Local Chorus for Children and Teens Seeks New Members

The Children’s Chorus of Sussex County (CCSC), a comprehensive choral music program which serves children and teens in northern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, is seeking new members. CCSC features a Musikgarten program for children ages 5 and 6, the Bella Voce choir for beginning singers in grades 2 – 5, and the Concert Choir for advanced singers in grades 6 – 12. A new Young Men’s Choir has been added for boys with changed voices. Rehearsals for all ensembles take place on Wednesdays at Christ Church, 62 Main Street, in Newton; the Young Men’s Choir and the Concert Choir have additional rehearsals at the same venue on Sunday evenings. Auditions are not required for the Musikgarten program, although they are required for participation in Bella Voce, Concert Choir and the Young Men’s Choir.

Founded in the fall of 1990, the CCSC ensembles are known for their dedication, teamwork and artistic excellence. The choristers pursue an ambitious schedule, performing at a variety of venues throughout the area; students in the Concert Choir have also traveled extensively throughout the Americas and Europe.

Musikgarten, an early childhood music and movement program for five and six-year-old children, is held on Wednesdays, from 4:30 – 5:20 p.m. Classes are scheduled to start up again in early September; a free music class will be held on Wednesday, September 14th for children ages 4 – 6 who are interested in sampling the course. Parents are encouraged to participate in the last ten minutes of each class. The program will be directed by professional pianist and early childhood music and movement specialist Diana Greene.

The new Young Men’s Choir will be directed by music educator Christopher Henke, who is also a staff member at Kittatinny Regional High School. The Young Men’s Choir is available to boys and teens with changed voices in grades 6 – 12. All other choirs are directed by CCSC Founder and Artistic Director Deborah Mello.

Funding for the Children’s Chorus of Sussex County has been made available in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through the State/County Partnership Block Grant Program, as administered by the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council. To register a child for the Musikgarten program, or to schedule an audition for the Children’s Chorus of Sussex County, contact Deborah Mello at 973-670-4556 or at dmello435@gmail.com. For information about the organization, visit www.ccscsings.org.