The East Texas Youth Chorus (ETYC) is looking for singers for its fall season. Jim Taylor is ETYC director and Kilgore College’s (KC) director of choral activities. He explained the mission of this choir.
“The chorus offers home-schooled youth a fabulous arts component to one’s schedule,” he said. “It also gives students the opportunity to sing great music with friends in a challenging but fun setting that can prepare for college singing.”
On Sunday, September 11 the ETYC will perform in the semester’s first concert, titled “East Texas Remembers 9/11,” which commemorates the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and will feature a massed chorus of 150 singers to the accompaniment of a 50-piece orchestra. It will be held in the KC Dodson Auditorium.
In this performance the chorus will concentrate on armed services numbers, singing “God Bless America,” “Verdi Requiem,”and “Hymn to the Fallen,” by composer John Williams from the movie Saving Private Ryan. There will also be a video-recorded message from Governor Rick Perry, a rendering of the Lincoln Portrait narrated by KC President Dr. Bill Holda, appearances from other state and federal dignitaries and additional attractions. Because of the sponsorship of the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce, Martin Gas, Patterson Nissan of Longview, SWEPCO and other philanthropic supporters the concert will charge no admission.
Founded six years ago for home-schooled, high school-aged students in East Texas, the choir is operated by the KC Continuing Education Department. “Members must pass a simple audition to determine that they can carry a tune,” said Taylor. “No music reading skills are necessary, and sight-singing skills are taught in rehearsals.”
At the beginning of every semester each choir member pays a tuition of $50. This covers such expenses as sheet music, accompanist, director, rehearsal hall and performances.
“It is also possible for juniors and seniors in high school to enroll in the choir and receive dual credit at KC with costs appropriate to dual enrollment,” said Taylor. “Singers interested in joining may line up an audition ahead of time, or may simply come to a rehearsal and audition afterward.”
Registration will be during the early rehearsals. For information on auditioning and other choir-related matters call (903) 983-8122 or e-mail jtaylor@kilgore.edu.
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