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| Music Rutgers Children's Choir Choirs Leadership Joining History Contact Us Forms
The Rutgers Children’s Choir (RCC) is a treble voice choir dedicated to providing age-appropriate vocal training. Now in its 16th year, the choir provides an opportunity for young singers from central New Jersey to perform choral music with peers who share an interest in singing. Specific goals of the choir include:
Listen to recordings of the group. Rutgers Children’s Choir was founded in 1993 by former Mason Gross School of the Arts faculty member, Dr. Nancy Cooper. She was director of RCC from 1993-2002. From 2002 -2008 one of Dr. Cooper’s former assistants, Dawn Golding, directed the choir while maintaining her busy life as a middle school choral teacher. The current artistic director, Dr. Rhonda Hackworth began her tenure with RCC in Fall 2008, and she brings several years of experience as a conductor with the Kansas City Children’s Chorus. The choir debuted at the 1993 SummerFest Concert Series, and since then has performed for prestigious events such as the American Orff-Schulwek Association national convention. There are two choirs within the program. Each is based on the developmental and musical needs of the children. Participation in the choir is open to children with unchanged voices in grades three through eight. The choirs rehearse once per week from September to May. Choristers – children in grades 3-5. An audition is required to evaluate placement according to age, musical skills, and vocal development. Chorale – children in grades 6-8. An audition is required to evaluate placement according to age, musical skills, and vocal development. The two choirs will perform separately as well as a combined ensemble in concerts. When? Choristers (grades 3-5) Wednesdays, 5:45-7:00 p.m. Spring rehearsals start January 20, 2010 Chorale (grades 6-8) Wednesdays, 5:45-7:00 p.m. Spring rehearsals start January 20, 2010 Where? Rehearsals are held on the Douglass Campus of Rutgers, in Rehearsal Hall 104 in the Nicholas Music Center on George Street, (Click for directions) and parking is available in Lot 79 or in the parking deck located behind the Douglass Campus Center. (Click for a campus map.) Special parking passes will be issued to all choir families on the first night of rehearsal. Walk towards Nicholas Music Center, through Bettenbender Plaza. Rehearsal Hall 104 is through the door on your right next to the Pepsi machine. The Artistic Director of the Rutgers Children’s Choir is Dr. Rhonda S. Hackworth, a member of the music faculty at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. She received a Ph.D. in music education/education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and also holds an M.M. in vocal performance. Before joining the Rutgers faculty, Dr. Hackworth taught at Syracuse University, UMKC, and served as a conductor of the Kansas City Children’s Chorus. Graduate and undergraduate music education majors from Mason Gross School of the Arts also assist and lead the choirs in various activities. Membership in Rutgers Children’s Choir is by audition. Auditions evaluate pitch matching as well as rhythmic and melodic reading abilities. These auditions determine choir placement according to age, musical skills, and vocal development. Perfection is not required! Audition dates Monday, January 11, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Be prepared to sing one verse of either America (My country ‘tis of thee) or America the Beautiful (Oh beautiful, for spacious skies) or Happy Birthday without accompaniment. Please bring a photo of yourself to the audition. Please call or email to sign up for an audition time. The cost for new and returning members is $275 for the year. Students may join mid-year. Spring semester membership is $175. Payments may be made online with a check or credit card. After successfully completing an audition, new members may register online here. For more information or to schedule an audition, please contact: Mason Gross Extension Division 732-932-8618 extension@masongross.rutgers.edu
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