About the Winston-Salem Children's Chorus
Our Mission
The mission of the Winston-Salem Children’s Chorus is to train children from diverse backgrounds and enrich their lives by inspiring excellence in choral music techniques, theory, and performance.
The Program
The WSCC is made up of four choral ensembles: the Residential Chorus (for ages 8-8th grade, non-touring) rehearses once weekly; the Touring Chorus (for ages 8-8th grade who have the necessary musical experience/skill, touring) rehearses twice weekly; the Young Women's Ensemble (for girls in grades 9-12), and the Young Men's Ensemble (for boys with changed voices), rehearse once weekly. Singers receive training in music theory, vocal production, and choral style. Civic, corporate, and church appearances, cooperative ventures with other professional arts groups, and concert tours round out a busy performing schedule. The repertoire is drawn from challenging music of lasting value, from all periods, cultures and styles.
Follow this link for information on the audition process.
The Opportunity
The Winston-Salem Children's Chorus opens the world of music to children. Singers learn to read music and explore music from other countries and cultures in the original language, including English, Spanish, Hebrew, French, Russian, and many more. In addition, the chorus brings together children from every possible background to learn teamwork and tolerance while building lasting friendships based on the universal language of music.
Choral & Music Festivals
The WSCC has participated in many prestigious music festivals, such as the Magnolia Baroque Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (June 2006), the International Music Festival in Salzburg, Austria (July 2004), the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina (May 2008, May 2002), the Second Mid-Winter Children's Choir Festival at Carnegie Hall (February 2001), the Massed Children's Choirs Festival in Winchester, Virginia (March 2000), and the North Carolina School of the Arts and Salem College 25th Annual Summer Organ Academy (June 1999).
Collaborations
Frequent performance opportunities with regional arts groups include concert collaborations with the Winston-Salem Symphony, Piedmont Opera, Piedmont Chamber Singers, and many other professional musicians. Recent collaborative concerts include a holiday concert before Piedmont Opera's Amahl & the Night Visitors (Dec. 7 & 8, 2007), "A Salute to the Music of John Williams" with the Winston-Salem Symphony (January 27 & 30, 2007), and two productions with the Piedmont Opera (La Boheme, October 2006; Amahl & the Night Visitors, November 2006). WSCC will perform with the Piedmont Chamber Singers in December 2008 for their Festival of Carols.
Travel & Tours
WSCC trips are planned on a three year cycle. On year one of the cycle, the WSCC does not tour (except within the region/weekend trips). On year two, the Touring Chorus and members of the Young Women's & Men's Ensembles embark on an international tour (generally 10-12 days). On year three, a regional/national tour is taken (generally 4-5 days). This cycle allows choristers and their families the opportunity to raise money to pay for the large trips by having a year without travel before the year of the major trip.
Our 2007-2008 season is the third year of our tour cycle, and thus we are traveling to Winchester, Virginia to perform with the Blue Ridge Choristers (March 14-16, 2008) and we are planning to perform at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival once again in Charleston, South Carolina (May 23-26, 2008).
In June 2007, 45 members of the WSCC performed in five concerts in some of Italy's most iconic structures, including St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, the Santa Maria dei Ricci Church in Florence, and the Waldensians Church in Rome. Our ten-day tour took us to Milan, Padua, Lucca, Montecatini, and Siena, as our singers expanded their cultural perspective and shared their talents with the world on this trip of a lifetime! Follow this link for photos from the trip.
Our History
The Winston-Salem Children's Chorus is an outgrowth of the Stevens Center Children's Chorus, which was initiated by Steve Davis, the Executive Director of the Center, and founded by Director Barbara C. Beattie in 1993. The ensemble made its debut as The Winston-Salem Children's Chorus in 1997, under the continuing directorship of Mrs. Beattie, and has delighted audiences with its performances since that time. Follow this link for a complete history of WSCC performances and events.
Staff
Barbara C. Beattie, Artistic & Executive
Director
bcb@wschildrenschorus.org
Karen McNeely, Operations Manager
karen@wschildrenschorus.org
David Pulliam, Accompanist
336/703-0001 WSCC office voice & fax
Barbara C. Beattie, Artistic & Executive Director
Founder, Artistic & Executive Director Barbara Beattie, a longtime resident of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, always knew she wanted to direct choruses. By age 16, she was the student director of The A Cappella Choir at her high school. At Virginia Commonwealth University she earned the Bachelor of Music degree in piano, and continued her music studies, at the post-graduate level, in voice and vocal pedagogy with Joan Jacobowsky at Salem College.
Throughout her career she has continued to study, in the VoiceCare Network's Impact and Conducting courses; the Master Schola on Cape Cod; chant study with Dr. Mary Berry, which included directing Gloriae Dei Cantores (praised for their "expert renditions of Gregorian chant"-NY Times); American Boychoir School with clinician Doreen Rao; Alexander Technique with Alice Pryor and Babette Lightner; work with and directing for Dr. George Guest, Dr. Gerre Hancock, Dr. Jim Litton, and David Hill; and in the conductors' section, under Robert Shaw, at The Robert Shaw Festival. Mrs. Beattie has participated in workshops with outstanding choral directors and composers, including Dr. John Cooksey, Pat Feit, Liz Grefsheim, Margaret Hillis, Ben Hutto, Simon Lole, Bruce Neswick, Dr. Donald Neuen, John Rutter, Paul Solomonovich, André Thomas, and Dr. Bingham Vick.
