Anima - Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus
History
History 1964 - TODAY
Anima – Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus celebrated its 55th season in 2019-2020. One of the leading children and youth choral organizations in North America, its rich heritage has served as an artistic and educational model for many years. Recent national awards include the ASCAP Adventurous Programming award from Chorus America, the Tribute Award from Chicago A Cappella, the Non-Profit of the Year Award from the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce, the Dale Warland Singers Commission Award from Chorus America and the American Composers Forum, and the once-in-an-organizational lifetime Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence from Chorus America.
The Chorus is dedicated to transforming young lives through excellence in music education and choral singing. Its six ensembles serve children from over 35 different Chicagoland communities, with outreach programs reaching 1000 additional children annually. International tours have taken the Chorus to six continents. Anima (AH-nee-mah) is the Latin word for breath, life, soul, spirit.
Performing frequently with Chicago’s major musical organizations, Anima's singers have performed under many of the world’s most eminent conductors including Esa-Pekka Salonen, Bernard Haitink, Semyon Bychkov, John Nelson, Jane Glover, Christoph Eschenbach, Claudio Abbado, and Georg Solti. Also committed to new music, Anima - Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus has commissioned over 80 new works for young voices in its history. Anima - Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus was the first children’s chorus in America to be recognized and funded by the National Endowment for the Arts for the professionalism of its work and captured four Grammy awards for its performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Sir Georg Solti.
Anima - Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus last appeared with the CSO in Mahler's Symphony No. 3 in October 2018, and for a series of performances of the holiday classic Home Alone (music by John Williams) in December 2017. Recent highlights include a concert tour to Greece in June 2018, an appearance with Grant Park Music Festival in August 2018 in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, and a tour to Washington D.C. including a festival performance at the Kennedy Center in June 2019.
The Chorus is dedicated to transforming young lives through excellence in music education and choral singing. Its six ensembles serve children from over 35 different Chicagoland communities, with outreach programs reaching 1000 additional children annually. International tours have taken the Chorus to six continents. Anima (AH-nee-mah) is the Latin word for breath, life, soul, spirit.
Performing frequently with Chicago’s major musical organizations, Anima's singers have performed under many of the world’s most eminent conductors including Esa-Pekka Salonen, Bernard Haitink, Semyon Bychkov, John Nelson, Jane Glover, Christoph Eschenbach, Claudio Abbado, and Georg Solti. Also committed to new music, Anima - Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus has commissioned over 80 new works for young voices in its history. Anima - Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus was the first children’s chorus in America to be recognized and funded by the National Endowment for the Arts for the professionalism of its work and captured four Grammy awards for its performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Sir Georg Solti.
Anima - Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus last appeared with the CSO in Mahler's Symphony No. 3 in October 2018, and for a series of performances of the holiday classic Home Alone (music by John Williams) in December 2017. Recent highlights include a concert tour to Greece in June 2018, an appearance with Grant Park Music Festival in August 2018 in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, and a tour to Washington D.C. including a festival performance at the Kennedy Center in June 2019.
