Free Children's Music Program Open House

The St Paul's Choir School will hold an Open House on Saturday, September 3 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the St Paul's Parish Hall, 113 Engle Street in Englewood. The program is tuition-free and open to all children ages 8 through high school.

The St Paul’s Choir School program is based on the idea that all children are able to sing, given encouragement and instruction. We offer free music education and performance opportunities for girls and boys, ages 8 through high school. We are a unique after-school program that offers professional choral training, voice and piano lessons, music theory, leadership development, and mentoring to children and teenagers. Each chorister receives individualized attention in a dynamic, creative, structured, and hands-on setting from caring teachers who are accomplished professionals in their areas of instruction. Our students come from Englewood and surrounding towns, representing a wide range of cultural communities, and from all faith traditions. No church membership is required, and choristers need only commit to the regular rehearsal and singing schedule. Everyone is welcome.

The choristers gather on Mondays and Wednesdays after school for private voice lessons, music theory and ear training, and other enrichment activities including yoga, cooking class, and more. Piano lessons are also available through the program. The Choir School is associated with the Royal School of Church Music, and we use the RSCM's "Voice for Life" curriculum. We travel to sing at other venues in addition to singing one Sunday morning per month at St Paul's. We also participate in other community-building trips and events, including concerts and more.

Each chorister earns a small stipend for outstanding leadership, excellent work, and punctuality. The most important requirement for entrance to the choir is an unwavering commitment of time: steadfast attendance at services and rehearsal. No church membership is required, and choristers need only commit to the
regular rehearsal and singing schedule. Each chorister has a brief interview with the director--no previous musical experience is required.

The Choir School has sung at churches and cathedrals throughout the metropolitan area, and appeared with "The Chieftains" on stage at bergenPAC. This year, the choir will travel to sing in New York City, Newark, and Trenton, and will participate in the RSCM Choral Festival at Princeton this fall, under the direction of Anton Armstrong. The Choir also participates in the Cape May, NJ Choir Camp and the RSCM Summer Course at Newport, RI every summer.

Mark Trautman, St Paul’s Director of Music, also serves on the faculty of the music department of the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, New Brunswick. He is an award-winning organist and conductor, and has
performed throughout the United States, England, and Germany. He has conducted highly acclaimed orchestral and choral performances at the State Theatre and George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, and has been a featured organist on CNN and New Jersey Public Television.

Please join us for fun, food, games--and singing--on Saturday, September 3 at 3 p.m. For more information, contact Mark Trautman, Director of Music at 201.568.3276 or email at mtrautman@stpaulsenglewood.org. Everyone is welcome!