The Jubilate children's' choir is true to its name n Be joyful

Warwick n The name “Jubilate,” Latin for “be joyful,” is the keynote for Warwick’s popular children’s choir. The name is derived the first words of Psalm 100, also known as the “Jubilate Doe.” Creating joy is the choir’s chief reason for being, Music Director David Crone said. Assistant Conductor Steven Wing of Middle School Choir at Monroe-Woodbury School District agreed. Jubilate’s first fundraiser, “A Voice Raising,” will take place in Warwick on Saturday, Nov. 3, at 4 p.m. at Spring Brook Farm on Route 94 in Warwick. The farm is located across the road from the Pennings’ Market, and also will feature performances by Emish Celtic Rock Band, singer-song writer Elissa Jones, and Peter Holmgren of Village Music. “Music makes people happy,” said choir member Beth Phelan, 13, summing up the sentiments of the choral group founded just over a year ago by local professional and near-professional musicians under the guidance of the Rev. J. Scott Barker, Rector of Christ Church in Warwick Village. Supporter Joan Tirrell said that the founders wanted to create an opportunity for young people who have raw vocal talent and a passion for singing and performing, to explore the rich repertoire of treble choir music that exists in the Anglican tradition, and then to immediately branch out from there to embrace choral music, both secular and liturgical, of all traditions, faiths and cultures. The choir includes children from grades 5 through 12. “Our repertoire is a neat combination of sacred and secular. Our present repertoire consists of traditional Latin pieces, a piece by Bach in German, a Hebrew piece, an African tune and one from ‘A Chorus Line,’” said Crone. “Other repertoire for the winter-spring season will be spirituals, Irish and American folk tunes and, of course, some of (contemporary British composer) John Rutter’s beautiful pieces for treble voices.” For the director, the choir also is a family commitment. Connor Crone, the director’s son, a freshman at Warwick Valley High School accompanies the choir on drums, and daughter Emma, 16, sings. “Music creates a bridge between the audience and the performers.” Emily observed. The members of the choir are enthusiastic about the repertoire and about the experience of creating a beautiful sound, and they take their musical mission seriously. “Music is important for humankind because it is a way we can all communicate with each other,” observed Morgan Kriegel, 11. Choir Manger Anne Barker says that the choir, which now numbers 23, has continue to grow with every audition. “Of these, four are boys with treble voices. One, Shea Connolly, is moving toward his full voice, “ Barker explained. “These boys do not currently sing alone. However, we do have a plan to add in young men (tenors and basses) to the Jubilate family this year, and you will probably hear them sing both alone and with the treble choir before the performance season is out, ” Barker added. The Jubilate training program embraces both a highly disciplined vocal training and a rigorous musical education for the participants, so that members not only learn to sing technically well and come to understand how to blend as a choral group, but they also learn to become excellent musicians who can read and absorb music quickly, and achieve a level of musicality in performances which is of the highest quality. “These high musical goals are achievable thanks to the gifts and dedication of the singers and the talents and experience of the musical leadership of the group. Dr. David Crone has extensive conducting experience,” Barker said. “The youth of Jubilate have gained much from their time with the group. Deep friendships have been made based on a common love of music and through many shared performance experiences and weekly rehearsals,” Tirrell remarked. “Many of the kids have commented on the power of music to change their lives, deepen their joy and confidence, and also for its use as a force for change in the world, as in Jubilate’s appearance at the recent Empty Bowls fund-raiser.” The charity event, which hosted a standing room only crowd, invited guests to purchase a hand crafted bowl, filled with soup, with all proceeds going to the Hudson Valley Food Bank to fight hunger in our community.Tirrell went to say that the music allows the kids to experienced at first hand the power that their music had to draw people together; to entertain and communicate beauty, and, to help raise the money that was earned that day to feed hungry people. “This sort of lesson is learned early and very strongly through such an experience as this and so Jubilate becomes a vehicle for social awareness for the kids too,” Tirrell concluded. Although Jubilate’s start-up funding was supplied by Christ Church and several generous persons, this community-wide program now is looking for additional support for the continued growth and future success of the program. Auditions for new members are held twice a year, in September and in January at Christ Church in Warwick. Audition dates and details are published in the local papers and on the Jubilate Web site. Tickets for the November fund-raiser cost $25 for adults, and $20 for seniors and students. Tickets are available at Christ Church in Warwick as well as a Greetings and Salutations, The Ink Well, Marie Pennings at Green Real Estate, Newhard’s The Home Source, Tuscan Café and Village Music.