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A Great Retreat!
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Fun, fellowship and song –that’s what it’s all about! This past weekend, 125 choristers headed out for our Annual Retreat to spend some time together! What fun we had singing by the campfire, participating in team building games and learning about each other…and to top it all off the weather was gorgeous in Dixon, Illinois! Parent chaperones and kids alike enjoyed the great outdoors while getting to know each other better. There was singing, of course, and funny skits. There were hikes in the woods, tether ball, basket ball and story telling. Laughter was heard throughout the cabins and camp and endless opportunities for new and old friendships to flourish…and there was music in the air at every turn. My, how we love to sing! Our thanks to all the volunteers who made this a weekend to remember and to our parents for sharing your wonderful children with the GECC!
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Alumni News-Larissa Siegel
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Larissa and Joseph Donelly
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In the 7 years I spent with the GECC, I experienced things I still cannot fully describe to anyone aside from those who experienced them with me. Fortunately, I have lifelong friendships from this group and we recollect frequently. Reading about the children singing in South Africa gave me chills as I recall singing some of those same songs in Copenhagen, Denmark and at the Three Spires Children’s Chorus Festival in 1993, when Apartheid was just ending I earned a Bachelor of Music Education at Michigan State University, where I was fortunate to work with the Michigan State Children’s Chorus, and I finished my Master of Music Education from Florida State University by studying in London, England for 5 ½ weeks. I have taught high school choir in Garland, TX, 7th-12th general and choral music in Atlanta, GA, and high school choir in San Antonio, TX. I have taken students to Europe to experience some of the things I was fortunate to experience, like singing in cathedrals older than our country, or communicating solely through song. My wonderful husband, Joseph Donnelly also went to Michigan State, but we were a few years apart. We were married last November, with the best organist/pianist of all time, Bill Buhr! Joe’s job keeps us moving and we just moved to Newport News, VA this week! One of my goals here is to create some teachers’ workshops based around multiculturalism in music education, the focus of my master’s degree. We recently adopted a new puppy, Riley and we plan to start a family in the very near future. I also wish to continue living a musical life, finish my master’s in counseling, and teach young people to dream large so they have something to live and strive for. I will also persist in teaching songs and stories from around the world that unite us all as people just as GECC did for me! I would love to hear from other alums at: Lesiegel77@yahoo.com.
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Emily Notes
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Our 43rd season is fully launched, with all five levels, from MEC to Chamber Ensemble, digging into new music and anticipating the terrific season ahead. Early in the fall comes Parent Orientation – our first chance to sing for our chorus community – followed by our annual Retreat at Camp Reynoldswood and our hosting of the National Boys Choir of Australia for a joint concert (October 5th) and annual Boys Only Bash (October 6th). Preparing for these events is getting our season off to an exciting start with new music, new friends near and far, and new challenges! The incredible experiences of our summer tours to New Orleans (Concert Chorus) and South Africa (Touring Chorus) are so alive in our memories and continue to feed the excitement. I’d like to offer a special word of welcome to the families who are new to us this year. The GECC is a unique and special organization which has served as a model of excellence for children’s choirs throughout North America for many years. We take the responsibility seriously, and our entire staff works hard to ensure a great singing and community experience for our new members. Congratulations on offering your child this opportunity – and - Welcome aboard! Emily Ellsworth, Artistic Director
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National Boys Choir of Australia and the GECC
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St. Michael Church, 111 West Street, Wheaton, IL
$10 adults/$5 students Join us for some zesty Australian repertoire, traditional South African pieces fresh from the GECC's summer tour, beautiful soulful music fit for St. Michael's gorgeous space, and a final shared rendition of Waltzing Matilda and America the Beautiful. This great Aussie choir will also be joining the GECC for our annual Boys Only! Bash held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Wheaton the morning of October 6th. This great morning of music making is for all interested boys with unchanged voices. Contact Sue Flaatten at 630-858-2471 for information or to register.
Call 630-858-2471 for Tickets
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For more information about the Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus call 630-858-2471 or visit our website at www.gechildrenschorus.org.
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