Ask a Choir Parent

Are you curious what choir has in store for your family? Are you a new choir family and still not sure about something? Are you worried about the commitment, or wonder what the long term benefits of choir are for your children? Periodically we will share stories and information about the choirs from the prospective of a choir parent. Send your questions to [email protected]. 

Response from Parent N.S.:

It is true. Being in choir is a time commitment, especially during holiday season, but it is manageable! For my son in the Gregory choir, his choir friends understand "choir speak." and have to put in the same extra time that he has to put in after school. He has also learned that he is fulfilling a commitment to the community. I grew up in a family where music central to our activities - participating in musicals, piano lessons and dance recitals. So, naturally, I was happy to find a school that emphasized music in its curriculum. Interestingly, while my children may not always share my enthusiasm for music, they have both discovered joy in the program. For my daughter in Hildegard, choir provides a group of friends with whom she can connect, sing, and express herself. Having children in choir offers our family opportunities we might not have taken advantage of, such as the local and international tours and summer camps (where both kids are away at the same time!). When they express frustration about choir commitments, I remind them that it is a privilege to be exposed to the exceptional talent and musicianship at the Choir School. This experience also serves as a commitment to the community, which many people rely on for peace and solace—especially during the holidays

Response from Parent A.P.:

Over the past few years, the December choir services have become a centerpiece of our family’s advent preparations and Christmas celebrations. My daughter is a 6th grade Cecilia chorister, and my son is in 9th grade at West High who now sings with the High School choir after singing with the Gregory choir previously. My son's early choir years were during the pandemic, and during this unsettling time the Christmas services brought a sense of rhythm and excitement that has continued to build each year. The Christmas services always bring the perfect mix of familiar and new music, building on earlier experiences while bringing new challenges as the kids grow. As my son explains it, “They’re not like any other Christmas concerts anywhere else. They’re unique, not like ‘Frosty the Snowman.’ It keeps music that is not as well known, alive and teaches you to lean into the musicality of different kinds of Christmas music.” My daughter says, “It’s really beautiful to be a part of people’s preparation for Jesus’s birth. I didn’t really understand the full meaning of the Christmas stories until I sung them. Instead of just reading the stories, the music communicates emotions with dynamics and tempo. You can really dig into the true meaning of what the message is trying to tell us.”