Garden State Girlchoir and New Jersey Boychoir launch in Cherry Hill

Commonwealth Youthchoirs has made history since its founding in 2001, with its singers performing on all seven continents (including Antarctica) and before audiences of presidents, peace prize winners and, most recently, the Pope, during the papal visit to Philadelphia last year. Now the organization is expanding to New Jersey: announcing Garden State Girlchoir (GSG) and New Jersey Boychoir (NJB), which will launch in Cherry Hill on Wednesday, Oct. 12th.

“Members of Garden State Girlchoir and New Jersey Boychoir will be offered unparalleled musical, cultural and social opportunities they won’t find anywhere else,” says Artistic Director Steven Fisher.

All 5th through 8th graders must audition for GSG and NJB, but are encouraged to do so regardless of singing experience. 3rd and 4th graders need not audition to join. “If a boy or girl hasn’t found their singing voice, we’ll help them find it,” says Fisher. “What most people don’t realize is singing is like riding a bike. Everyone can do it. Someone simply needs to take the time to teach you - then you have it for life!”

The “brother - sister” choirs will rehearse at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill every Wednesday from 4:30pm to 6:00pm. Auditions are being held on Monday, October 10th from 10am to 8pm (appointment or walk in), or other days by appointment, and every Wednesday through the fall from 4 to 4:30pm and 6 to 6:30pm.

Lauren Canna, newly-appointed Music Director of GSG and NJB, has a wealth of experience with children’s voices. “I’m thrilled to be leading this effort with Steve Fisher to fill a real void in the Moorestown - Cherry Hill - Haddonfield region.” Canna adds. “Every singer who joins this season will be a founding member and will go down in choral history as inaugural choristers of the area’s very first community-based Girlchoir and Boychoir!”

Members of GSG and NJB will have an array of life changing music-making opportunities this season, including an ecumenical concert honoring children of all faiths, two Holiday Concerts with cousin choirs Pennsylvania Girlchoir and the Keystone State Boychoir, a Yom HaShoah Service commemorating the Holocaust, and a NEA-sponsored performance of The Children’s March chronicling a shining moment of the Civil Rights movement.The season will culminate with a spectacular, not-to-be-missed performance on stage with the award-winning Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Prince of Egypt, and Wicked) at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, June 17th. This summer, members of the Garden State Girlchoir will be offered the opportunity to tour Sweden with the Pennsylvania Girlchoir, and members of the New Jersey Boychoir will have the chance to tour Germany and the Czech Republic with the Keystone State Boychoir to perform the opera Brundibar.

Garden State Girlchoir and New Jersey Boychoir are part of the Commonwealth Youthchoirs (CY) family, which has a mission of transforming the lives of young people through the power of making extraordinary music together joyfully - one song a time. Along with Keystone State Boychoir, Pennsylvania Girlchoir, Find Your Instrument!, and Good Mornin’ Music!, the Garden State Girlchoir and the New Jersey Boychoir is the largest youth choral organization in the tri-state area, serving more than 700 children.

For interested boys, visit newjerseyboychoir.org For interested girls, visit gardenstategirlchoir.org To learn more about the Commonwealth Youthchoirs’ family of choral programs, visit cychoirs.org. You can also contact Carli Visconti, Program Manager of GSG and NJB at cvisconti@cychoirs.org or 203-247-7757.