Young Singers Reaches Out to the World
On Saturday, March 31 at 3:00 PM, Young Singers of Greater Westfield will present a special concert, Young Singers Reaches Out to the World,at First Congregational Church, 18 Broad Street, Westfield, MA – special because of the wonderful music and special because of the greater mission of Young Singers to serve our community and beyond.
Because of generous support from the Women’s Fellowship of First Congregational Church, all of the proceeds of this concert will go directly to The Mathieson School, an orphanage in Calcutta, India. This amazing School welcomes children who come literally from the streets of Calcutta, the poorest of the poor.
The original orphanage was founded 68 years ago by Rev. Theodore Mathieson, an Anglican priest. In addition to meeting their basic needs, the children were taught a unique combination of western and Indian classical music. One of the boys, AnupBiswas, has gone on to a distinguished international career as a concert cellist.
Towards the end of his life, Rev. Mathieson became very concerned that, after his death, the musical aspect of his children’s lives would also die. He and Biswas conceived the idea of establishing a special music school to continue the tradition the priest had established. In February 1994 the Mathieson Music School was launched. As the school’s director, AnupBiswas has diverted much of his time and energy from his career as a cellist to fund-raising and running of the school to repay his debt to Father Mathieson. You can read more about this school by going to: www.mathiesonmusictrust.org/
Young Singers is proud and humbled to be able to help this amazing school, in whatever way we are able. We raise our voices in song to help children in need, throughout the world.
Young Singers of Greater Westfield is an auditioned concert choir of talented young people from the greater Westfield area. The choir is made up of children from grades two through twelve, divided into Junior and Senior divisions by age. Young Singers also includes a chamber choir of seven to ten singers, called Moriah, whose singers are chosen from the larger group. Each singer must pass a simple audition in which he or she demonstrates the ability to match pitch and carry a tune.
The goal of Young Singers is to give its members a unique opportunity to learn and perform music at a high level. They rehearse weekly and learn vocal fundamentals, basic musicianship and music reading, and become familiar with a wide range of musical styles. Each season they perform two full concerts, which are sung from memory.
For more information about the upcoming concert or about joining Young Singers for their 2012 fall season, please contact artistic director Janet St. Jean. She can be reached at [email protected] or 413-563-5156.