Barbara Beattie is known for her acuity in hearing, analyzing, and interpreting choral voices and repertoire, and for her complementary strengths as a director, vocalist and coach, pianist, teacher, and mentor. She has taught grades pre-K - 8, as well as Advanced Placement courses in music theory and history, and singing in the Drama Department of the North Carolina School of the Arts.
A highly regarded builder of choirs, Barbara Beattie expanded the choral program of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where she was Director of Music for 23 years, from two choirs to eight and inaugurated the Royal School of Church Music program there. She also founded and directed the Spectrum Singers, an ensemble of 12-16 adult singers performing a wide spectrum of memorized repertoire. Her most recent building project is the Winston-Salem Children's Chorus.
Beattie has conducted clinics in the Southeast, most recently in 2002 in Nashville, Tennessee; Charleston, South Carolina; and for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools choral directors. Also in Winston-Salem, she has managed summer Training Courses of the Royal School of Church Music during the recent past.
She holds memberships in the America Choral Directors Association, the Music Educators National Conference, the Royal School of Church Music in America, and the Association of Anglican Musicians.
Mrs. Beattie is currently Director of Chorale at Saint Mary's School in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Barbara C. Beattie, Executive Director
336/703-0001 voice & fax
bcb@wschildrenschorus.org
David Pulliam, Accompanist
David Pulliam received the Master and Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from the North Carolina School of the Arts as a student of Dr. John Mitchener. Other teachers include Clifton Matthews (piano), Dr. Allison Gagnon (collaborative piano), and James Allbritten (conducting), with further study at the Calgary International Organ Academy under Simon Preston and David Higgs. As a concert organist, Mr. Pulliam has been heard at the Episcopal Cathedrals of Vermont and Alabama; St. James Episcopal Church, Los Angeles; the National Basilica; Foundry United Methodist and the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Washington, DC; Bruton Parish Church, historic Williamsburg; Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary, Canada; and various other venues. He has also been a featured performer at the national conventions of the Organ Historical Society, the Hymn Society of the United States, and the Music Teachers National Association. As an accompanist, Mr. Pulliam has coached with Anne Epperson and Warren Jones, and has been heard along the East Coast and England, including the National Cathedral and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as well as on Public Radio stations in Virginia and North Carolina; he has also served as accompanist for the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute, Piedmont Chamber Singers, and the Cantata Singers and Chamber Choir of the North Carolina School of the Arts.. He currently serves as Organist-Choirmaster at Christ Episcopal Church, Martinsville, VA; Accompanist of the Winston-Salem Children's Chorus; and Collaborative Vocal Pianist at Salem College in Winston-Salem.
Karen McNeely, Operations Manager
Karen McNeely received the Master and Bachelor of Music Theory & Composition and a Spanish Minor from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She was awarded a School of Music Graduate Teaching Assistantship, teaching undergraduate music theory courses for nearly two years, as well as a College of Arts & Sciences Graduate Assistantship. In addition to seven years of music theory and composition study and teaching, she has 15 years of French horn performance experience as well as 5 years of vocal performance experience with choral groups. Ms. McNeely’s arts administration and other operational experience includes: forming and managing a professional woodwind quintet (2004-2005); audio technician for the UT Singers, a touring jazz vocal group (2003-2005); hosting live classical music radio programs, maintaining a music library, and assisting in bi-annual fund drives for a top-10 nationally ranked NPR station (WUOT 91.9 FM, 2002-2005); internship with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, working in all administrative areas and helping build their promotions database for the Outreach and Education Department (2001). Besides working with the WSCC, Ms. McNeely is an active composer and arranger, a member of the West End Winds, and performs regularly in local music productions.
2007 - 2008 Board of Directors
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Jack Curlett, Chairperson Lisa Bryan, Vice Chairperson Betty Kiger, CPA, Treasurer Donald H. Adamick,Secretary John D. Gates, Chairperson, Board Development Rebecca Miller, Co-Chair, Parent's Association Robin Miller,Co-Chair, Parent's Association Mariedith Appanaitis, Chairperson, Marketing Committee |
Hannah Appel Jill Carson T. Anne Griffin David Hastings Darla Kirkeeng Jennie Rickelton Jack Scruggs Ernie Tompkins,Ed. D John Williams
Advisory Board Constance F. Gray |
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What Others Have Said About Us
"Barbara is a magician. Any
kid that gets in that group is going to benefit from it. She isn't just
running a chorus, she is teaching them music and the discipline that
goes with it."
— Steve Davis, Executive Director of the Stevens Center, Winston-Salem,
NC
"The Winston-Salem Children's
Chorus gave an uplifting performance of the national anthem. Thankfully,
that group's rainbow-like composition was quite a contrast from the
segregated profile of their schoolrooms."
— William H. Turner, Winston-Salem Journal