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Children's Choir Staff and Substitutes Applauded
The Music Committee wishes to recognize the year-long contribution of the 20 members of the children's choir staff for 2007-08. On May 7, the last Wednesday evening of rehearsals for the choir season, CD cases were given to the volunteer choir assistants/accompanist/chief worship assistant by their directors:
:: Celebration Singers (grades 4-6): Sandy Coomer (6 years), Shannon Fortune (2 years), and David Thomas (11 years)
:: Junior Choristers (grades 2-3): Myfanwy Graeff (5 years), Lisa Greer (6 years), and Dee Ann Stone (2 years)
:: Genesis Singers (1st grade): Lyric Owen (1 year) and Mark Naumann (11 years)
:: Joyful Noise (kindergarten): Alice Fitzpatrick (2 years)
:: Cherub Choir (pre-k): Tricia Bass (1 year), Helayne Brittle (2 years), and Karen Merrill (1 year)
Please take time to thank these volunteers for sharing their time and love of music with our children. Note how many have served five years or more!
Other children's choir staff for this year:
:: Directors: Bekah Caruso (coordinator), Susan Kirby, Carol McClure, Carolyn Naumann, and Kelly Posey
:: Accompanists: Mary George and Virginia Rubin
:: Music Office: Daphne Garey
In addition, 23 more parents and music personnel have served as substitute directors, accompanists, choir assistants, and worship assistants/guardian angels:
:: Directors: Sally Burch, Mary George, Stuart Gordon, Coni Guerin, and David Williams
:: Accompanists: Judy Fincannon, Jim Hannaford, Brooks Parker, Parker Ramsay, Doug Murray, and David Williams
:: Choir Assistants: Yvonne Ayers, Eve Carney, Tim Graeff, Tricia Hastings, Kim Hewett, and Dee Ann Stone
:: Worship Assistants/Guardian Angels: Barbara Arrants, Helayne Brittle, Shannon Farrington, Daphne Garey, Mary George, Lisa Milam, Jennifer Puryear, Lisa Springman, Bill Stone, Beth Vorhaus, and Dana Walker
The FPC children's choir program functions exceedingly well because of the combined efforts of so many parents and skilled musicians in our church family. The Music Committee is immensely grateful for their contributions and enthusiasm.
| | Celebration Singers Staff |
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| | Junior Choristers Staff |
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| | Genesis Singers Staff |
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| | Joyful Noise Staff |
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| | Cherubs Staff |
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Honor Choristers Named; 6th Graders Receive Gold Crosses
On May 7, the last night of choir rehearsals for this year, Michael Milam and Drew Gordon were named Honor Choristers for 2008. Each year two outstanding choristers are chosen from the Celebration Singers, the 4th-6th grade choir. They are selected by the choir staff on the basis of musicianship, leadership potential, attitude, attendance, and overall improvement during the year. Michael and Drew each received a trophy, and their names have been added to the Honor Choristers' plaque, which hangs outside the adult choir room in the children's choir picture gallery.
At the same time, the six sixth graders were presented with their gold crosses, earned by their faithful choir service all year long and worn each time they sing. This group includes:
:: Josiah Acevedo (red ribbon), 5 years, in 3 children's choirs
:: Christopher Arrants (blue ribbon), 7 years, in 4 children's choirs
:: Sarah Elliott (blue ribbon), 4 years, in 2 children's choirs
:: Olivia Fortune (blue ribbon), 5 years, in 2 children's choirs
:: Raygan Greer (blue ribbon), 7 years, in 4 children's choirs
:: Cameo Huggins (black ribbon), 1 year, in Celebration Singers
Why do the Celebration Singers' crosses have ribbons of different colors? Regardless of grade, singers completing their first year of service in this choir wear crosses with black ribbons. A second year of service earns a red ribbon; the third year earns a blue one. Please take time to congratulate these children, who are offered so many after-school opportunities, yet chose to make their choir participation and service a priority.
| | Honor Chorister |
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| | Honor Chorister |
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| | 6th Graders Earn Gold Crosses |
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Choir Attendance Excellent in 2007-08
At the final rehearsal of the choir year on May 7, our singing children were recognized for their year of service. Most of them attended more than 75% of all rehearsals and singing dates.
Eleven singers were commended for outstanding attendance, 95% or better. Each was awarded a Baskin-Robbins gift certificate.
:: Celebration Singers: Taylor Hardin, Emma Howard, and Michael Milam
:: Junior Choristers: Emme Fitts, Lindsey George, Jori Graeff, Gwyneth Walker, and Meredith Whitman
:: Genesis Singers: Andie LaGrone and Tinsley Sheppard
:: Joyful Noise: Elizabeth Kirkpatrick
:: Cherubs: Percentages are not figured for Cherubs because of the more frequent illnesses and trips to visit the grandparents among this age group.
In addition, four Junior Choristers girls, Olivia Brittle, Suzanne Short, Emily Ann Trichel, and Gwyneth Walker, each received a Baskin-Robbins certificate for recruiting their mutual friend, Katie Pinkston, to sing. Katie, who also received a certificate, made the awards possible by continuing to attend through the end of the choir year. Other singers, this is a terrific way to earn free ice cream; be thinking about what friend you can invite to join you in choir in the fall! 
| | Four Junior Choristers Recruited Friend |
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Hymn Memorization Club
Nineteen Junior Choristers participated in the Hymn Memorization Club for 2007-08.
These young singers chose to go beyond the regular studies included in the Hymn of the Month program to memorize and sing for director Bekah Caruso or accompanist Mary George the first verse of the hymns on this year's list. They sang after school, between bites of dinner, or after rehearsals on Wednesday evenings. Several even left "singing messages" on Bekah's voice mail!
By memorizing the Doxology and the Gloria Patri and six of the seven hymns studied, eight of these 2nd graders and one 3rd grader, a Junior Chorister for the first year, earned a copy of The Presbyterian Hymnal to take home. They are:
:: Caroline Ayers
:: Olivia Brittle
:: Emma Farrington
:: Taylor Farrington
:: McKenzie Garey
:: Jori Graeff+
:: Claire Moody
:: Gwyneth Walker
:: Meredith Whitman
In addition, seven of the 3rd graders earned a gold embossed seal to place on the bookplate of the hymnal received last May, having memorized a second set of hymns. They are:
:: Amanda Arrants+
:: Tate Elliott
:: Emme Fitts
:: Lindsey George+
:: Trevey Hewett+
:: Kate Sullivan
:: Emily Stone
+ indicates singers whose sibling(s) earned a hymnal in previous years.
During the two years the children sing with the Junior Choristers, they all become familiar with the Gloria Patri, the Doxology and fifteen hymns. Also, each week they sing one or more hymns from the upcoming Sunday's service. They can tell you the names of the author and composer as well as the hymn tune. They can explain the meter and a wealth of other information. Members of this year's choir have been exceptional hymn singers. Wish you could have heard them!
| | Junior Choristers Earning Hymnals |
| | Junior Choristers Receiving Gold Seals |
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