Another year of choral education is in the books! And what a year it was.
Starting with our summer camp programming, we tentatively made our way back to in-person rehearsals after a year and half of virtual learning. In September we started rehearsals outside and ran hybrid lessons where students could tune in from home. It felt like we were pulling a wagon with rusty wheels uphill. Getting back into the swing of things took a while.
But then things started clicking, and we began to embrace our new normal. Choristers rekindled friendships, and we remembered all the reasons we love singing together. By December we were gaining momentum. We held several community-building and artistically successful concerts: Prime Voci gave two amazing performances of their annual Carmina Angelorum program. Allegra partnered once again with the Byrd Ensemble for Lessons and Carols. And then we joined together for A Gift of Song, featuring all our auditioned choir levels. Thanks to livestreaming technology, family members around the world were able to tune in while parents watched their child perform in person for the first time in years. It felt like we were coming home.
Then January presented a new set of challenges with the surge of COVID cases from the Omicrom variant. We pivoted briefly back to online rehearsals, and waited to see what came next. Thankfully we were able to get back into the rehearsal room by the end of the month, but it was another reminder that as an organization we need to be flexible and resilient in the face of changing circumstances.
Soon the spring arrived, and with it a number of exciting opportunities for our choristers and families. In March our choirs held recitals where they could show off the progress they were making together. At the end of April we held our Cabaret fundraiser at which Prime Voci and Sorella performed pop hits. In May Sorella performed a concert of their own, featuring jazz, pop, and folk songs…plus the premier of a piece by one of our very own choristers!
We concluded our year with the annual spring concert. This year we had even more to celebrate- our 40th anniversary! Three new compositions were premiered, one of which was commissioned by SGC just for the occasion. It felt so good to be back together and closing out the year on a high note.
As we look ahead, we know that we will continue to rebuild and transition in the wake of everything that COVID has brought with it. We will warmly welcome a new Artistic Director to the podium as Jacob Winkler closes out his 13 year tenure with the organization. And throughout all this, we know that SGC will remain the life-changing experience that it is for our choristers. The strength of our community is tremendous. Thank you so much for being a part of that community and ensuring our years of success. Here’s to 40 more years and beyond!
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Have you had a chance to make a gift to Seattle Girls Choir this season? Help us finish out the year strong by making a gift by June 30th. Thank you!