Chautauqua Children's Chorale

The Chautauqua Children’s Chorale was formed in 1988, by Nancy A. Krestic and Dr. Donald P. Lang.  It was formed with the mission to promote excellence in singing and musical growth, and give a different dimension to the choral experience for children. 

The Chorale is made up of two choirs of children ages 8 to 17: Junior Chorale and Concert Chorale. There are approximately 85 singers in Chorale.  Both choirs perform a wide variety of music, including sacred, classical, secular choral music and contemporary music written for unchanged voices and the concert stage.  Periodically the Chorale has commissioned choral works written specifically for them. 

The Chorale has performed with:

    - The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

    - The Western NY Chamber Orchestra

    - The Chautauqua Symphony

    - The Chautauqua Chamber Singers

    - Several ensembles from the Fredonia School of Music

The Concert Chorale has participated in numerous Children’s Choir Festivals including ones in:

    - Princeton, New Jersey

    - St. Catharines, Ontario

    - Des Moines, Iowa

    - Canterbury, England

    - Tuscany, Italy

    - Honolulu, Hawaii

    - Juneau, Alaska

Auditions are generally held in late May, during afternoons and evenings.  There are three audition days, one in Jamestown, one in Fredonia, and one in Silver Creek.  Each child’s audition is closed and is ten minutes long.  Audition requirements include the following:

    - Each child will sing two songs: “Happy Birthday” and “America, the Beautiful” or “America.”

    - The songs are sung twice, once with the piano and once unaccompanied.

    - Sight reading ability is assessed. 

    - Tonal memory and rhythm exercises are used to measure the child’s ability to hear and repeat  rhythms and a series of sung pitches.

    - Children are placed in various choirs by ability and readiness.

The Chautauqua Children's Chorale is an Ensemble in Residence at the School of Music, State University of New York at Fredonia and is a member of Chorus America.