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» Bel Canto Chorus » Outreach » Boy Choir |
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Bel Canto Boy Choirs (BC)2
The mission of Bel Canto Boy Choirs (BC)2 is to provide quality music instruction for young male singers in a safe choral setting and to strive for excellence in choral performances. The choirs offer an opportunity to help develop good character and self-esteem in the boys, resulting in life-long benefits to the individual members and society.
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Previously this (BC)2 2011-2012 Concert Season
A Garden of Song
Bel Canto Boy Choirs Spring Concert
Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Mequon United Methodist Church
11011 N. Oriole Ln., Mequon, WI
Program will include Everlasting Melody and Shine On Me by Rollo Dilwirth and Lullabye by Billy Joel. Featuring solos from WSMA State Solo & Ensemble Festival participants.
Christmas in the Basilica with Bel Canto Chorus
Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 11 at 3:00 PM
The Basilica of St. Josaphat
Evensong with Bel Canto Chorus
Sunday, March 4 at 3:00 PM
St. Joseph’s Center Chapel
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2011-2012 (BC)2 Curriculum Overview
The Bel Canto Boy Choirs were created as a music performance and music education program. The program, for auditioned boys, emphasizes the development and understanding of singing skills. All boys who have been accepted into the Bel Canto Boy Choirs have demonstrated an ability to match pitch, sing in tune, and use a pleasant vocal quality in a group.
Bel Canto Boy Choirs provide quality music instruction. Musical concepts of melody, rhythm, harmony, timbre, dynamics, form, and style are taught in rehearsals, as well as theory, aural training, and sight singing with solfege. Through games and exercises, the boys develop abilities to hear musical intervals and recognize patterns in music.
Bel Canto Boy Choirs strive for excellence in all performances. Proper vocal training, blending, vocal health, and ensemble skills are taught. Rehearsal technique, where the boys learn how to be active participants in a choral rehearsal, is a major focus. The boys are taught how to mark their music, ask appropriate questions, and be successful through the musical learning process. The boys develop a maturity level allowing them to follow directions and participate without disruption. Choral singing is the primary focus of the choir, and it is the goal of the director to help each member recognize the focus needed to produce quality music in rehearsals and performances.
Bel Canto Boy Choirs help the boys grow socially within their own peer group. There is much data supporting the assertion that boys at this age benefit from a high-quality choral singing experience in a nurturing environment without distracting social pressures. Boys tend to drop out of choirs in middle school years due to peer pressure from classmates and from feeling embarrassed about singing around girls. The boy choir experience allows talent to grow and assists male singers in making a smooth transition to the adult male voice.
Bel Canto Boy Choirs introduces boys to various cultural styles and periods of music. From the masters to folk music to world music, performance in all aspects of vocal music broadens their understanding and acceptance of culture, style and community.
Bel Canto Boy Choirs hold weekly rehearsals September through May at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, 325 W Walnut, Milwaukee. The Choir will have three performances in the 2010-2011 season.
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| (BC)2 Member Expectations
• Have fun!
• Treat each other with respect
• Be prepared and on time for all rehearsals and concerts, and let Ellen know in advance if you need to be absent or late
• Take any messages or notes to your parents after rehearsal
• Invite your friends to join
(BC)2 Parent Expectations
• Encourage a positive attitude from your children
• Ensure your children are at rehearsals and concerts on time
• Support Bel Canto Chorus and Boy Choirs by attending concerts and social activities, volunteering when possible, and making financial or in-kind donations when possible
• Read all newsletters and communications from Bel Canto Chorus
• Pay tuition and purchase Bel Canto Boy Choirs uniforms in a timely manner
• Encourage new (BC)2 participants
• Communicate with (BC)2 Music Director and BCC Office with any questions or feedback
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Ellen Shuler, music director
Bel Canto Boy Choirs are under the direction of Ellen Shuler. Ms. Shuler holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Montana State University and a Master of Music Education with a Choral Emphasis from Florida State University. Ms. Shuler started working with young voices in Montana, where she was the Assistant Director and accompanist for the Bozeman Children's Choir. She also worked for Bozeman's Mastodon Productions, singing jingles for area businesses and back-up vocals for local artists, and was a member of the Bozeman Intermountain Opera Company chorus. Ms. Shuler has taught pre-primary movement classes in Colorado, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin as well as choral and general music in Idaho, Colorado, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. In New Hampshire, Ms. Shuler taught all boys, directing an auditioned Glee Club for boys with unchanged voices.
Since moving to the Milwaukee area, Ms. Shuler has worked as a choral editor at the Hal Leonard Corporation and was a contributing author to the Macmillan McGraw-Hill music education series, "Spotlight on Music" and Music Express Magazine. Ms. Shuler was thrilled to be Assistant Director of the children's choir for the National tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Most recently, Ms. Shuler could be found conducting three different levels of the Milwaukee Children's Choir, from beginner thru advanced. While working with MCC, Ms. Shuler's choir worked in collaboration with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Ms. Shuler also accompanied MCC choirs to Carnegie Hall and her choir sang at the 100th anniversary of the Music Educator's National Conference.
In addition to the Bel Canto Boy Choirs, Ms. Shuler currently directs the youth choir at Mequon United Methodist Church. At the University School of Milwaukee Ms. Shuler teaches pre-primary music, directs the Upper School Concert Choir and Swing Choir, and is Music Director of theatrical productions in both the Middle and Upper Schools.
 "The singers of the Bel Canto Boy Choir and its director, Ellen Schuler, also took a turn in the spotlight, proving themselves to be a well-trained, nicely blended, disciplined group."
Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
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Interested in joining (BC)2?
For more information or to schedule an audition, please call 414.481.8801.
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