AUSTIN GIRLS CHOIR
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Mission Statement
Austin Girls’ Choir is a 501(c)(3) organization serving musically talented girls age 8-18. Its purpose is to provide a top-level choral experience and performance opportunities, help choristers develop self-discipline, teamwork skills, confidence, goal-setting and leadership, and prepare girls to enrich and lead in their communities as adults.
About This Cause
This top-level performing choir for girls age 8-18 was founded in 1990 by Artistic Director Sara Burden-McClure. The group performs frequently for state events, parades, conventions and festivals, as well as its own concerts and tours. AGC has been featured on CNN, C-SPAN and BBC Radio, and many television newscasts. A 2008 concert tour included singing for President Bush at the White House and singing Evensong at the Washington National Cathedral. Past local collaborative performances range from artists Bob Schneider and Joe McDermott to Austin Symphony Orchestra and the American Boychoir. The Choir is widely regarded as one of North America’s top treble choirs. The Austin Girls' Choir contains two ensembles: Our Junior Choir (age 8-14) meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 2200 Justin Lane. Beginners meet 6:15-7:30 p.m., intermediates 6:15-8:15 with small-group instruction for the first half hour. Advanced singers rehearse 6:45-8:15; some practice with both the Junior and Senior groups. The Senior Ensemble, for advanced singers age 13-18, meets Sunday afternoons 2-3:30 p.m. at the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 100 E. 27th Street. Participants must be strong music readers and reliable in attendance. What's in it for the singers? Austin Girls' Choir choristers share a strong love for music and music-making, and enjoy the opportunity to learn challenging works in a mutually supportive, high-standard environment. The girls develop musical skills, personal responsibility, self-discipline and performance poise as they learn to function as part of a team and to value one another. They take pleasure and pride in achieving new skill levels, mastering difficult works, and sharing their accomplishments with appreciative audiences. The girls sing in several languages, learn about other cultures, and love the fun rewards of local and tour concerts. Are there concert tours? Top singers have the opportunity to go on concert tour in June each year. Past American tours include the Southwest, Gulf Coast, East Coast and the vicinities of San Francisco, Chicago and New York (including Carnegie Hall in 1996). Abroad, AGC has toured in England, France, Germany, Czech Republic and Italy. We fundraise to help defray tour expenses; participants bear the remainder of the cost. When are camps available? We offer two one-week day camps in June. Lunch and snacks are included, and each session ends with a concert. Session I is for beginners and less experienced singers age 8-15; no audition required. Session II is for advanced singers age 12-17 who have strong music-reading skills; audition required. This session also functions as our tour preparation camp. What do you have to do to join? Each singer and her parents make – and honor – firm commitments to attend all rehearsals and participate in performances, be punctual, keep school grade average at or above a B, and sing with the Choir for at least a year. The girls expect each other to work hard at improving their skills, and to be able to listen to directions and follow them. Girls are accepted if they show in the audition that they can match pitch well, sing tunes clearly, and sing in head voice. Girls over14 must also read music well. How much is tuition? Other expenses? Tuition is $1200 per year (averaging to $100 per month, comparable to area public schools’ charges for a weekly half hour of personal instruction), with various payment plans available. Some tuition financial aid may be awarded upon application. Uniform and costume expenses for the year are under $120. Regular tuition covers rehearsals year-round; small additional fees are charged for camps and workshops. Travel expenses for optional trips and tours vary.