plans for our thirty-fourth season:

The 2020-2021 season will be organized into six 6-week rehearsal sessions. Singers will still register for the entire season up front. The sessions will provide flexibility and lead time and will assist us in making decisions about how to most safely conduct the next set of rehearsals.

Prior to the start of each new rehearsal session, the KCC staff will determine if the following rehearsal session will be held virtually or in person.

The sessions will run as follows:

August 25 – September 29
October 6 – November 10
November 17 – December 22
January 19 – February 23
March 2 – April 6
April 13 – May 18

REHEARSAL TIMES

All rehearsals, whether virtual or in-person, will be on Tuesdays at the following times:

Chorus – 4:45-6:15PM (Director: Jennifer Jauss / Choral Assistant: Maria Herman)

Chorale – 5:45-7:00PM (Director: Bruce Swank / Choral Assistant: Sarah Smith)

Concert Choir – 4:20-5:40PM (Director: Christina Smith / Choral Assistant: Noah Carpenter)

Cappella – 5:45-7:15PM (Director: Dr. James Tipps / Choral Assistant: Noah Carpenter)

*Kodaly Certified Musicianship Instructors – Bruce Swank and Sarah Smith

A World of Opportunities

KCC weekly rehearsals, whether virtual or in-person, will offer training and growth in the following curricular areas:

*VOICE BUILDING – Singers will develop improved vocal technique in the areas of breathing, alignment, production, tone, resonance, flexibility and range.

*MUSICIANSHIP – Singers will work on activities in musical reading and writing, ear training, improvisation and score reading for the choral singer.

*VOCAL REPERTOIRE – Singers will use their skills in vocal technique and score reading to learn pieces of different musical styles and from various time periods with a focus on artistry and expressive elements.

*GUEST CLINICIANS – Singers will learn from guest clinicians 2-3 times per year on a variety of music-related topics.

*PERFORMANCE PROJECTS – Singers will create video-based performance projects using music learned in rehearsals.

*CHORAL CONNECTION – Singers will enjoy times of sharing, games, and fun challenges with their choir friends.

*SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES – Singers will have opportunities to reach out to the community in significant and safe ways.

We Are Here for You

Our children NEED to sing, grow and have meaningful ways to connect. The Kettering Children’s Choir is committed to being here to give your singer these valuable experiences during the 2020-2021 season. We want to thank you for your commitment to our organization during this difficult time. In light of the pandemic and all it means for our families, we have decided to offer the following discounts:

TUITION

-For the 2020-2021 season, tuition will be reduced from $425 to $375.

-The registration fee for the 2020-2021 season will be reduced from $100 to $50 and will ensure your spot (following a successful audition and placement) into a KCC choir.

-There will be an additional $50 discount for those who register and pay in full by September 30.

-There will be a one-time $50 discount for those who recruit others to join the KCC. Discounts will be given once we receive registration forms and payment in full from the new recruit(s).

-If smaller payments are helpful for your family, you may split the full tuition amount into equal payments. One payment per session is required throughout the season.

-Need-based scholarships are available. Please email our CFO, Ann Carbonell, at ketteringcccfo@gmail.com for more information.

LINKS TO REGISTRATION/MEDICAL RELEASE FORM AND PAYMENT FORM

https://form.jotform.com/201524924400141

https://www.jotform.com/build/201526946201146

Our Promise

The Kettering Children’s Choir is fully committed to the continued creation of singing hearts during the 2020-2021 season. We will prioritize the safety of our families, while upholding our role throughout Ohio as a premier vocal ensemble and choral school with structured musical training and high quality standards of artistic performance and music appreciation. Join us for an historic season!

P.S. Don’t forget that our KCC CommUNITY Facebook group has now been officially created.

This is a place for singers and staff to post positive messages, share pictures and videos to say “hello” and tell what we’ve been up to,

and share musical thoughts, recordings, etc.

Since this is a private group, you’ll need to search “KCC CommUNITY” on Facebook and then send us a request to join the group.

We’re very excited to announce auditions for our thirty-fourth season! This summer, our auditions will be virtual. Singers will have the option to audition through a virtual meeting with a KCC director or to submit an audition recording. Auditions will be held on June 20th, July 11th, and August 8th from 10AM-2PM. To schedule your virtual audition, simply click the link below to fill out the electronic audition form, then email it back to ketteringcc@gmail.com. A director will follow up with you to answer any questions you may have, set up a time for your audition, and provide you with audition directions and the resources you’ll need to complete your audition.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: singers who wish to remain in the choir that they sang in this past year do NOT need to re-audition, but please make sure to email your director to let them know that you’ll be signing back up for the 2020-2021 season, so that they can provide you with the appropriate registration information. If you are looking to move up to the next choir, then an audition with the director is required.

LINK TO AUDITION FORM –

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScF4KYqiC0wPlsMAUdfDyJ1IHZEoaXAErL6HeSVC3Pq_Dfj0g/viewform

Who are we?

KCC-7374

The Kettering Children’s Choir is a choral organization whose mission is to educate the talented young singers, ages 8 – 18, of the Miami Valley and build an appreciation for musical excellence.

Our vision is to be known throughout Ohio as a premier vocal ensemble and choral school, with structured musical training, high quality standards of artistic performance and music appreciation. Participation of a diverse population of talented school age singers is sought from throughout the Miami Valley region, offering opportunities for:

Growth in vocal technique
Experience and performance in ensemble choral singing at the highest artistic level
Exposure to multi-culture repertoire as well as established literature
Regional and international travel related to performance
The creation of a “singing heart” in each child