
The Susquehanna Children's Chorale is a part of the Educational Outreach
Program of the Susquehanna Chorale and provides a focused rehearsal and
performing opportunity for students within a one-hour radius of the Harrisburg,
PA area. The Children's Chorale was founded in 1992 and includes approximately
60 musicians in grades four through eight.
The Chorale rehearses for ten weeks, two hours each week during the fall.
Rehearsals focus on a Scholarship
Benefit Concert and the annual Youth
Choral Festival in November. The program's repertoire includes pieces from
many periods of music history and encompasses a wide range of styles, from
sacred music to folk songs. Emphasis in rehearsals is on fine choral literature
and developing good vocal habits through choral techniques.
The Children's Chorale and Youth Chorale were formed to complement existing
school music programs. Both groups give talented young singers a chance to
rehearse and perform with other highly motivated students at an advanced level
of artistic excellence. Students are auditioned for membership and are required
to pay a membership fee. A Scholarship Fund has been established to provide
financial assistance for any
musician who has auditioned successfully for the chorales.
Judith
Shepler holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Messiah College. She has
pursued additional study at Westminster Choir College, as well as with prominent
conductors in the field of children's choral music, among whom are Betty Bertaux,
Joan Gregoryk, Christine Jordanoff, and Helen Kemp.
Ms. Shepler teaches elementary vocal music in the Central Dauphin School
District, where she directs the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade choruses. She
directs the adult choir at the Shared Ministry, Harrisburg. Locally, Ms. Shepler
has served as both a clinician and guest conductor. Ms. Shepler is a charter
member of the Susquehanna Chorale and has been a member and featured soloist
with the Chamber Singers of Harrisburg and the Harrisburg Singers. She maintains
active membership in the American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators
National Conference, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, Dauphin County
Music Educators Association, and the Chorister's Guild.
Mr.
Hair received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management
Administration from Elizabethtown College while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Music, Organ Concentration. While there, Alan accompanied the Concert
Choir and numerous vocal and instrumental student recitalists. Mr. Hair
works as an Employment Program Coordinator for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
in Harrisburg. He is organist at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hershey
where he also serves on the Worship and Music Committee. Mr. Hair serves
as a member of the Finance and Grants Committees of the Chorale and is a local
and national member of the American Guild of Organists and the Association of
Lutheran Church Musicians.
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