President's Page
Very recently all of us made the journey across that magical invisible line we call the autumnal equinox. We hardly noticed it, but the signs were there for us to see – ever-shorter days of light, crisp, cooler temperatures in the air, the return of colors we had not seen in nature for twelve months. It’s the time of change, and a time for reflection.
Do you recall a particular piece of music that ruined you forever for the sound of human voices blending in a way that no other instrument can?
Was it the first time you stood next to another skittish high school choir student as nervous to open his or her mouth to sing as you were? But once you started singing “Shenandoah” or “Choose Something Like a Star” or Randall Thompson’s “Alleluia”, didn’t your musical world change forever?
Did it happen when you attended a choral concert for the first time and were, captivated by this new sound? Was it something your church choir sang? Was it the first time you attended a St. Charles Singers’ concert? However it occurred, the choir is committed to providing another opportunity for you and your friends and family to experience the wonder and grace of choral music.
This past season was our 26th year sustaining excellence in programming and performance locally and abroad. We are committed to training others to know and to appreciate, to promote and to preserve great choral music. Our passion and mission continues to be the performance, promotion and preservation of the finest choral music.
Amid our current commitments and future dreams we continue to be excited about creating opportunities for young people to experience the joy of singing. Since last August, in grade schools, high schools and colleges across America untold numbers of newbies were getting their feet wet and tiptoeing into the realm of choral music.
St Charles Singers exists to continue to set a standard of excellence for those future singers, to help point the way to what is achievable when your passions and your talents and, yes, even the organization of those attributes are all working together. As funding permits, our goal is to increase the number of opportunities for students to grow and learn more about choral music through our educational outreach and scholarship initiatives. Maybe your passion is education and you’d like to be part of the funding plan to help us expand this gift to the community.
Thanks for listening!
Jay Cunningham, President