Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County

Our repertoire is selected by our Artistic Director, D. Shawn Berry, and his staff. These highly-trained music educators select challenging, skill-appropriate choral music for each choir with a focus on diversity. We have performed music encompassing many genres (folk, classical, sacred, spiritual/gospel, popular, etc.), many languages (English, Spanish, Creole, Latin, Hebrew, Japanese, French, Hawaiian, etc.), and different cultural celebrations (most notably Christmas and Hanukkah). Our concerts also feature instrumentalists and incorporate choreography. Regular, formal rehearsals with our artistic staff (3 conductors and 2 accompanists) are held weekly during the school year. These rehearsals are typically scheduled for 1-1/2 to 2 hours, depending on the choir. Additional dress and technical rehearsals are held immediately before concerts. In addition, separate rehearsals are held for Ensemble, and for tours. Extended, day workshops for all choir members are occasionally scheduled and these incorporate instructional and social activities. Applicants are auditioned individually for basic vocal potential by one of our conductors. These auditions usually take place in May, August, and January, in the Picower Foundation Arts Education Center at the Kravis Center. Singers are then placed into the appropriate choir based on age, ability, and experience. We currently have 5 choirs into which children can be placed: Young Singers provides many exceptional local, national, and international performance, educational, and cultural opportunities for our members. In addition to performances at prominent venues throughout Palm Beach County such as the Kravis Center, the Harriet Himmel Theater, the Eissey Theatre, and the Flagler Museum, we have performed at renowned venues such as Avery Fisher Hall in New York, the Salzburg Cathedral, and the Votivkirche in Vienna. Our singers have been fortunate to learn from our own staff of esteemed conductors, as well as from such notable guest conductors as Janos Czifra, Z. Randall Stroope, Francisco N ez, Dr. Barbara Tagg and Dr. Sandra Snow. Formal concerts are not the only performances in which we participate. Our singers are also invited to perform at local cultural, civic, and charitable events, and in professional productions with Palm Beach Opera and national theatrical touring companies. Young Singers also provides our members with an opportunity to showcase their many talents in an annual Talent Show. Our singers produce, direct, choreograph, and rehearse their own acts which include vocal, dance, instrumental, and dramatic performances. The acts are selected by the artistic staff at an audition.