Seattle Children's Chorus CD Reviews

The purity of 200 voices raised in vibrant harmony - this is Seattle Children’s Chorus. Talented musicians committed to musical excellence in rehearsals, performance, at festivals and on tours all over the globe – this is Seattle Children’s Chorus. A passion for being part of something bigger than oneself – this is Seattle Children’s Chorus. A staff dedicated to nurturing young voices in all genres of music in a faith-based atmosphere – this is Seattle Children’s Chorus. Life-long friendships, laughter, deep joy, artistic integrity, beauty in sound – these, too, are Seattle Children’s Chorus.

Founded in 1989 by artistic director, Kris Mason, the Seattle Children’s Chorus wins the hearts of audiences in their regular concert season in the greater Seattle area, but also around the world. They have enjoyed international tours to England, Scandinavia and Central Europe, as well as Canada and the west coast of the U.S. Seattle Children’s Chorus has been featured at the Pacific International Children’s Choir Festival in Eugene, Oregon and the Niagara International Music Festival in Ontario, Canada.

Seattle Children’s Chorus has already recorded four outstanding compact discs. Voices of Christmas Past features some of the very best of Seattle Children’s Chorus Christmas repertoire of past seasons from 2001 to 2004. A Young Poet Sings sets the words of poets to music, as our choirs sing some of the beloved music of composers such as Z. Randall Stroope, Andre Thomas, Rene Clausen, James Mulholland and John Rutter. Arioso, Intermezzo, Brio and Camerata are featured, as well as several selections which combine our choirs.

Approximately 200 choristers between the ages of 7 and 20 benefit from our program’s vocal and choral training offered in four progressive choirs. Brio is our training choir for boys and girls, ages 7-10. Intermezzo, our intermediate level choir, provides boys and girls ages 9-12 with vocal training, basic music theory, and further development of musicianship skills. Arioso our premier treble choir for girls and boys (with unchanged voices), ages 12-18, represents Seattle Children’s Chorus through high caliber performances, festivals and tours. Our mixed voice chamber choir, Camerata, provides young men and women singers with an exceptional choral experience, sharing with Arioso opportunities for interaction with audiences in the Puget Sound area and far beyond! Director Kris Mason.

Discography

Seasons of Song

Founded in 1989 by artistic director Kris Mason, the Seattle Children's Chorus brings us the choral sounds of 200 boys and girls, in four levels of choirs, raised in song. "Seasons of Song" is a wonderful holiday collection of 22 songs from the SCC's most beautiful live performances, many of them lightly piano and flute accompanied. The voices of the beginning younger children (Brio) shine on tunes such as "All That Is Good," "Une Poule Blanche" and Colligan's "Now I Walk In Beauty." The intermediate chorus, Intermezzo, shows their stuff on Nalan's "Al Shlosha D'Varim," Chilcott's "Sing You Now" and "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella;" and the advanced groups, Arioso and Camerata, easily handle more difficult, eclectic pieces like Pfautsch's "Consecrate the Place and Day," "Kyrie-Sanctus Benedictus from Mass No. 6" by Orban, the joyous a cappella "Sithi Jabula" by Nyberg, Nordqvist's "Wonderful Peace," Fissinger's "Make We Joy," Whitacre's "Lux Arumque" and Bach's "Prepare to Receive Him." These pieces are intermixed with more standard carols like "Ding Dong! Merrily on High," "Deck The Halls" and "The Little Drummer Boy" like treats in a holiday basket. "Seasons of Song" is a beautiful gift of sweet voices!

Songs From the Heart

The Seattle Children's Chorus was founded in 1988 by artistic director Kris Mason; whose purpose was to promote a high level of vocal and choral training for young musicians in the Seattle area. The approximately 175 choristers perform formal concerts throughout the year, and the Performing Chorus has toured annually throughout the Northwest, Canada and the West Coast. Other tours have taken them to Britain, and they have appeared at Carnegie Hall. These 21 songs mostly feature the Performing Chorus, with the exception of "The Little Birch Tree," "Simple Gifts" and "This Old Man," which features the Advanced Ensemble, who also sing "All That Hath Life and Breath Praise Ye the Lord." Some other favorites are "Festival Sanctus," "Bist du bei mir," "The Father's Love," "Who Can Sail," "Jabberwocky," the poignant "In Flanders Fields," "Psalm 100," "Agnus Dei," "Dance With Me," "Kalinka" and "The Rhythm of Life." There is light piano accompaniment on most tunes, but the soaring, innocent voices of the children are what "Songs from the Heart" is all about. Beautiful and moving, from first cut to the last!

