The 2009 Junior Providence Singers
Who are we?
We’ll know for sure when we start our Tuesday evening rehearsals in January. But we do know this:
- We are high school students drawn from Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts.
- There will be somewhere between 40 and 50 of us, chosen through audition.
- We really like to sing, and we’re pretty good at it. (Auditions are competitive, yes, but they’re not at all stressful. You’ll probably enjoy them whether you join the Junior Singers or not.)
What do we do?
We rehearse weekly from January into March, preparing music that we perform at a winter concert. We do high-quality choral music, from early Renaissance to stuff that’s not even written yet. This year, we’ll sing with the Providence Singers in the “Anniversaries” concerts March 28 and 29. And, um, yes it’s true: We have performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Who leads us?
Michele Holt, music professor and director of choral activities at Providence College, is our music director. Dr. Holt is the past president of the Rhode Island Music Educators Association and past national president of the American Choral Directors Association.
Tara Barrett, operations manager of the Providence Singers, keeps track of everything and makes sure it all runs smoothly. Tara is finishing her Master of Social Work degree at Rhode Island College.
Susan Carroll is our accompanist. She’s a really great pianist, organist at Beneficent Church, and a member of the Providence Singers.
Members of The Providence Singers often serve as mentors. Many of the Singers are music educators, choral leaders and musicians, and several of them actually lead high school choruses in the area. A few Singers work with our SATB sections as coaches and even perform with us sometimes.
What does it cost?
Tuition for the 12-week program is $250, and it includes everything you’ll need, including music purchase or rental. The Providence Singers makes financial aid available. You can contact Tara for information about scholarships.
Do I need to be good at reading music?
Sight-reading is not part of the audition. The JPS is more interested in what your voice sounds like — how high, how low — and your musical aptitude, like whether you can match a pitch. The audition lasts about 10 minutes.
How do people sign up?
For information about the program — audition and rehearsal schedules, fees and scholarships — call Tara Barrett at (401) 751-5700 or send her e-mail. Ask anyone who’s done it: You’ll learn a lot, meet some great kids, and you won’t soon forget the experience of performing in a major choral arts venue.
The Junior Providence Singers
c/o Tara Barrett
677 Waterman Avenue
East Providence RI 02914
How is all this possible?
We have two great organizations behind us to provide artistic and organizational support: The Providence Singers and The Music School of the Rhode Island Philharmonic. It’s an amazing collaboration.
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