By Jennifer Smith
The Heart of the Valley Children’s Choir is having their 30th Anniversary Festival Celebration from June 28 to July 2. This festival will feature composers Paul Caldwell, Sean Ivory and executive director Carol Nelson. Two other choirs from Bellevue, Washington and California are also coming to participate.
“The kids have given up a big hunk of summer to attend twice-a-day and Saturday choral rehearsals. They have put in so much work and are so dedicated. They will have worked with two of the top choral composers in the country. The choir will be polished by the gala concert, and, let’s be real, there is nothing that can lift your spirits more than children’s voices in song! I hope our community will come out and support these children because they have worked so hard and it is really going to be a special concert” said HVCC Volunteer Erin Sneller.
Concerts will be held at the First Presbyterian Church on June 30, Central Park on July 1, and CH2M Hill Alumni Center and the Life Community Church on July 2.
In the last 30 years, many children in 3rd through 12th grade have participated in this program with the choir having as many as 200 members. They have collaborated with the Corvallis-OSU Symphony, OSU and high school choirs and the community band. They have performed at various celebrations and memorial services and have toured across the U.S. and internationally. After this festival, the choir is flying to Greece for a new tour.
There are about 80 children signed up so far and 40 alumni are coming back to participate, but more are welcome. There will be two rehearsals a day during the two weeks prior to the festival. Participants will experience a welcome BBQ, gala farewell dinner banquet, a swim party at Otter Beach, a fun mixer on the OSU campus and various other visitations and rehearsals. See the HVCC’s website for more information.
Alumni still wanting to sign up can do so online at www.hvcchoir.com. The cost is $50 for students and $100 for non-students.
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