On Sunday, May 1, 2016, the Waterbury Youth Chorus and Bravo Waterbury! performed a spring concert at St. John’s Church to an appreciative audience of about 75 people. Each group sang several pieces followed by the combined choirs singing “Imagine” by John Lennon.
The concert program included the following songs:
Bravo Waterbury!
Joyful Joyful Lord We Adore Thee
Wonder wall
Don’t You Worry Child
Waterbury Youth Chorus
Welcome Here
Linus and Lucy (sung by the “Presto” quartet)
Bora Maisha
Blessing
Combined Choirs
Imagine
The Waterbury Youth Chorus (WYC) was established in fall 2011 by artistic director, Melissa Rooklidge. The WYC is a program under the non-profit organization Church Street Community Services and is a community-based chorus for students in grades 4-12 in the greater Waterbury area. The Waterbury Youth Chorus rehearses once a week for an hour and a half. The WYC supplements the musical training taught in schools and students in this organization learn a variety choral repertoire, healthy vocal technique and music theory. Membership in the chorus is also a highly positive social experience, with regular parties, dinners, field trips, and other social events throughout the year. This program provides an enriching musical experience and also gives students the opportunity to build lasting friendships with members in the chorus.
The Waterbury Youth Chorus performs at various venues and events throughout the Waterbury community and Connecticut during the academic year. The WYC has performed at: Yale University with the Civic Orchestra of New Haven, a Quinnipiac University Men’s Basketball Game, a Hartford Wolf Pack Hockey Game, the Kaynor Technical High School Multicultural Fair, Naugatuck Valley Project Inc. Annual Convention, the Watermark at East Hill, and at The Taft School in Watertown. In addition, the WYC has performed in collaboration concerts with Bravo Waterbury, a program under the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra, and with the Westover Glee Club and Handbell Choir. Since December 2011, they have performed annually at “Cool Yule” a holiday jazz concert, as well as Barnes & Noble fundraisers in Waterbury. The Waterbury Youth Chorus also performs often at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Waterbury, CT.
Bravo Waterbury! is a cutting edge social development and music education program for students at Children’s Community School and Brass City Charter School in Waterbury, Connecticut.
An education program of the Waterbury Symphony Orchestrra, Bravo is inspired by Venezuela’s “music education miracle” known as El Sistema, a program for social change started over 35 years ago by economist and musician Jose Antonio Abreu.
Most Bravo students study music five days a week for up to three hours a day. Additionally students receive homework tutoring, physical activity, and a host of social development projects throughout the year.
Bravo students are engaged physically, mentally, and emotionally through creative expression. Currently 200 of Warterbury’s students participate in this intensive free educational program.