GreenSpring Virginia Choristers

Welcome to the Virginia Chorister’s hybrid season!

The GreenSpring Virginia Choristers has gained national acclaim since its inception in 2007. Musical selections include classical and contemporary works, and explore a variety of cultures, languages, and musical styles. Singers come from diverse economic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, creating a rich environment for learning teamwork and collaboration. GreenSpring believes singing is one of humanity's most organic and natural forms of self-expression and welcomes any child with an ear for music and a love of singing to join!

Our rehearsal and performance plans this season reflect the incredible creativity and ingenuity that have been the hallmark of persevering music programs around the world in response to Covid-19. Music is too important in our lives to let it sit by the wayside, so musicians will find a way to make beautiful music together! Please see information on our new schedule and rehearsal plans below as well as our protocols for keeping you safe and healthy.

VIRGINIA CHORISTERS COMBINED CHOIR

We are SO excited to share our plans for this season. A global pandemic can’t stop us from creating beautiful music as a choir family and growing as musicians. So, how do you have choir during COVID-19? By being creative, flexible, focusing on what is possible and by maximizing the incredible silver linings! We’ve imagined a whole new choral experience for you and we're looking forward to seeing you soon!

What Do We Have Planned?

We realize each singer and their family has unique needs during this unprecedented time. This season we are planning to offer a hybrid program with modified in-person music education and virtual instruction. Each singer and family can choose the option that best fits their needs. Our 2020-2021 season will include:

A hybrid of in-person and online rehearsals beginning the week of September 21! This year rehearsals will take place on Mondays (online) and Wednesdays (in-person/online- see “Keeping You Safe” below) from 6:30-7:10 pm. Wednesday rehearsals will also stream via password-protected Zoom so singers can choose to attend virtually. We will cap the number of in-person attendees each week. More info on that to come as our singer roster is finalized.
Weekly musicianship and aural skills classes taught by renowned artist teacher, Claire Jones (UK)
Rehearsal tracks for independent practice
Virtual performance opportunities
Weekly social Zoom time prior to Monday rehearsal just for fun! All students are invited to attend to connect and enjoy time with Choristers friends.

BONUS: All Virginia Choristers will receive, as part of their tuition, complimentary participation in our once a month Artistry Summit which gathers world-class artist teachers and students from around the globe for an incredible musical experience. The Artistry Summits include an inspiring and robust line up of classes, workshops and coachings designed to take your musicianship to the next level! Mark your calendar for the next two Summit dates: November 21 and December 12.

Rehearsal Time:

Mondays & Wednesdays from 6:30-7:10pm

Artistry Summit:

November 21 and December 12

Register

KEEPING YOU SAFE - OUR COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS

We are committed to the safety of our singers, families, and staff and will adapt and respond in accordance with CDC and government guidelines. The Virginia Choristers faculty have done extensive research on singing and safety protocols to minimize risks and are following current research.

We will be adhering to the following protocols:

Requiring masks, hand sanitation, wellness checks before entrance, air-purifiers, and respecting social distancing (minimum 6 ft apart at all times, 12 ft when singing).
We will utilize the surrounding outdoor spaces as much as possible and, if we are using an indoor space, we will use Hanover Hall which provides the ability for singers to stand 12 feet apart.
For in-person rehearsals, we will combine singing and non-singing rehearsal techniques to grow artistry and stay safe.
Parents and siblings will be unable to wait in common areas during rehearsal.To minimize traffic in the building, we request parents drop off and pick up only.
The library will be designated for student use with social distancing and cleaning measures in place.

ARTISTRY SUMMITS

Our brand new initiative, the Artistry Summits provides an opportunity to work with distinguished faculty from around the globe! Guided by our renowned artist teachers, you will grow as a singer and enjoy an inspiring musical journey on a digital platform. A virtual "boot-camp" for musicians, these once-a-month Summits give you an opportunity for concentrated artistic development!

Workshops/Classes- 30 Minutes to Transformation (musical essentials which will truly transform your singing), Practice Techniques, Audition and Competitions, World Music and Rhythm Workshop, Women in Music Seminar, Composition, Music Career Seminar, Conducting, Yoga and Stretching, Music History, Music Theory, Dalcroze Eurhythmics and more.

Upon registration for Virginia Choristers, all singers are eligible to participate in the Artistry Summits for no additional cost (a savings of several hundred dollars!). However, if singers opt to sign up for an additional private lesson opportunity during the Summit there will be an additional private lesson fee.

AUDITIONING

Auditioning is an informal process designed to make singers feel comfortable and confident. It is intended to be a positive growth experience that sets children up for success at the appropriate level. Auditions consist of meeting online with the Director of the Choristers, warm-ups, singing "Happy Birthday" in a number of keys, pitch matching exercises, and sight-reading. Singers may prepare a song of their choosing to sing at the audition. Singers will be notified by the Director upon selection.

GreenSpring welcomes students to audition at any time. We look forward to welcoming you to the Choristers family!

MORE ABOUT THE VIRGINIA CHORISTERS

GreenSpring Virginia Choristers have been recognized nationally and internationally for choral excellence and received prestigious invitations to perform around the globe in renowned choral festivals and concert halls. More importantly, the journey of preparation towards a major performance or tour transforms our young singers into superb choral musicians and positively impacts personal development. Our singers grow through rich collaboration opportunities with other ensembles including symphony choruses, university choral programs, community choirs, and satellite choirs via partnerships with youth organizations throughout the region.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES AND TOURS

Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing- New York to England (2019)

East Coast Concert Tour (2018)

England & Wales Tour (2017)

Christmas at the Biltmore (2017)

Carnegie Hall, New York (2016)

White House (Washington, DC 2016)

Canada Tour (2015)

‘State of the Arts’ Concert Series (U.S. Department of State 2014)

Ireland Tour (2014)

Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York (2013)

International Festival of Choirs in Charleston, South Carolina (2012)

Advent Music Festival, Vienna & Salzburg, Austria (2010)

Puerto Rico International Choral Festival (2007)