The Youth Choir Program of Second Congregational Church, under the direction of Lisbeth Lloyd, is non-auditioned and open to boys and girls. Choristers come from our church's membership as well as the broader community. In fact, during each of our recent seasons, young singers from up to 10 churches other than our own have participated in the program. The program is structured so that choristers can participate fully and still enjoy family involvement at their home church.

The four goals of the Choir Program are:

• To train choristers in music leadership for worship,
• To involve choristers in community service,
• To provide to choristers education in vocal and musical skills,
• To provide social activities within the choir.

The Choir Program has three divisions:

The Cherub Choir, for children in kindergarten through second grade, meets weekly for activities which teach music fundamentals and which help our youngest singers find their singing voice.

The Novice Choir, for children in grades three and older, prepares less experienced singers to participate successfully in Youth Choir. Novices rehearse one hour each week. Their training includes the building of good singing diction habits, appropriate vocal range extension, and the cultivation of self-confidence.

The Youth Choir is a challenging ensemble for advanced young singers. Membership in the Youth Choir is offered to young people who, in the judgment of the Music Educator, are musically ready and personally mature enough to contribute positively to this advanced division of the Choir Program. The Youth Choir rehearses two hours weekly.

Our Youth Choir provides music for our morning worship once a month, participates in observances of major church holidays and offers Services of Choral Evensong, shares its music with senior citizens and with other churches, in support of outreach projects, and also shares its music through international performance tours.

The Program

• Offers private voice instruction to choristers who have served in the choir for four years,
• Offers, to interested choristers, instruction in the solfeggio method of sight-singing and in music theory
• Meets the needs of boys with changing voices with an ensemble for young mixed voices.

The Youth Choir Program provides an opportunity for young singers to grow in spirituality and social responsibility. It fosters healthy singing technique and encourages the acquisition of musicianship skills. It provides a peer group for youngsters who love to sing. For more information about the Youth Choir Program at Second Congregational Church, call Lisbeth Lloyd at (203) 869-9311 ext. 28 or e-mail her at lisbeth@2cc.org.