KCC Happenings

KCC is delighted to announce that we will be performing our spring concert in person, outdoors at the Levitt Pavilion in downtown Dayton. Featured guests include Dayton’s Guitar Man, Jim McCutcheon and hammered dulcimer artist, Amanda Roberts. We will be working closely with Levitt Pavilion and Montgomery County Public Health to ensure the safety of all our singers and audience members. This concert is FREE and open to the public. There is no fixed seating, so audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Parking is available at the Convention Center Garage for a nominal fee, or on any of the surface streets in the area.

Since the concert will be held outdoors, a rain date was chosen. Note that, per Levitt Pavilion guidelines, the concert will proceed in the case of light rain. However, if there are high winds, lightning, etc. the concert may be postponed to the rain date. The date for the concert is Saturday, May 15 at 7:00pm with the rain date the following weekend, Saturday, May 22 at 7:00pm. Please keep both these dates open and available.

If you or someone you know would like to become part of the Kettering Children’s Choir for the 2021-2022 season, you are invited to audition on one of the following dates:

Saturday, June 12, 2021 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

Saturday, July 10, 2021 (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

Saturday, August 7, 2021 (3:00-4:00 p.m. in conjunction with our Summer Sing!)

Auditions are for Chorus, Chorale, Concert Choir and Cappella. For more information, please call 937-701-4893, or email us at ketteringcc@gmail.com.)

IMPORTANT NOTICE –

PLANS DURING THE PANDEMIC

Our Plans for a Great Season 2020-2021

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:

September 8 – October 13- VIRTUAL
October 20 – November 24 – VIRTUAL
December 1 – December 22 – VIRTUAL
January 19 – February 23 – VIRTUAL
March 2 – April 6 – VIRTUAL – one live rehearsal
April 13 – May 18 – VIRTUAL – two live rehearsals and CONCERT

REHEARSAL TIMES

All rehearsals, whether virtual or in-person, will take place on Tuesdays during the following times:

Chorus – 4:45-5:45 PM (Director: Jennifer Jauss / Choral Assistant: Maria Herman) Log in HERE

Chorale – 5:45-6:45PM (Director: Bruce Swank / Choral Assistant: Sarah Smith) Log in HERE

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

Cappella – 5:45-6:45 PM (Director: Dr. James Tipps / Choral Assistant: Noah Carpenter) Log in HERE

*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 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 (Registration)

https://form.jotform.com/201526946201146 (Tuition and donations)

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.

KCC ANNOUNCES

NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR!

KCC is very excited to announce that, starting with the 2020-2021 season, Mrs. Christina Smith will take over as the Artistic Director of the Kettering Children’s Choir! Mrs. Smith has done terrific work with the Concert Choir over this last year, and we’re confident that she’s the perfect fit as the next Artistic Director. Not only is she an incredible music educator with decades of successful teaching experience in the area, she also loves the KCC and is invested in both its short and long-term success. In addition, she provides stability, as she and her family live and are rooted in the Dayton area. We can’t wait to see the KCC grow and blossom under the leadership of Mrs. Smith!

The Jauss’s will do everything they can to help ensure the ongoing success of the KCC, from a distance in their new home near Erie, PA. In fact, given that rehearsals will continue virtually for at least the first half of the 2020-2021 season, Mrs. Jauss will continue as the Chorus director and assist Mrs. Smith with Artistic Director responsibilities for one more year.

Please join us in welcoming and supporting Mrs. Smith in this new role!

Who are we?

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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