St. Margaret of Scotland Youth Chorus

Youth chorus is a wonderful way to expand on the choral singing experience in the classroom. Open to children in 3 through 8 grade, chorus usually meets in the evening, around 7 p.m., at church. Children who attend other schools are welcome to participate in Youth Chorus as well. There are three basic goals for each child: vocal excellence, musical proficiency, and choral opportunities:

1. Children learn to sing correctly, using the body as an instrument, and learn proper projection and solo techniques.
2. Time is spent at the beginning of our rehearsals on sight-reading skills, and we expand on those skills as we read through performance music together.
3. Children are exposed to both sacred and secular music in chorus. We find choral opportunities for the chorus, both in December, and in the Spring. We have performed at the Botanical Gardens, Our Lady of the Snows, nursing homes, and other venues. We also have traditionally led the music at the Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m. service at St. Margaret of Scotland.

A special opportunity for our chorus is available this year. “Pueris Cantores” (which means “children singing” in Latin), is a national student choral organization. They are sponsoring a choral festival at the New Cathedral in November. The festival includes a concert by the world famous Vienna Boys’ Choir. Should we decide to participate, we will begin rehearsals very soon on the music that choirs throughout the area will sing together at the festival.

Please look for sign-up forms in an upcoming Thursday letter, with more detailed information about rehearsals. There is no cost for Youth Chorus.

Music at St. Margaret of Scotland Church

SMOS Church choir
The parish choir sings regularly for Sunday 10:00 a.m. Masses and special liturgies and events. This dedicated group of singers practices on Wednesday nights. While this ensemble performs an important service to the community, singers usually find the music and camaraderie reason enough to volunteer. Choir is open to committed new members with some vocal talent.

The Resurrection Choir
The volunteers who gather to sing for funerals make up the Resurrection Choir. The group is an ever-changing, ad hoc gathering of individuals available for any given service. If you are sometimes available during the week and you would like to be called for funerals, call the rectory to sign up.

Handbell Choir
St. Margaret’s has a small (2 octave) set of beautiful Malmark handbells. A handbell ensemble can perform pieces alone or in combination with other instruments and voices. This is a very special color to add to our music for worship, especially for holidays and festive occasions.
A group of 8-10 interested handbell players is necessary if we are to form a choir. Special musical background is not necessary, although some note-reading ability is helpful. This can be a wonderful activity for friends or relatives (such as parent-child) to do together. Rehearsals will be evenings, two or three times each month.

Cantors and Instrumentalists
Advanced singers and instrumentals volunteer to lend their talents to make parish liturgies more beautiful. To discuss the possibilities, call Peter Hesed or Terri Merideth.

Bells and Whistles
Our parish has embarked on the restoration of our Deagan chimes (in the west tower), thanks to a generous bequest. Simultaneously, we are restoring, renovating and transplanting the Wicks pipe organ from Immaculate Conception/St. Henry Church. We welcome your interest in these projects.