St. Marys Children's Choirs & Festival Youth Singers

Founded in 1981, the St. Marys Children's Choir has become one of Canada's finest! The choir was created over two decades ago by Mrs. Baldwin and three other schoolteachers. They saw the need for a community children's choir that could offer the experience of fine choral music making, and also focus on musicianship, personal growth and the encouragement of a lifelong love of choral music. Eileen Baldwin is the Artistic Director and only remaining founder of a choir that has seen over 400 children participate, in a span of 20 years.

Ranging in age from six to twenty years, the choristers are divided into four choirs. Piccolo is a preparatory choir for children as young as six. Brio is a choir for children learning to sing in parts and read music more fluently. Presto is the senior treble choir, performing advanced-level repertoire and touring widely. In addition to choral techniques and a large repertoire, basic music theory is taught and vocal coaching is offered. These programs continue through all the treble choirs. Festival Youth Singers allows boys with changed or changing voices and girls over 16 to perform challenging SATB works.

Discography

Winter Walk

Winter Sleighride - Gray What Is This Lovely Fragrance - Nurmi Let Us Dance And Sing - Artman Wintersong - Snyder Watts' Cradle Song - Henderson Here's A Pretty Little Baby - Thomas Jesus Sleeping In The Manger - Davis I'll Go To Bethlehem - Polish Carol Tyrley, Tyrley - Sirett I Heard The Bells - Sirett Joy Be Yours In The Morning - Wagner Come, Ye To Bethlehem - Davis Brightest And Best - Archer Baloo Lammy - Scottish Carol Rejoice And Sing This Christmas Morn - Daley I Hear The Bells - Chaplin Behold That Star - Spiritual In Bethlehem Tonight - Nurmi How Far To Bethlehem - Caldwell Take A Winter Walk With Me - Donnelly Christmas Is A Feeling - Sleeth Stars That Twinkle And Shine - Eilers We Need A Little Christmas - Herman

St. Marys Children's Choir & Festival Youth Singers was founded in St. Marys, Ontario in 1981 and since then, over 700 young people have participated in its training programs, winning many first places in Canadian Music Festivals Competitions. "Winter Walk" refers to a lovely evening stroll in "Stonetown," along the Thames River, Trout Creek and Little Falls, leading up to a Christmas display of lights in St. Marys' "The Flats." 23 lightly accompanied Christmas songs. Particularly nice (and new to our ears) to hear are songs written by Canadian composers: "What is this Lovely Fragrance" and "In Bethlehem Tonight" by Norman Nurmi," "Watts' Cradle Song" by Ruth Watson Henderson," "Tyrley, Tyrlow" and "I Heard the Bells" by Mark Sirett, and Eleanor Daley's "Rejoice and Sing this Christmas Morn." We also particularly liked the title tune, "Take a Winter Walk with Me" by Mary Donnelly, but there are many wonderful and rarely-heard tunes in this magical collection--that's a sure bet to put you in a Holiday mood, like an evening winter walk in Stonetown.

The Music In Us

Little Wheel Spiritual (arr. Ruth Artman) The Children's Friend )W. H. Anderson) Children Blessed of the Lord (arr. Nancy Grundahl) Rise Up, my Love (Eleanor Daley) Canticle to the Spirit (Eleanor Daley) When the Stars Fall (arr. Stephen Hatfield) The Word was God (Rosephanye Powell) A Celtic prayer (Barry Peters) Cantate Domino (Hans Leo Hassler) Ride the Chariot (arr. William Henry Smith) Sing a Song of Sixpence (J. Michael diack) Grand Old Duke of York (Alec Rowley) Humpty Dumpty (Ralph Hunter) Little Bo-Peep (Ralph Hunter) Little Jack Horner (Ralph Hunter) Old King Cole (Ralph Hunter) Bless You (H. Walford Davies) Ein hennlein Weiss (A Little White Hen) (arr. Norman Gretson) Loch Lomond (arr. Jonathan Quick) Braul amestecat (Mixed Brau Dance) (Pretorian Vlaiculescu) Hotaru Koi (arr. Ro Ogaru) Vive la Candienne (Long Live the Canadian Girl) (arr. Keith Bissell) The Lake Isle of Innisfree (Eleanor Daley) Homeward Bound (Jay Althouse) That Lonesome Road (arr. Simon Carrington) Say, Love (John Dowland) Eletelephony (Ruth Watson Henderson) Let It Shine (arr. Kari Ala-Pollanen) Important to Me (Berthold Carriere) Important to Me (Berthold Carriere) The Music in Me (Berthold Carriere)

