 Resources for Churches, Organizations, Laity and Clergy of the Diocese of California
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Choir School Enlivens Church and Community in San Leandro and Beyond |
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Written by PCN Print Edition Writers
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Monday, 06 December 2004 |
All Saints' Choir School at All Saints' Episcopal Church in San Leandro
opened its doors in September, 2002, with weekly after-school classes
for young singers in grades 2-8. The school's mission is to provide
professional music instruction in a supportive environment and to share
the gift of music with our church and our community.
Since its inception the school has grown to serve over 30 students with
classes for beginners and an advanced performance ensemble. Our
students come from San Leandro, Castro Valley, Hayward, and Oakland.
Some are members of All Saints' parish, some attend other churches, and
some do not have a church affiliation.
Frequent performance opportunities result in rapid development of
musical skill and poise before an audience. Students sing twice each
month at the 10:30 Sunday service at All Saints'. They present two full
evening concerts at the church each season, where the beautiful
carpenter Gothic sanctuary provides a perfect acoustical space for
choral music. With a diverse repertoire including sacred, folk, and
popular music, the choirs have performed successfully at community
events including the San Leandro Cherry Festival, the Holiday Market at
the Marina Community Center, and the May Day Festival at Roosevelt
School.
A favorite performance for the choirs was the church's St. Francis Day
Festival and the Blessing of the Animals, celebrated October 2nd. After
a short noontime service, Father Rob Droste, Rector of All Saints',
blessed the many animals in attendance—on leashes, in cages, baskets,
or water tanks. The choir joined in the service music and then
entertained with animal-themed lighthearted music.
ASCS has benefited all age groups at All Saints' Parish. Longtime
members of the church respond positively to the presence of so many
children. Young families attend services to hear their children sing;
many of these families become involved in other church activities. Best
of all the children learn that their talents are important and
appreciated.
"The effects of the choir school have been nothing short of amazing,"
says Droste. "It's a way for us to serve the community with the best of
our gifts: our commitment to families, and our love of meaningful
worship. The creative energy just ripples through the congregation."
ASCS is supported by student tuition, All Saints' Church, the Creative
Ministry Fund of the Diocese of California, and many individual
donations. Claire Burke, the organization's founder and director, is
eager to share her experiences with others who may like to start a
similar program. "We're connecting with our community through this
program," Claire states.
If you are a young singer entering grades 2-8 and would like to be part
of a vital musical ensemble, ASCS is looking for you. Religious
affiliation is not a requirement for membership, nor is any previous
musical training. To try out for the choirs, contact Claire Burke at
510.633.9060 or claire.burke@
comcast.net. More information, including biographies of our staff
members, is available on the web at www.saintsalive.net with a click on
Children's Choir School.
—Claire Burke
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Last Updated ( Monday, 06 December 2004 )
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