Dallas Symphony Orchestra announces creation Of new children’s chorus

Dallas Symphony Children’s Chorus Will Complement Programs at the DSO and Build and Emulate the Teaching Philosophy and Methodology of the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas

Dallas, Texas (April 25, 2022) – The Dallas Symphony Association (DSA) today announced the creation of a new children’s chorus at the DSO that will build upon and emulate the teaching philosophy of the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas (CCGD). CCGD will continue to hold auditions in April and May, and all families selected as part of that process will be invited to be part of the new Dallas Symphony Children’s Chorus. Audition information is available at https://www.thechildrenschorus.org/auditions.html . Auditions will be overseen by Dr. Alfred Calabrese, Director of Music at Saint Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, and Ellie Lin, Director of High School Choirs at High Point Academy.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer a high-quality children’s chorus to families involved with the CCGD and beyond,” said Kim Noltemy, Ross Perot President & CEO of the Dallas Symphony. “We are committed to educating and mentoring the next generation of musicians and singers in the Metroplex. We will continue and build on the legacy of founder Cynthia Nott and the great work of the children’s chorus over the past 25 years.”

“I am tremendously excited to have a children’s chorus as part of our musical organization at the Dallas Symphony,” said Fabio Luisi, Music Director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO). “I have great respect and admiration for the work done by Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas, and I look forward to working with these young singers during their performances with the DSO.”

The Dallas Symphony Association’s Executive Board approved the creation of a children’s chorus at the DSO effective July 1, 2022. This group will be a complement to the Dallas Symphony Chorus, performing with the DSO on large works and rehearsing and performing as individual ensembles with a set of scheduled concerts for the 2022/2023 season.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has a long history of working with Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas. CCGD is a resident company of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, performs in the hall for multiple concerts each season and has been the official children’s chorus of the Dallas Symphony since 2014. CCGD joined the DSO and the Dallas Symphony Chorus on large orchestral-choral works including Bernstein’s Kaddish Symphony, Britten’s War Requiem, Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius and Mahler’s Symphony No. 8.

The children’s chorus at the DSO will have the same structure as CCGD with six ensembles providing a multi-tiered choral curriculum for children and youth ages 8-18. There will continue to be an emphasis on artistic excellence and representing Dallas’s diverse communities. The addition of the new children’s chorus will expand the educational offerings of the DSO. The organization is providing lessons and instruments for hundreds of children as part of its Young Strings program and its Kim Noltemy Young Musicians program, and vocal arts will be a strong complement to that program. In addition, the strength and artistry of the Dallas Symphony Chorus and the performance opportunities offered by the DSO will provide young singers with a wealth of knowledge and experience to further their singing talents. With staff and resources available, the DSO will be able to grow and expand this new chorus to have an even larger impact on the arts in Dallas.

“We are delighted that the Dallas Symphony will be able to continue to expand the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas legacy of artistic excellence and provide more Dallas-area young people the experience of artistry and excellence through choral singing,” said Karen Warner, CCGD Board Chair. “The DSO is uniquely positioned to continue and carry forward the artistic excellence standards and legacy of the organization, and it has the resources and administrative support to grow and serve even more families, children and adults.”

Currently in its 25^th year of service to the community, the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas (CCGD) provides the community’s children and youth with the transforming experience of artistic excellence through choral singing in a group that reflects the diversity of the community. With the goal of securing a strong future for the Metroplex’s young singers and expanding its mission and reach, the Board of CCGD has decided to explore opportunities for a new children’s chorus using the methodology and teaching philosophy of CCGD. The Board has made the strategic, difficult decision to wind down the organization in furtherance of these goals.

In response to this decision, and given the robust choral and music education departments of the Dallas Symphony, the Dallas Symphony Association’s Executive Board has approved the creation of a children’s chorus at the DSO effective July 1, 2022.