Who are the Solihull Childrens Chorus

Solihull Childrens Chorus is a new venture beginning in September 2011. We are aiming to recruit 90 enthusiastic children from Year 3 who love to sing. Solihull Childrens Chorus will be a unique structure, with singing, performance and musicianship taught in a lively and fun way. We aim to build the choir by only recruiting from Year 3; this year is your child's opportunity if they are interested.

What's so good about singing?

An impact study by Chorus America in 2009 into the benefits of choral singing showed that children who sing in choirs

• have enhanced social skills as adults
• achieve greater academic success
• are more self-confident
• are more self-disciplined
• have improved memory skills
• participate better in group activities
• have better emotional expression
• exhibit better emotional management 

How can my child benefit from being a member of Solihull Children's Chorus?

The Solihull Children's Chorus will provide outstanding choral and musical training together with exciting performance opportunities encompassing:

Singing in a high quality choir

• Vocal training to develop good singing technique
• Wide range of choral repertoire
• Performance skills
• Artistic expression, style and communication to an audience

Musicianship skills taught in small groups

• Based on the Kodaly Method (a plan for young singers developed in Hungary by the composer and teacher Zoltan Kodaly)
• Singing games to develop pitch and rhythm
• Aural skills
• Reading music notation

Award Scheme (developed by NYCoS - the National Youth Choir of Scotland www.nycos.co.uk/)

• Charts the progress of the members of the choir
• Bronze, Silver and Gold awards to give children goals to achieve
• Members are tested informally on pitching, sound production, solo singing, and simple theory. Behaviour together with rehearsal and concert attendance are taken into account
• Award badges are presented on completion of each relevant stage

Where and how often will the Solihull Children's Chorus rehearse?

The first year Chorus will meet for one hour per week, on Thursday evenings from 5 - 6 pm during term time at The Hub, Solihull Music Service, Daylesford Road, Solihull B92 8EJ. Rehearsals are held from September through to July and with the same holidays as most Solihull schools.

Please note that this is a progressive programme with singing and musicianship skills developing weekly. If a child misses for a period they may be asked to rejoin the next September.

How can my child join the Solihull Children's Chorus?

Solihull Children's Chorus will recruit annually each year in May and June from Year 3 only. Workshops are held in 12 primary schools in the locality. In addition, an open invitation to apply is extended to all Year 3 pupils across the Borough of Solihull.

We are holding recruitment workshops on: 2 and Saturday July 9 2011.

The workshop is designed to be fun and is very informal. The children are put in groups of approximately 15 children (wherever possible with other children from their school) and take part in some singing games which will enable the staff to identify those who can concentrate, pay attention and have an ability to sing clearly and in tune. The workshop will last for approximately 30 minutes.

How often will the children perform?

There will be regular concerts in venues such as Birmingham Town Hall, Solihull Arts Complex, and Warwick Arts Centre.  Every winter and summer we will also hold a presentation evening for parents. As the choir continues to develop, it is envisaged that further performances will take place including choral competitions such as BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year.

How much does it cost to be a member of the Solihull Youth Chorus?

There is an annual membership subscription for all members of the choir. For 20011/12 season this will be £99 for new members. [Please note that the subscription may be paid in instalments]

Solihull Children's Chorus Director

Val Whitlock is nationally known for her infectious enthusiasm, energy and ability to develop singing with young people. She pursues a busy career as workshop leader, choral director, voice consultant, author and singer. From September 2011 Val will be the new Chorus Director of the Belfast Philharmonic Youth Choir and Phil Kids. 

Val has worked with all ages - from nursery aged children through to post-graduate acting students. She is in demand to direct large-scale performances and choral events all over the UK, often involving hundreds of young people, and this year will be leading a choral course for young people in Hong Kong. She is a highly sought-after vocal trainer to national music organisations, music services and universities and frequently acts as consultant to various national vocal initiatives. She is co-author of the internationally best-selling Singing Sherlock books, published by Boosey & Hawkes, which have become standard materials for singing leaders.