The Junior Providence Singers



The 2007 Junior Providence Singers Who are we? No one has a clue yet – auditions aren’t until November. 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 in January and February, preparing music that we perform at the winter concert of The Providence Singers, usually late February or early March. We also prepare an annual concert of our own for later in the spring. We do high-quality choral music, from early Renaissance to stuff that’s not written yet. And yes it’s true: We have performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. This year will be special. The Providence Singers is one of seven choral groups nationwide to receive a federal “American Masterpieces” grant. There will be a huge choral weekend in Providence March 2–4, 2007, with workshops, a community sing, guest choruses from Massachusetts and Connecticut, three world premières and some well-known and respected composers and choral conductors among the guests. There will be two formal concerts in VMA Arts and Cultural Center, which is where we come in ... Who leads us? Andrew Clark, artistic director of The Providence Singers, is also our music director. Andy runs the choral program at Tufts University, serves as head of choral studies at The Music School of the Rhode Island Philharmonic, and is also music director of the Worcester Chorus. Tom Chace, coordinator of choral activities at The Music School, keeps track of everything and makes sure it all runs smoothly. Tom has a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College and teaches piano. Waylon Whitley is our accompanist. He’s a really great pianist, currently working on a graduate degree in music education at Rhode Island College. 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. How do you sign up? For information about the program – audition and rehearsal schedules, fees and scholarships – call or e-mail Tom Chace at The Music School: (401) 831-3123, ext. 32. You may also call or e-mail The Providence Singers: (401) 751-5700. 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 The Music School of the RI Philharmonic 222 Richmond Street Providence RI 02903 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.