Children and Youth Choirs of NJ Announce Plans for Fall 2020

The Children & Youth Choirs of New Jersey will be hosting a virtual open house this Sunday, August 23rd. Children’s Choir (Ages 6-12) will begin at 1:30pm, and Youth Choir (Ages 12-18) will begin at 2:30pm. Each session will include introductions to the choir conductors, activities led by choir officers and staff, and FAQs with families of current members. Registration for the open house can be made online at cafmusic.org/openhouse or by phone at (908) 264-5324.

Both the Children and Youth Choirs of New Jersey will begin the 2020-2021 season with virtual rehearsals, which will all include community building exercises, music theory on-demand, vocal pedagogy and repertoire development. Each week members will spend time developing problem solving and teamwork skills, participating in real-time vocal guidance from their conductors, and learning repertoire that is carefully selected to be appropriate for their musical development. All members will be able to participate as they would in a live rehearsal space from the comfort of their own home.

While the semester will begin virtually, the Continuo Arts Foundation (CCNJ/YCNJ’s parent organization) will determine the timeline and process of reintroducing hybrid or in-person rehearsals. Once this transition begins, all choirs will continue to offer full-remote learning through live-streamed rehearsal.

The Children’s Choir of New Jersey, for ages 4-12, houses the premiere ensembles for children’s voices. Strong vocal technique, exemplary pedagogy and diverse repertoire comprise the musical foundation upon which Children’s Choir members build the skills that ensure on-going musical success and opportunity in the future.

The Youth Choir of New Jersey is an ensemble for outstanding young voices ages 12-18. Members engage in community service outreach appearances, annual concert performances, showcase cabarets and a wide variety of activities that not only encourage self-confidence, teamwork, poise, and stage presence but ones that inspire concert goers, community members and arts aficionados around the world.

The Children and Youth Choirs of New Jersey are programs within the Continuo Arts Foundation. In addition to local concert series, community outreach performances and professional collaborations, Continuo Arts offers unique musical and travel experiences to its members. The Continuo Arts Symphonic Chorus (made up of singers of all ages) performed in 2018 and 2019 under the baton of Maestro John Rutter at Carnegie Hall. In July 2019 they sang for Disney's Lion King movie premiere launch and were featured artists at The International Festival of the Aegean in five concerts during a two-week residency in Syros and Athens, Greece. Previous international appearances include tours in Prague, Ireland, Italy and the historic first concert inside the Sistine Chapel by a United States organization.

The Continuo Arts Foundation is committed to making a difference in the lives of individuals, communities and cultures through music. Supporting music education and musicians, Continuo Arts offers New Jersey’s most comprehensive Intergenerational Choral Programs, Broadway & Beyond Musical Theater Troupe, private and group music, dance and theory lessons and produces The Minuetto Music Festival. More information can be found at www.continuoarts.com or by calling 908-264-5324.