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| Music Rutgers Community Music Program Rutgers Children's Choir History Choirs Leadership Joining Contact Us Forms
The Rutgers Children’s Choir (RCC) is a treble voice choir dedicated to providing age-appropriate vocal training. Now in its 15th year, the choir provides an opportunity for young singers from central New Jersey to perform choral music with peers who share an interest in singing. Specific goals of the choir include:
Rutgers Children’s Choir was founded in 1993 by former Mason Gross School of the Arts faculty member, Dr. Nancy Cooper. Dr. Cooper is former director of the Cleveland Orchestra Children’s Chorus and assisted for several years with the Indiana University Children’s Choir. She was director of RCC from 1993-2002. From 2002 -2008 one of Dr. Cooper’s former assistants, Dawn Golding, directed the choir while maintaining her busy life as a middle school choral teacher. Fall 2008 marks Dr. Rhonda Hackworth’s debut as director of the choir, and she brings several years of experience as a conductor with the Kansas City Children’s Chorus. The choir debuted at the 1993 SummerFest Concert Series, and since then has performed for prestigious events such as the American Orff-Schulwek Association national convention. There are two choirs within the program. Each is based on the developmental and musical needs of the children. Participation in the choir is open to children with unchanged voices in grades three through eight. The choirs will rehearse once per week from September to May. Choristers – children in grades 3-5. An audition is required to evaluate placement according to age, musical skills, and vocal development. Chorale – children in grades 6-8. An audition is required to evaluate placement according to age, musical skills, and vocal development. The two choirs will perform separately as well as a combined ensemble in concerts. When? Choristers (grades 3-5) Wednesdays, 5:45-7:00 p.m. beginning January 21, 2009 Chorale (grades 6-8) Wednesdays, 7:15-8:15 p.m. beginning September 17, 2008 Where? Rehearsals are held on the Douglass Campus of Rutgers, in Walters Hall, room 240. The building is near the Nicholas Music Center on George Street, (Click for directions) and parking is available in Lot 79 or in the parking deck located behind the Douglass Campus Center. (Click for a campus map.) Special parking passes will be issued to all choir families on the first night of rehearsal. Walk towards Nicholas Music Center, bearing left toward Bettenbender Plaza and the pedestrian bridge. Cross over the pedestrian bridge. Walters is the first building on your right past the bridge. Look for posted signs to help you find your way upstairs to room 240. The Artistic Director of the Rutgers Children’s Choir is Dr. Rhonda S. Hackworth, a member of the music faculty at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She received a Ph.D. in music education/education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and also holds an M.M. in vocal performance. Before joining the Rutgers faculty, Dr. Hackworth taught at Syracuse University, UMKC, and served as a conductor of the Kansas City Children’s Chorus. Graduate and undergraduate music education majors from Mason Gross School of the Arts also assist and lead the choirs in various activities. Membership in Rutgers Children’s Choir is by audition. Auditions evaluate pitch matching as well as rhythmic and melodic reading abilities. These auditions determine choir placement according to age, musical skills, and vocal development. Perfection is not required! Audition dates Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 4:00-5:15 p.m., Art History room 201 Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 4:00-5:15 p.m., Art History room 201 Be prepared to sing one verse of either America (My country ‘tis of thee) or America the Beautiful (Oh beautiful, for spacious skies) or Happy Birthday without accompaniment. Please bring a photo of yourself to the audition. Please call or email to sign up for an audition time. The cost for new and returning members is $225 for the year. Payments may be made by cash, check, money order, Visa or Mastercard. Please make checks payable to "Rutgers, The State University." In cases of financial hardship, there may be scholarships available. Membership forms are available at the audition and at the first rehearsal on September 17, 2008. You can also download the form here and mail it to: Rutgers Children’s Chorus RCMP c/o Rutgers Music Department, MMB 81 George Street New Brunswick, NJ 08901 For more information or to schedule an audition, please contact: Karen Murdoch Rutgers Community Music Program 732-932-8618 Check out the newsletter as well. |
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