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Kids Are A Musical Blend

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

John Carmichael directs the Tampa Bay Children's Chorus during rehearsal this week.

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By GEORGE WILKENS

gwilkens@tampatrib.com

Published: December 13, 2008

Updated: 12/13/2008 12:17 am

TAMPA - The Tampa Bay Children's Chorus has traveled many miles during its 20 years, including multiple trips to prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City.

As always, however, the group's annual holiday concert is one for the hometown crowd. It will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

The chorus is open to students in grades 3 through 12, selected by audition for placement in one of several choirs based on age and ability. In all, about 100 children from five counties are in the chorus, said Tim McDonald, chairman of the nonprofit organization's board.

"It gives them the experience of choral music; not only doing something musical, but working with groups," McDonald said. "It teaches them to blend their voices with the other singers."

It also provides opportunities to work with well-known guest artists.

The chorus, created to provide children with an opportunity to sing challenging works and learn choral classics, was founded in 1989 by Averill Summer, a University of South Florida associate professor of piano.

Summer, who today serves as the group's music director, has found the chorus to be a worthwhile, sometimes surprising experience.

"The interest of the children involved and how they stick with it has been really special," as well as the unique bonding, Summer said. "Here they can be with this group through their whole school experience, so the older ones become mentors to the younger ones."

Jonathan Tigue is a board member and father of Sarah, who sings in the chorus.

"It made a change in her," he said of his 12-year-old daughter. "She wasn't as outgoing" when she joined with the group four years ago. He, too, notes the bonding. "The kids form such good relationships" with one another through rehearsals, retreats and performances.

The group's three Carnegie Hall performances have been for the International Children's Choir Festival. "And we've also gone to Europe a couple of times and Canada several times," as well as performed in Chicago and Washington, D.C., Summer said.

This 20th annual holiday concert will feature performances by each of the four choirs and some by the 100-member ensemble. In addition to traditional Christmas carols, there will be an audience singalong and instrumental solos by the group's woodwind trio, pianist and harpist.

A silent auction will be held in the lobby, and there will be a drawing for two round-trip tickets to any Southwest Airlines destination.

Concert tickets are $15, available at the door or through www.tbcchorus.org or www.tampacenter.com.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433.

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