Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus Celebrates 50 Years

By: Mar. 23, 2017
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The Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus (COCC) is celebrating 50 years of music- making in the 2016-17 season. All alumni of the Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus are invited to participate in a special COCC Alumni Choir, assembled just for this occasion. This SATB ensemble will perform at the 50th Anniversary Celebration concert on April 29under the direction of Ann Usher, current director of the Children's Chorus.

On Saturday, April 29, 2017, the Children's Chorus will present a free community concert at Mentor Schools Fine Arts Center to mark the 50th Anniversary. The concert will feature performances by:

  • The current Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus (Ann Usher, director)
  • Cleveland Orchestra Children's Preparatory Chorus (Suzanne Walters, director)
  • A special Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus Alumni Choir

The Children's Choruses will also welcome former directors Sevilla Morse (1970-75, 1991-92), Becky Seredick (1975-90), and Ella W. Lee Davis (1992-2000) who will take part in the celebration.

Alumni Choir Registration
To participate in the SATB alumni choir, alumni must fill out a registration form at cocc.cochorus.com. Alumni Choir members will be sent music via email in the weeks preceding the concert, and will take part in an afternoon rehearsal the day of the concert (Saturday, April 29, 2017). Registration is required by Friday, April 14.

Concert Details
Saturday, April 29, 2017 - 4:00 p.m.

Mentor Schools Fine Arts Center
6477 Center Street
Mentor, OH 44060

Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus

Ann Usher, director

Cleveland Orchestra Children's Preparatory Chorus

Suzanne Walters, director

Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus Alumni Choir

Ann Usher, conductor

This is a free event, and no tickets are required. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. Reception to follow.

About the Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus
The Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus was formed in 1967 to provide a high-quality choral group for the many orchestral works that include children's voices, and to offer choral training to schoolchildren in the Cleveland area. Today, the Children's Chorus performs annually with The Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Chorus at Severance Hall.

Over the decades, the extensive performance history has included such major works as Bach's St. Matthew Passion, Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, Britten's War Requiem, Berlioz's Te Deum, Orff's Carmina Burana, Berlioz's Damnation of Faust, and Mahler's Symphony No. 3. The children also sing at the Holiday CircleFest each December and perform at the Orchestra's annual Christmas Concerts. The Children's Chorus presents an independent concert each spring featuring a diverse repertoire of children's chorus literature and has also sung the national anthem for Cleveland Indians, Cleveland City Stars, and Cleveland Browns home games.



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