JUN
2006
2006
1964
THE BIRTH OF LIMMUD FSU
Glen Ellyn Children’s Theater Chorus founded by Barbara Born
Director 1964 – 1972
Director 1964 – 1972
1969
GETTING BIGGER IN MOSCOW
First performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Featuring Berlioz’ “Damnation of Faust”
45 performances with the CSO to date
Featuring Berlioz’ “Damnation of Faust”
45 performances with the CSO to date
OCT
2007
2007
SEP
2008
2008
1971
HOLY LAND ARRIVAL
Glen Ellyn Children’s Theater Chorus becomes program within the Glen Ellyn Park District
1972
FROM UKRAINE WITH LOVE
Doreen Rao becomes Music Director
Margaret Hillis extends “Honorary Membership” to the Chicago Symphony
Chorus
GETC debuts at Ravinia
Over 20 Ravinia performances to date
Margaret Hillis extends “Honorary Membership” to the Chicago Symphony
Chorus
GETC debuts at Ravinia
Over 20 Ravinia performances to date
OCT
2008
2008
OCT
2008
2008
1973
FIRST TIME IN JERUSALEM
We change our name to Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus (GECC)
1974
PARTY IN THE USA
AUG
2009
2009
SEP
2009
2009
1976
ITS TRUSKAVETS TIME
We begin charging tuition for our educational programs
SEP
2009
2009
OCT
2010
2010
1977
ODESSA TALES
GECC hires first administrative staff member
The chorus, along with Doreen Rao, is profiled on Chicago CBS program “Two on Two”
The chorus, along with Doreen Rao, is profiled on Chicago CBS program “Two on Two”
1979
CONQUERING THE CAPITAL OF CULTURE
Premieres 1st commission
Gordon Binkerd’s “On the King’s Highway”
80 works by 40 composers have been commissioned to date
Gordon Binkerd’s “On the King’s Highway”
80 works by 40 composers have been commissioned to date
SEP
2011
2011
SEP
2011
2011
1980
TEKUMAH IN VINNITSA
First benefit auction
First international tour to England
The chorus has taken 18 international tours to 6 continents to date
First international tour to England
The chorus has taken 18 international tours to 6 continents to date
1982
WHEN NEGEV CAPITAL MEETS LIMMUD
The chorus receives tax exempt status and becomes its own nonprofit organization
SEP
2011
2011
MAY
2011
2011
1983
GLOBAL SUMMIT IN JERUSALEM
GRAMMY and Grand Prix du Disque Awards
Recording of Berlioz’ “Damnation of Faust” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Sir Georg Solti
Recording of Berlioz’ “Damnation of Faust” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Sir Georg Solti
1984
NEW JERSEY IS OURS!
GECC is first youth/children’s chorus in US to receive funding from the National Endowment for the Arts
Bill Buhr named Principal Accompanist
Bill Buhr named Principal Accompanist
MAY
2012
2012
JUN
2012
2012
1986
LET THE MOLDOVA GAMES BEGIN!
GRAMMY Award
Recording of Shoenberg’s “Moses and Aaron” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and Sir Georg Solti
Recording of Shoenberg’s “Moses and Aaron” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and Sir Georg Solti
1987
OLYMPICS IN NAZARETH ILLIT
GRAMMY Award
Recording of Orff’s “Carmina Burana” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with James Levine
Recording of Orff’s “Carmina Burana” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with James Levine
JUN
2012
2012
NOV
2012
2012
1988
THE TALE OF UZHGOROD
Lucy J. Ding is named Music Director
Doreen Rao becomes Music Director Emerita
Doreen Rao becomes Music Director Emerita
1990
LIMMUD COLORS WHITE RUSSIA
Sandra Snow is named Music Director
JUN
2013
2013
OCT
2014
2014
1993
THE CANADIAN START
Lisa Roberts Sirvatka is named Music Director
1996
LVIV WELCOMES LIMMUD
Emily Ellsworth is named Music Director
OCT
2014
2014
DEC
2014
2014
1997
ON THE SHORES OF KINNERET
GECC sings with Sir Georg Solti on last recording made before his death
Stravinsky’s “Symphony of Psalms” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
Stravinsky’s “Symphony of Psalms” with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus
1999
FOURTH CONTINENT-CHECKED!
GECC has premiere collaboration with the Soul Children of Chicago
The chorus has collaborated with the Soul Children 4 times to date
The chorus has collaborated with the Soul Children 4 times to date
SEP
2015
2015
MAR
2015
2015
2000
MAKING PEACE IN KAZAN
GECC takes its first international tour beyond Europe/North America
Travels to Australia and New Zealand
Travels to Australia and New Zealand
2001
IT’S WEST COAST, BABY!