How Can I Keep From Singing?

A 22 song "best of" collection from this top-notch children's choir spanning the years since their formation in 1989 by artistic director Kris Mason. Approximately 200 choristers ages 7 - 20 benefit from the program's vocal and choral training offered in four progressive choirs. The wide repertoire of the chorus is well represented with selections of classical, historic, sacred, folk and world pieces.

A Young Poet Sings

Founded in 1989 by artistic director Kris Mason, the 200 choristers of the SCC are formed, in a nurturing Christian environment, into four progressive choirs. The Training Chorus is for 7 to 9 year olds, the Intermediate choir welcomes young musicians ready to develop part-singing and more advanced vocal skills. The Performing Chorus, formed of 12-18 year-olds, performs in various venues locally and across the country and the world. The newest level is a mixed voice chamber choir, a sophisticated means for SCC's oldest singers to transition to college music programs. 22 songs, all recorded live, beginning with 5 songs by the Performing Chorus: "Domine Deus," "Weep No More," "Rise Up, My Love," "Ask the Moon" and "The World Is Full of Poetry. Six songs by the Chamber Singers, including the dramatic "The Word Was God," "Dirge for Two Veterans," the Ugandan Praise Song "Palapanda," the spiritual "Goin' Up to Glory," and "O My Luve's Like a Red, Red Rose." A nice cut by the Young Women's Chorus, " TheWater of Tyne," and the Intermediate Chorus's very nice " The Lord is My Shepherd," "The Poet Sings" and "The Drinking Gourd," are followed by the Training Chorus's sweet "Where Go the Boats, "Wind on the Hill" and "Little Talk." The choruses perform in various combinations, leading up to the lovely final cut, the Combined Choruses' "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." All songs are lightly accompanied. "A Young Poet" is a beautiful collection from Seattle's outstanding choral program for children!

A Candlelight Christmas

Founder and artistic director of the SCC Kris Mason directs her talented charges in a lovely, sumptuous holiday collection, "A Candlelight Christmas." Approximately 200 choristers are enrolled in the Chorus, which offers choral training on several different levels. These 16 live songs are performed by the Training Chorus ("O Come Little Children," "Once in Royal David's City," "Dormi, Dormi"); the Intermediate Chorus ("Little Red Bird," "Riu, Riu Chiu," "The Little Drummer Boy"); the Chamber Singers ("Hodie, Christus natus est," Clean as the Wind," "Rocking" and "Sussex Carol"), and the Combined Choruses ("Candlelight Carol," "Hallelu!," "The Lord Bless You and Keep You"). The other 13 songs are performed by the Performing Chorus. Some favorites are "A Ceremony of Carols," "Procession," "There is no Rose," "That yonge Child," "Balulalow," "This little Babe," "In Freezing Winter Night" and "Deo Gracias." What could be better than listening to the sweet voices of finely-trained young singers to celebrate the birth of the Christ child?

Voices Of Christmas Past

200 young voices raised in harmony, committed to musical excellence in rehearsals, performances, at festivals and on tour all over the globe—this is what the SCC is all about. "Voices" is a best-of Christmas collection of 20 songs, recorded from 2001 to 2004, by the elite smaller groups within the Chorus, Arioso, Intermezza, Camerata, and the combined Choruses. Favorites, hard to pick, are the sweet "Petit Enfant" and the lilting "Noel Nouvelet" by Arioso, "Ho Ro Ho Ro," "Arise Now, You Shepherds" and "Christmas Time is Here" by Intermezzo, Camerata's "O Magnum Mysterium," "Betelehemu" and the nice medley "Christmas Pudding," and "The Lamb" and "Hodie Christus Natus Est" by the combined Choirs. There is something wonderfully right and appropriate about a talented children's choir singing classic Christmas music! All tracks are lightly accompanied.

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