St. Mary's Children's Choir has been providing performing experiences for youth in southwestern Ontario, Canada since 1981. The 139 choristers of SMCC range in age from 6 to 20 years, and are divided into 4 choirs. These 33 beautiful, upbeat songs, some piano accompanied, are also divided into four groups, "Praise," "Nursery Rhymes," "Around the World" and "The Music In Us." Favorites are Eleanor Daly's "Rise Up, My Love" and "Canticle to the Spirit," the Jutland folk hymn "When the Stars Fall," the spiritual "Ride The Chariot," "Grand Old Duke of York," Ralph Hunter's "Humpty Dumpty," "Little Bo Peep"and "Old King Cole," the traditional Scottish "Loch Lomond," Japanese children's song "Hotaru Koi," the French Canadian folk song "Vive la Canadienne," "Homeward Bound," James Taylor's "That Lonesome Road," the spiritual "Let It Shine," and Berthold Carriere's "Butterfly Dreams," "Important to Me" and "The Music in Me." A feel-good, fun, joyous collection from one of Canada's most talented, entertaining children's choirs!

Heart Of Courage

The Song of the Music Makers I Will Sing With the Spirit Awake the Trumpet's Lofty Sound Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley/Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen The Birds I Vow to Thee My Country Alleluia Ye Sons of Israel John Barleycorn Ae Fond Kiss The Trout Praise to God I'se The B'y The Father's Love Psalm 150 Panis Angelicus Reflections of a Lad at Sea -The Captain's Mate -Thoughts of Home -The Ghost Ship -Flying Free -Blessing

The 90 singers of St. Mary's Children's Choir & Festival Singers are divided into 3 groups conducted by Eileen Baldwin, Brio and Presto, both treble voice choirs, and the Festival Youth Singers, a chamber choir for mixed voices; they are four-time winners of the national Association of Canadian Choral Festivals Competition and have won many more awards. "Heart of Courage" is an inspirational collection of 21 religious, classical and folk tunes, all accompanied by either piano or organ. Favorite religious cuts are John Rutter's "I Will Sing With the Spirit," Handel's "Awake the Trumpet's Lofty Sound," Eleanor Daly's "The Birds," Mozart's "Alleluia," Mendelsson-Bartholdy's "Ye Sons of Israel," Mark Sirett's "Praise to God," Simon Lole's "The Father's Love" and John Butler's "Psalm 150." Favorite folk songs are Martin Shaw's "The Song of the Music Makers," the rousing "John Barleycorn," the Scottish folk song "Ae Fond Kiss," the Newfoundland folk song "I'se The B'y" and three "Reflections of a Lad at Sea," "The Captain's Mate," "Thoughts of Home" and "The Ghost Ship." Another great collection by one of Canada's favorite, most professional children's groups.

Angel Choir

The Angel Choir and the Trumpeter The Task, Book VI, Winter Walk at Noon Gesu Bambino Winter Heaven's Opened Christmas Angel Christ is Here A Merry Note All Winter Long Mid-winter Christmas Star Prepare Thyself, Zion Sleep, Little Jesus Luke 2: verses 1-14 When Christ Was Born of Mary Free Love Came Down at Christmas December's Rose The Three Kings This Joy From The Bells Kling Glockchen Nino Lindo Carol of the Bells O Holy Night A Visit from St. Nicholas Ring Those Christmas Bells

Regarded as one of Canada's finest children's choirs since its formation in 1981, the choir focuses on musicianship, personal growth and a lifelong love of music. "Angel Choir" is a joyous Christmas collection of 25 songs. Included here are songs we haven't heard, like "The Angel Choir and the Trumpeter," the Catalonian carol "Winter Heaven's Opened," "Christmas Angel," the lilting "Christ is Here," "All Winter Long," Bob Chilcott's "Mid-winter" and "This Joy," Mansel Thomas' "Christmas Star," W.H. Anderson's "Sleep, Little Jesus," Alexander Tilley's "When Christ Was Born of Mary Free," Michael Coghlan''s "December's Rose," Peter Cornelius' "The Three Kings" and others. Combine those with favorites such as "Gesu Bambino," "Carol of the Bells," "O Holy Night" and "Ring Those Christmas Bells," and you have a memorable, joyful Christmas album you will want to play year after year! Some narration, and light accompaniment, particularly piano, on most cuts.

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