GECC receives the ASCAP Award
from Chorus America, for Adventurous Programming
from Chorus America, for Adventurous Programming
JAN
2016
2016
MAY
2016
2016
2005
MINSK IS OURS
GECC commissions and premieres Imant Raminsh’s opera “The Nightingale”
Featured performers at Chorus America’s national conference
GECC receives the ABBY Award for Arts Management Excellence
from the Arts & Business Council of Chicago
Featured performers at Chorus America’s national conference
GECC receives the ABBY Award for Arts Management Excellence
from the Arts & Business Council of Chicago
2008
LIMMUD BY THE RED SEA
Anima-GECC receives the once-in-an-organizational lifetime Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence from Chorus America
Changes name to “Anima – Young Singers of Greater Chicago”
Changes name to “Anima – Young Singers of Greater Chicago”
MAY
2016
2016
FEB
2017
2017
2009
MULTI-NATIONAL JOURNEY IS ON
Anima has its first performance with the Lyric Opera of Chicago
Performs Berlioz’ “Damnation of Faust”
GECC has performed 4 times with the Lyric, including a feature performance in the 2010 production of Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Anima receives the Dale Warland Singers Commission Award from Chorus America and the American Composers Forum
Performs Berlioz’ “Damnation of Faust”
GECC has performed 4 times with the Lyric, including a feature performance in the 2010 production of Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Anima receives the Dale Warland Singers Commission Award from Chorus America and the American Composers Forum
2012
LIMMUD COMES TO BAY AREA
Composer accompanies Anima on tour for the first time
Imant Raminsh traveled to his homeland of Latvia with the chorus on their Baltic tour
Imant Raminsh traveled to his homeland of Latvia with the chorus on their Baltic tour
MAY
2016
2016
FEB
2017
2017
2013
MULTI-NATIONAL JOURNEY IS ON
Anima receives the ASCAP Award from Chorus America for Adventurous Programming
Anima received the Tribute Award from Chicago A Cappella
Anima received the Non-Profit of the Year Award from the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce
Brandon Pemberton is named the first Assistant Music Director
Anima received the Tribute Award from Chicago A Cappella
Anima received the Non-Profit of the Year Award from the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce
Brandon Pemberton is named the first Assistant Music Director
2014
LIMMUD COMES TO BAY AREA
Anima GECC celebrates 50 years and moves back home to 501 Hill Ave, Glen Ellyn
MAY
2016
2016
FEB
2017
2017
2015
MULTI-NATIONAL JOURNEY IS ON
Anima joins the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for their performance of Maurice Ravel’s L’enfant et Les Sortilèges and performs the midwest premier of On the Transmigration of Souls by John Adams with the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra and Choir
2016
LIMMUD COMES TO BAY AREA
Composers Stephen Hatfield and Roshanne Etezady join Anima as composers in residence
MAY
2016
2016
FEB
2017
2017
2017
MULTI-NATIONAL JOURNEY IS ON
Anima is invited to sing in Crowd Out Chicago, a 1000–voice performance by and for the people of Chicago at Millennium Park, in celebration of the Chicago Humanities Festival
2018
LIMMUD COMES TO BAY AREA
Anima premiers David Brunner’s HandSpeak,
a work that enables deaf and hard of hearing students to make music with a choral ensemble
Chorus America invites Anima to perform at its national conference
Charles Sundquist is named Artistic Director
a work that enables deaf and hard of hearing students to make music with a choral ensemble
Chorus America invites Anima to perform at its national conference
Charles Sundquist is named Artistic Director
MAY
2016
2016

Anima
/AH-Nee-Mah/
The Latin word for Breath, Life, Soul, Spirit.
The joy of singing, fun, friendship, skill mastery, sharing, self-expression, professionalism, discovery, learning, teamwork, self-assessment, outstanding opportunities.

John Doe
Founder of Just
Interested in learning more?
Anima - Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus welcomes young people from Kindergarten through High School in various ensemble programs.
Anima - Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus
is grateful for the support of:
Anima – Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus
is grateful for grant support from:
is grateful for grant support from:




