Staff
The Meaford Children’s Choir is seeking to attract children aged 7-13 to join the choir, with 2018 rehearsals beginning January 9 and registration ongoing throughout the winter. The choir offers a welcoming environment for children to learn musical skills and make friends while receiving professional singing instruction in weekly rehearsals, with no experience necessary and no cost to participate.
Rehearsals take place on Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m. at Christ Church Anglican. The choir rehearses for one hour and features fun warm-ups leading to singing familiar songs and learning new repertoire. The choir is directed by Lauren Best, who is well known locally as a singer-songwriter and Owen Sound’s Poet Laureate, as well as being an experienced music and interdisciplinary arts educator and facilitator.
“I am so excited to be directing the Meaford Children’s Choir,” says Best. “I have been inspired by the choir committee’s vision to have inclusive and high-quality musical learning experiences offered for young people at no cost.” Best describes singing as “particularly beneficial” for people of all ages and especially children. “Singing opportunities offer positive impacts not just for each kid – choirs boost the community!”
Research has shown that singing helps to increase the use of expressive language, decrease levels of stress, increase sense of community, improve cardiovascular function, elevate endorphins and improve emotional regulation. By providing support for the Meaford Children’s Choir, Christ Church Anglican helps to create a safe and inclusive community space for children to sing together, learn, and have fun.
Choir committee members and co-founders Leslie and Terry Byrd have experienced the positive impact of a growing community choir in their previous hometown of Kingston, Ontario, where the Byrd family saw a children’s choir they helped to start grow to approximately 30 children. “Being a part of a children’s choir has been an amazing experience for our daughters throughout the last seven years,” said Leslie Byrd, adding her husband Terry has also noticed the benefits their children have received. “Not only have they learned to make beautiful music, they continue to learn lifelong lessons about being a responsible and thoughtful person. It’s also a place where they can make great friends by being a part of a wonderful and very special organization.”
Occasional performances take place at Christ Church Anglican and in the community. Meaford Public Library will host an interactive community performance by the choir on February 6 at 5:30 p.m.
For more information or to register, email meafordchildrenschoir@gmail.com or call 647-448-1645. Registration forms are available at rehearsals.
