Dear Parents and Guardians,
 
To those whom I have not had the pleasure of interacting with yet, my name is Worth Lewallen, and I am the Director of Music here at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
 
I am reaching out in regard to some exciting news and some changes revolving around Bel Canto for next year. I am excited to announce we will be starting a new 1st and 2nd-grade children's choir next year!  In addition to 1st and 2nd graders who attend St. Joseph School, third graders who are not interested in auditioning or are not ready for the more advanced Bel Canto choir will be asked to be leaders in this new choir. This school choir will be led by Ms. Cynthia Fruth, and she will be assisted by one of our Choral Scholars, Lillie Gardner, who is majoring in Choral Music Education at the University of South Carolina.
 
Dr. Patrick Hawkins (our Organist) will be taking over as the Director of Bel Canto (Auditioned 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Grade Parish Choir). He will be assisted by a group of dedicated parents, some of whom sing in the adult choir, and a rotating group of choral scholars.
 
1st and 2nd Grade School Choir Information (Piccoli Cantori):
This choir's name will be Piccoli Cantori (Italian for Little Singers) and will meet right after the St. Joseph School day from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM on Tuesday afternoons throughout the school year, starting in late August. They will have a few performances during the school year, which will be listed on a yearly calendar that will be provided. (This will include various 12:15 Mass times throughout the year, one Christmas Eve Mass, one Easter Mass, and one joint Christmas music performance in December, the Sunday afternoon before Christmas Eve.)
 
This choir is open to ANYONE who is in 1st and 2nd grade at St. Joseph School, and we hope for a lot of students to join.
 
Bel Canto Information *Important*
In an effort to invite more participation from parish children who were unable to participate in Bel Canto last year due to going to a different school, we are changing the time for Bel Canto's weekly rehearsals.
 
The NEW time for weekly Bel Canto rehearsals will be Tuesday afternoons from 4:30-6:00 PM.  
 
The reasoning behind this was as follows:

• Other Parish children in surrounding schools can make it to the church

• St Joseph School's parents can have an entire afternoon of childcare coverage.

• Students would need to be signed up for extracurricular offerings at the school

• Students will be picked up from Aftercare by our volunteer staff and brought to the church choir loft for rehearsal

• Students would be picked up from the Handicap pull-through outside of the church in between the MAB and the Sanctuary (NOT the school Car rider Line, but other side)

• St. Joseph School Parents will need to sign students up for the aftercare program and pay the fee associated with this, as that is coordinated through the school.

 
We ask that each parent sign a choir contract that outlines our Discipline and behavior policies, and our expectations for attendance at rehearsals and performances. You will need to discuss this contract with your singer in detail before signing it, as you will sign on their behalf. One will be provided to you after the outcome of your auditions.
 
Any student who participated in Bel Canto last year does not need to re-audition, but they WILL need to have a parent submit a choir contract. Any student who has graduated to 7th grade is welcome to continue participating this year with Bel Canto as well.  Auditions for Bel Canto will be scheduled on an individual basis as needed and at a mutually convenient time throughout the Summer. (Complete the linked form to be contacted about scheduling and audition.)
 
Interest Form Link:
Any parent interested in receiving more information or taking the next steps to get your student signed up for the brand new choir, OR scheduling an audition for Bel Canto, please click on the button or scan the QR code below: