Saint Thomas Choir School Girl Chorister Course 2009

Final Service

2009-08-03T13:47:00.000-07:00

The Sunday service was a real treat for all. I was taken aback by just how well the mens voices complemented the girls voices. The Mozart was a particular highlight. Congratulations to Sharon for her superb solo.

Many thanks to all of the girls and their families for making Sunday run so smoothly!

Goodbye from Pam Pellegrini

2009-08-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

"It was delightful to get to know you girls, and hearing their golden voices wafting through the halls made me smile each day as I dealt with the task at hand. Safe travels home to everyone, and I'll see many of you next year! Have a wonderful summer, and all the best as you embark on the new school year in the fall"
xoxo Mrs. Pellegrini

Skits performance

2009-08-01T19:02:00.001-07:00

Throughout the week the girls were given time to work on a Broadway skit which was to be performed after the formal meal on Saturday night. The girls were given 15 minutes to run upstairs and get dressed into their parts. There were 3 groups performing. Each group represented one of the school houses. We viewed 3 spectacular performances: House 7th Heaven performed "We Go Together" from Grease, House The Genuflectors performed "SOS" from Mamma Mia, and House The Fighting Nun performed Honey Honey. After the performances when the staff did the nightly announcements, we broke into our Staff skit, much to the surprise and delight of the girls. Roars of laughter were heard all around as we pranced around the floor!

Saturday Night Formal Dinner

2009-08-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

As our final meal together chef Heidi whipped up a wonderful dinner. The dining room was decorated beautifully as we ate in candlelight. Following dessert the dining room was converted into a theater in preparation for the skits...

Saturday Night Awards

2009-08-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

On Saturday night we host the Girls course awards during the pre-dinner recepetion in the library. All of our girls have been superb this year and so each was awarded with a certificate specific to their achievements or characteristics.

NYC Street Fair

2009-08-01T18:29:00.000-07:00

Today after rehearsal at the Saint Thomas Church we treated the girls to an hour's shopping at a local NYC Street Market Fair located on Braodway. I witnessed the girls bartering, a skill which came surprisingly naturally to many of them, and as a result they came back with some bargains.

Greetings from one of our new girls Catherine B

2009-08-01T18:24:00.001-07:00

Hi, and greetings from St. Thomas in NYC! My name is catherine and this is my first year at St. Thomas. I am having such a great time but am also missing home a bit as this is my first time away. My parents came to watch both weekday Evensong services, and it was so great seeing their faces. Although I am excited to return home and seeing my family, I will definitely miss being with my other family here in NYC. I can;t wait to return to th Girl Chorister Course in 2010! xoxo Catherine

2009-08-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

Excursion on "The beast"!

2009-08-01T18:07:00.000-07:00

Friday morning is set aside for the course excursion. This year we went on "The Beast" speedboat boarding at Pier 83 in Chelsea, which took us on a cruise downtown to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.As soon as the boat was in motion music started blasting out form the speakers. We were encouraged to sing along and dance to songs like The Village People's YMCA! The captain did his best to turn hard so that all passengers would get soaked, and if we weren't soaked enough then his co-worker resorted to spraying us with a hose, a water pistol and even water balloons!

The Beast

2009-07-31T13:43:00.000-07:00

Today we went on the Beast which is an awesome sight seeing roller coaster boat ride. All of us got super wet while we were on the boat, but the adult leaders were drenched! We then came home to some amazing Hedi food which was amazing as always. I think that all of us had alot of fun today, and i can hardly wait for the shopping expedition tomorrow!
Olive

2009-07-31T13:40:00.000-07:00

Our evensong went well last night even though we had our doubts. It was cool to be the first choir to sing the commissioned piece. This morning we got to go on a boat ride on the Hudson. It was called "The Beast!" It went really fast and all the adults along with some of us got soaked. Even though we got wet we were able to get really close to the Statue of Liberty and get some good snapshots. Today's lunch was amazing! We had Indian food of course made by the amazing Heidi. We're having 3 rehearsals today along with normal classes so it's definitely a full day. But I'm extremely excited for tomorrow where we get to go shopping, have a formal dinner, and perform our skits.

-Sharon Mays

Heidi's Food and Cooking

2009-07-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

Each girl enjoys parts of the course, some more than others. I'm sure each girl would agree that Heidi's cooking is one of the best parts of the course! We have amazing foods and each one is an experience for us girls to try new things.
By Sarah A.

Our Great Director

2009-07-31T12:31:00.000-07:00

Sarah Baldock is the Choir Director for the Girls' Course this year. She is fantastic! Her methods are unorthodox, but extremely fun. I actually looked forward to rehearsals this year. We warm up with "John Scott has red hair" "Ravioli and Spaghetti", "Butterfly, Jungle, Moth" and many others. Beside the great vocal work, we have learned useful advice from Ms. Baldock. She taught us to NEVER sing while wearing flip-flops or hats, to sing with feeling, and to sing like a Route Master Bus. I am very glad to have the opportunity to work with Mrs. Baldock and I hope she returns to Saint Thomas next year.
by Katie G.

Liz's reflections on the STGCC

2009-07-31T12:30:00.000-07:00

Writing about all the fun things that we do is too hard. It has been so fun with a good balance of singing and craziness!From amazing food to amazing singing this camp has given us a good variety of things to do. I have taken many pictures with my camera so my friends and family will be able to get a taste of the fun!

Yummy food!

2009-07-31T12:29:00.000-07:00

My name is Krystal and this is my second year at Saint Thomas School. We go running Tuesday and Thursday. We sing two Evensong services. Everyday Heidi makes us delicious food, my favorite part!
by krystal

Tons of Fun!

2009-07-31T12:28:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm Megan and I have enjoyed everything. The food is great. Everyone is really nice, and I'm having lots of fun. I've loved the art class making the team poster. And, the Broadway show was really funny. We saw "Shrek". I'm having lots of fun!
by Megan

2009-07-31T12:26:00.001-07:00

This is my first year at the Saint Thomas Girl's Course. We have had many fun experiences thus far in the course including pizza and a movie, seeing "Shrek the Musical" on Broadway, and fun activities in Central Park. I am very excited for the boatride and shopping that is soon to come.
by Caroline B.

Hadley's reflections

2009-07-31T12:26:00.000-07:00

This is my first year attending St. Thomas Girl Chorister Course. At first I really didn;t know what to expect, but I am having such a fun time. I've made so many good friends and learned so much in a short space of time. I'm actually realy sad that the course is almost over but hope to come back next year.

by Hadley Bryan

2009-07-31T12:23:00.000-07:00

Probably my favorite part of this year would have to be "Shrek" so far. I was surprised to actually enjoy it alot. I really enjoyed walking the streets of New York and seeing the sights. Tomorrow we are going on "the Beast", which is a very fast speed boat. I'm looking forward to seeing the sights and hopefully the Statue of Liberty. I also loved the movie night with popcorn, soda and pizza. We saw "Confessions of a Shopaholic". I am happy I came.
by Caroline Neupauer

Mairead's course highlights

2009-07-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

This is year three for me here at STGCC. I love it here so much! If I had to select my favorite partsthey would be compline and chef Heidi's cooking. Compline is an evening prayer that we sing right before bedtime. It's really calming and everyone seems to get a lot out of it.

by Mairead Koehler

My favorite things!

2009-07-31T12:20:00.000-07:00

Although it is my first year at the course, I already feel as if I've been living in this great space with all these girls for years. Even though we've only been here for five days, I've had lots of fun and learned a ton. A few of my favorite events definitely include the Broadway show on Wednesday, and the movie night after Tuesday Evensong. "Shrek" was amazing - the set as genius and it was hilarious. On Tuesday night I chose to watch "The Others" out of four movies and ate my first piece of pizza. This has definitely been a good experience.
By Tara G.

Are you listening at home?

2009-07-31T12:17:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited to be heading to our second Evensong. The first one was so much fun! I loved the music, which made up for my extremely painful shoes. I hope everyone at home will be listening to our podcasts, especially my awesome dog Spot!
by Andie

The Choir School's amazing kitchen team!

2009-07-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

Heidi has once again lived up to her reputation for making amzing food for us. She never ceases to create dishes that make my mouth water three times a day!Especially at lunch when we have her delicious deserts. Today we had chocolate cake topped with mousse icing. Us girls always look forward to meal times with Heidi's food!

by Caroline Sorey

Sing, Sing, Sing

2009-07-31T12:14:00.000-07:00

We've been spending our days singing, eating, singing, running, singing, going on outings, and singing. Yesterday we headed downtown a few blocks to see "Shrek the Musical". None of us really knew what to expect, but it was absolutely fantastic. I especially liked the parts where they spoofed "Rent", "Wicked", "The Lion King" and "The Princess Bride". It was similar to the movie and really funny!
by Emma

Time flies when you are having fun!

2009-07-31T12:12:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm Ana and this is my 4th year. I swear I have died and gone to heaven. The food is so delicious. I've had so much fun. Sunday through Wednesday went slowly but now it's going too fast.
by Ana

Hide in Seek in the Choir School

2009-07-31T12:11:00.000-07:00

This is my third year attending the STGCC. So far one of the highlights for me has been playing hide and seek. The building is HUGE and is filled with so many obscure hiding places. This forced us to be creative and imaginative!

Central Park by Alice Palmer

2009-07-31T12:04:00.000-07:00

This is my first visit to NYC and I'm overwhelmed by the skyscrapers and by how many people there are all of the time where ever you go in the city. I love the school's location by Central Park- I especially enjoy going there in the early morning. On Tuesday we took a long walk through the park and on Wednesday we had fun on the swings. It is amazing how it seems so small, but if you walk through it, it just keeps going on and on. It amazes me that when you are out in the park you just look up and see the New York skyline.

by Alice Palmer

Reflections on The Girls Course by Olivia Soares

2009-07-31T11:58:00.000-07:00

This camp was a great experience. It was meeting new people from all over the USA and being able to sing with them. The boat ride was very fun and the food is AMAZING! So far my favorite dish ha been chef Heidi's brownies and ice cream :) Everyone is SO nice here. And of course I can't forget to mention how much I have enjoyed playing kick ball in the park.

by Olivia Soares

Girls Course Pencils!

2009-07-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

Dorm Life!

2009-07-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

Our girls occupy 3 floors of dorms situated on the 5th, 6th and 7th floors of the Choir school. Bearing in mind that the use of elevators is strictly prohibited to the girls, those based on the 7th floor sometimes feel as though they have picked the "short-straw" when rushing from rehearsal in the basement all the way up to their floor!!!
Girls tend to cluster in each others rooms, in the narrow corridors, or in the recreational area on the 5th floor. There is always lots going on in the free time slots!

Day 6 by Olive and Beth

2009-07-30T11:24:00.001-07:00

This morning at rehearsal was some of our best singing yet! We have hard pieces of music for this evensong and we did well practicing according to Mr. Kwan. It will be tons of fun to sing "Here a Light" and "Margret Forsaken" in the church. "Margret Forsaken" is a very interesting and eerie piece that was inspired by the Scottish country side. It will be amazing to sing a piece with a Scottish feel in the middle of New York city. Good luck to Jane for cantering and to Kaethe for playing the prelude on the organ. Break a leg! (Not really, especially because they would have to climb 150 stairs in a cast) :)

Excitement for Evensong!

2009-07-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

The music for Thursday's evensong is challenging but beautiful. No girl can stop thinking or counting beats during the music but if we all concentrate it will go beautifully! I am listening to Tuesday's webcast and the blend is great! I am excited to give it my all tonight! -Jane

2009-07-30T11:20:00.001-07:00

This is my third year here and I do not believe that we have ever sounded this good. The pieces are or seem to be harder than last year, but are fun to learn and are beautifully composed. Even after three years all I can really talk about is the food and how much activity we have around here. I do not think that we have sat down to relax for more than a half an hour and the food is amazing. There is no way that anyone can resist the food here and everyday is different. The Broadway show, Shrek, yesterday was good and was pretty much like the movie, but I think that it was better than the movie. The songs were spectacular and I would recommend it if anyone wants a good laugh and some family time.
Susy Cromwell

2009-07-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

Ever since my train ride into Penn Station on Saturday, all I could talk about was Heidi's food. (This, unfortunately, was much to the chagrin of my poor parents, who hear about how great her cooking is the whole year round. Sorry, Mom and Dad!) Feeding 32 girls (in various stages of appetite, ranging from "slightly hungry" to "ravenous") can't be easy, but Chef Heidi makes it look simple. So far at the course we've eaten everything from traditional New York pizza and bagels to the more exotic falafel, fajitas, and flan -- all while drinking our requisite two glasses of water per meal, of course! I suppose it only makes sense that feeding us such good food would result in such a great choral sound -- which reminds me that I can't wait to sing Evensong again tonight!

--Angharad

2009-07-30T11:18:00.001-07:00

Today we got up and ran in Central Park. We quickly went into rehearsal where we have been pulling together the details of tonight's evensong. We have gotten rave reviews from Sarah MacDonald, the director from last year, as well as the staff here. I hope that tonight will turn out as well. The music is not as straight forward as Tuesday's because there are more challenging chords and intervals. We are also debuting the piece written for us by Joel Martinson, "Here, A Light". We have had a hard time getting the counting together, but if we focus then I'm sure we can pull it off. I am still thinking about the fantastic cake that we had today at lunch. Heidi (the chef) made us chocolate cake with chocolate mousse-ish icing that was to die for. I can't wait to see what dinner is tonight as well as what the surprise treat is after the evensong.

-Sharon Mays

Happy to have returned!

2009-07-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

My name is Hope and this is my 4th year at the girls course. I was timid to return again but I am now so happy that I did! This year is so much fun. The play was really good and I really enjoy rehearsals with our director this year. This years rehearsals are so much more fun than I have ever remembered and i really look forward to them. Tuesday night's evensong went really well and I was really proud of everyone. After today's rehearsals I am really looking forward to tonight's service because everything sounds really good because of the hard work that all the girls have put in to today's two rehearsals. I think it is great how so many people have returned from previous years and i also really enjoy meeting so many new people. This week has been so much fun and I am excited for the rest of the week.

Hope

2009-07-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

After attending the Girls Choir Course for 3 years, I must confess that I was dragging my feet a bit towards my fourth year the Course. But my attitude completely changed in the instant that all 32 girls sat in the Rec Room for orientation. I had forgotten how much I loved it here at St. Thomas. Not only does my frequent appearance at the camp allow me to be an assistant leader, it prepared me for what was to happen during the week. My years 3 years of experience had prepared me for a rigorous course of singing, singing, singing. It had prepared me to work with a director that would take us to the next level with an intense teaching style. And the style of Sarah Baldock was completely off the mark of what I was expecting. It was better. Though the course is still rigorous and intense, Ms. Baldock's teaching style is relaxed. For me, this relaxed air about how she directs brings out a willinginess to sing my best. Her way of bringing the music out of us is effortless, and I am sure I can say for everyone that we all appreciate it to every degree.

by Kelsey Vivian

Day FOUR - Broadway Show

2009-07-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday we saw the matinee performance of Shrek at the conveniently located Broadway Theater just 5 blocks away from school on 53rd and Broadway. We were sat high up in the auditorium and had a magnificent view. All agreed that the show was very cleverly put together: The props were second to none and the settings were very impressive. My personal favorites were the magic mirror with its "extra features" taking us back in time to view Princess Fiona as a child, the way in which the dragon was assembled, and the costume of Lord Farquaad!

A Note About Evensong Webcasts!

2009-07-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are going to the Choir School website, and clicking on the link to the webcasts, we want to assure you that the webcast will be up and running live for each event! You will see the last service that was sung, listed at the top of the page, and it will be there for one week. About 15 minutes before the service (that would be at 5:15 on Wednesday and 10:45 on Sunday), the new webcast will be put up. So, don't despair. If you don't see anything about Thursday Evensong when you log in today, it will be there soon.

Fun to be back!

2009-07-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

This is my second year at St. Thomas, and I am very excited to be back. our new director, Sarah Baldock, is amazing. I always enjoy rehearsals because we are able to get things done in a considerably relaxed environment.
by Caroline Sorey

Familiar faces

2009-07-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

I was very excited to come back to the course this year! When I got to the Choir School, I was very happy to see many returning girls from last year. When we started the first rehearsal, I was almost blown away, because of the great sound we were making! Already, after the first day, the girls were blending together, and sounding almost as one voice. I am very excited to sing Evensong tonight.
by Kaethe Wright Kaufman

Excitement and Exhaustion!

2009-07-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

So far I've had a very fun but exhausting time. Between over 150 stairs (9 floors) from my room to the rehearsal space and our 7:30 am run in Central Park this morning, I'm extremely sore! However, it is nice to have our classes and rehearsals which give us a break from moving around. We have rehearsals for at least 3 hours a day. We've mostly been practicing music for tonight's Evensong since we got here. So far my favorite is Vaughan Williams "The Call". It's been really hard to get our psalms together. but I'm really excited for tonights' Evensong because I really like the repetoire. And, tonight we have movie night!
by Sharon Mays

Day FOUR - Artwork finished to perfection

2009-07-29T09:10:00.001-07:00

The girls have enjoyed making the banners for their respective houses. They were given the reign of the art room and made full use of the resources.

Day FOUR - Preparations for the first Tuesday Evensong

2009-07-29T08:55:00.000-07:00

Everyone agreed that yesterday's service sounded wonderful! Choir Director Sarah Baldock and Vocal Teacher Abigial Haynes did a magnificent job of leading the service. We hope that you enjoy some photos of the preparation!

Memories - Old and New

2009-07-29T06:58:00.000-07:00

I completely forgot how many steps it takes to get to the 7th floor! I don't know how many, but its alot. Our first Evenong is tonight, and the music seemed hard, but after so many rehearsals the music has become easy. I am enjoying Ms. Baldock as our Director. She helps us figure out how to sing the high notes and comes up with imagery to help us understand what she wants.
By Susy Cromwell.

Worship

2009-07-29T06:37:00.000-07:00

During break on Tuesday morning, we had the pleasure of a talk from Fr. Wallace about worship. Just what is worship? The girls were quick to answer - "praising God", "giving thanks", "prayer", "belief in faith". The literal meaning of worship is giving God his worth. And what is God worthy of? Everything! God is worthy of our highest praise, God is worthy of all the best that we can possibly offer! We never know what brings people into church - from tragedy to joy - but whatever it is, they will be looking to us as ministers, through music, to draw them into a deeper relationship with God. Don't ever underestimate why you are here, and always do your best, in every aspect of your life.

Day THREE - Competition at dinner time

2009-07-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

At tonight's dinner we were served fresh cherries for dessert. Much to our amusement one of the girls bet that her neighbor could not tie the cherry stem in a knot using her tongue. This then developed into a dining room-wide competition! It gives me great pleasure to announce (with a smile on my face) the winners of the competition:
Megan McGlaughn
Hope Serdakowski
Mairead Koehler
Sarah Agoglia

Well done girls!!

Day THREE - House signs

2009-07-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

This afternoon the girls started their formal classes. They rotated between having voice lessons, music theory, banner making and gym. I had the pleasure of supervising the banner making. At yesterday house meeting the girls were asked to come up with a name for their houses but relating the names to churches. They came up with "The Genu-flectors", "The Fighting Nuns" and "7th Heaven". Their task today was to create a banner that we could stick outside their dormitory hallway.

Day TWO - Aerobic exercise

2009-07-27T06:04:00.000-07:00

Every day time is scheduled for aerobic exercise of one form or another. On day two the girls were promised free time in Central Park provided that they completed running a lap around the field. House points were awarded to the winning team!
Choir Director Sarah Baldock also expressed enthusiasm towards doing some form of aerobic exercise prior to choir rehearsal. The leaders suggested a five minute dance before choir rehearsal. We will keep you posted as to how this idea develops.

2009-07-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

Day TWO - Skits

2009-07-27T05:54:00.001-07:00

Preparations for the skit show were well underway yesterday. The girls were divided up into 3 groups by their houses. They were given 4 pieces of music from Broadway shows and have to base their skit on one of them. Parts were divided up, characters were assigned, and props were considered.

Day TWO - Choir-ography!

2009-07-27T05:45:00.000-07:00

After attending the 11 AM Sunday Eucharist at Saint Thomas Church the girls got a briefing on certain matters pertaining to the choir. They were taught how to walk, stand, and watch out for cues by Choir Director Sarah Baldock and our accompanist Kevin Kwan who directed the choir at the service. Next week they'll be the ones on show!!

2009-07-25T17:04:00.000-07:00

Day ONE!

2009-07-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

The girls have settled in nicely and have gone straight into their busy schedule. A tear has not yet been shed.

After orientation we spent an hour in Central Park playing "Getting to know you games". Many giggles were heard all around! I find it marvelous to see just how well the girls are gelling with each other.

They are currently in choir rehearsal and I am enjoying the glorious sound traveling up through the floor boards! Choir Director Sarah Baldock is full of praise. Her wit and fun demeanor has won over the girls!
Anna Winser

Welcome from leader Beth Gillig

2009-07-23T06:02:00.000-07:00

Hi,
My name is Beth Gillig. I am from the great Commonwealth of Kentucky, which is a state south for the northerners and north for the southerners (did that make any sense? It's in the middle). I have been singing ever since I can remember and am in the Christ Church Cathedral Girl's Choir in Lexington KY. I actually just got back this morning with my choir so I am a little jet lagged right now. This is my second year at the course and I am thrilled to be coming back. I am very happy to be meeting all of you and I can't wait. On the course you will have an awesome time, meet new people from all around the U.S. and get to sing in an amazing church. Last year I came alone from my choir and enjoyed meeting all the girls. Not only is the music great at the course, so is the food! I hope Heidi is still there (and no, she is not singing in the course. You will soon meet her and know what I am talking about.) I will see y'all very soon! -Beth

T-Shirts

2009-07-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

Hi girls!

For those of you who are returning we would ask for you to please bring your Saint Thomas T-shirts from last year. For those of you who are joining us for the first time you will be provided with one upon arrival!

Anna

Webcasts

2009-07-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

Webcasts from the Saint Thomas Church during the week of July 26 will include the weekday services of Tuesday 28th July and Thursday 30th July. The Thursday service will be of particular interest since it includes the premier of the Introit Here, A Light by Joel Martinson commissioned by Forrest Warren in honor of Marguerite Peterson to honor her support for the choral pursuits of young people in the outer banks of North Carolina.

Girls Course CDs

2009-07-14T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hi girls! My name is Pam, and I will be the new Admin Assistant at the Choir School once Anna heads back to the UK in September. I started at the Choir School on July 1. My son, Massimo, graduated in June, so I have a long standing connection with the school. I wanted to remind all of you that we will be recording the Evensong on Tuesday and Thursday, July 28 and 30, as well as the Sunday 11:00 am service on August 2. Each of you will recieve one CD as participants of the course. If you wish to purchase extra CD's, they will be available for $5.00 each - BUT - I will need to know the quantity by August 30. If you wish, you can bring me a check for the CD's, payable to the Saint Thomas Choir School, for your amount. Or, you can mail me the check, sent to the Choir School, and as long as I receive it by 8/30/09 I can process your extra CD requests. Have a great summer - and I look forward to meeting all of you in a few weeks! :) Pam

THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T FORGET!

2009-07-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

Your music, in a plain, black ring binder. Vestments for church.
Plain black pants or bare legs with skirt/dress under vestments. (no pink polka dot socks)
Your hair must be pulled away from your face during services; please bring appropriate hair accoutrements.
Black shoes with closed heel and toe – able to walk six blocks! If you have new shoes, please wear them several times before you attend the course.
You may have an iPod to listen to music at night if it does NOT have internet access.
Lots of walking in Manhattan, bring comfortable shoes. Tennis shoes required for sports.
No need to bring rain gear – we’ll use the yellow ponchos at the school in event of rain.
A digital camera is useful for the blog

Girls who have been in the course – what are your suggestions?

N.B. We do not allow you to hold in your possession a phone or an internet connected device. We do however urge you to travel with your cell phone which you wil then be asked to check in once at the Choir School.

Welcome from our leadership assistant Kaethe Wright Kauffman!

2009-07-10T06:07:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone! My name is Kaethe Wright Kaufman, and I live in Evanston, Illinois (right next to Chicago). This will be my second time at this course, and I am psyched to return and be in a leadership role! I had a great experience last year, and enjoyed meeting all the new people and singing in the absolutely gorgeous space that is St. Thomas. I've been singing in choirs since I was 7 (I'm 15 now), and it is my favorite thing to do. Currently, I am the Head Chorister of the Girls Choir at St. Luke's in Evanston. I also play French horn at school, and I am in my second year of organ lessons, which I love! I really enjoy sports, and I can get pretty competitive (Does anyone remember playing ultimate frisbee last year in Central Park?). I also like playing handball and soccer. Next year, I'll be a sophomore in high school, and I'm putting off the college search for one more year (but I have a few schools in mind).

I am so excited to come back to NYC (only a few weeks left), and I can;t wait to see everyone and meet new people who like singing like I do. See you soon!

Welcome from one of our leaders: Angharad Rebholz!

2009-07-09T08:27:00.001-07:00

Hi there! My name is Angharad Rebholz (which isn’t as hard to pronounce as it looks like, really!) and I live in the small town of Sayville on Long Island, New York. This is only my second year at the chorister course, but I’m so excited to be coming back as a leader. I’ve sung in church choirs for as far back as I can remember; I’m currently the youngest member of the adult choir at my church. I take voice and piano lessons, and absolutely love them both.

Musically speaking, I’m the secretary of my school’s chapter of Tri-M, a national music honor society (Any other members out there? If so, I’d love to talk to you about it at the course!) I’ll be a senior in high school starting in September; I currently want to go to school at about twelve different colleges and universities (though I’m told this isn’t actually possible) to major in classics. As Ms. Cobb can tell you, I’m also a devoted fan of the New York Mets, despite their current lack of performance.

I’m so excited to be returning to the course, and I can’t wait to meet everyone – some people again, and some for the first time. I’ll see you at the school!

Homesickness (by Ruth Cobb)

2009-07-09T05:30:00.000-07:00

The Choir School has a great deal of experience with homesickness and has developed a successful approach to dealing with this difficult, but common situation.

First, keep in mind that homesickness is missing the place and people to whom you are connected. It is a good thing to have developed strong ties and natural for you to miss them. It is also a sign that you are a strong confident person and can attach to another place and new people with a bit of effort.

Here are a few of our tips on dealing with the issue:

When missing home or family, try to re-channel your focus on your desire to be in the Course and working with your new friends. Going off by yourself and turning inward will not help; become engaged in the current activity.
If you’re having a difficult time with the music, schedule, roommate, etc., the staff is ready to help – seek out someone. Ms. Sullivan (the nurse) makes a wonderful cup of tea; Ms. Beien is an great listener; Mr. Holst was once a homesick chorister himself so he’ll empathize; Ms. Haynes Lennox (aka Princess) is a great confidant; Ms Winser has been away from her home all year and Ms. Pellegrini missed her little boy when he first started at the Choir School – ditto for Mrs. Cobb.
A phone call home is guaranteed to make you and your parents feel worse. You will cry when you have to hang up and that will have to happen. In the words of one of our wise young girls, “I said good-bye once and it was hard; I don’t want to do that again. I’ll say hello on Sunday.” Even when given phone time, she refused to call. She’ll be back with us for the 4^th year!
We’ve found that the girls are the best help for other girls. Contrary to what you may fear – the other girls absolutely understand your feelings and most will tell you that they have felt the same way. You’ll feel better with a friend to pull you into the activity.
Parents, we will try to post on the blog when we expect that the girls may be given phone time (twice during the week). This is always dependent on our schedule going as planned. We never have phone calls before bed time – a recipe for disaster. Time is short and our schedule tight. We try to emphasize in the literature that girls need to be of a certain maturity to participate. If you are wondering about your daughter, please feel free to call or email Mrs. Cobb (rcobb@choirschool.org). As a veteran mother of three boarding schools I know you want to know, but give your daughter the opportunity to grow as a confident and independent young woman.

Travel Tips and Advice – and a few “MUSTS” (by Ruth Cobb)

2009-07-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

Each year, the Choir School works with parents to plan and carry out travel arrangements for 36 boys in grades three through eight. Students travel with comfort, confidence and safety when details are made in advance. The Choir School needs to have information from parents, in writing, that outline your plans.

Many older girls who have attended the course before will be comfortable taking a cab alone or with their traveling companion. In this case, we ask that the student have a cell phone and the cell phone numbers of our staff to notify us when their plane has arrived and when they board a cab.

Many girls need to be escorted from terminals or stations. We have limited staff available for pick ups at area airports and so we must try to coordinate the arrivals and departures of groups of girls. Parents are responsible for the cost of staff to travel to the airport as well as their daughter’s travel expense. A faculty member may determine that is in the best interest of the course to take a cab rather than public transport, especially if arrival is late and all staff members are needed to carry out their duties with the course.

LaGuardia is the closest airport, followed by JFK. Newark is much farther and less convenient public transport. Cab fares to LaGuardia may be approximately $45 and escalate to nearly twice that at Newark, depending on traffic.

Amtrak arrives at Penn Station and regional rail at either Penn or Grand Central. Both stations are easy subway rides.

Tips for traveling:

In the week prior to the course, you will be informed which faculty member will be your escort and exchange cell phone numbers.
Please make sure the cell phone is charged!
Carry the address and telephone number of the Choir School. Should you need assistance en route, call the school and identify yourself as a traveling course member and the school receptionist will find a staff person to assist.
Have cash on hand for meals and ground transportation.
Girls meeting to take a cab should have each other’s phone numbers and take a cab from the queue at the terminal. Private cars may solicit rides and are safe, but usually more expensive.
Don’t bring more luggage than you can carry - on escalators, up subway stairs, etc. Your escort may have several girls to assist.
Remember, getting there is half the fun!

Welcome from our Leadership Assistant Kelsey Vivian!

2009-07-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! This is Kelsey Vivian hailing from Rhode Island, coming to the camp for my 4^th summer. This year though I will be one of the leadership members. I have known music for as long as I can remember. I have sung in my church choir since I was a toddler and am currently one of the senior girls there. As a senior chorister, I teach the newcomers all about the basics of music. I also developed the mentoring program so the choristers can get to know each other and learn responsibility. I also take private lessons and piano lessons, each for about 4 or 5 years.

Also related to my love of music, I absolutely love acting and musicals. I was recently in my school production of Peter Pan as Wendy and thoroughly enjoy watching plays and movies of any kind. I am currently going into my sophomore year of high school and am already looking at colleges! I love coming year after year to New York to see all my friends I made during the previous years. Some of us still stay in touch remember the great times we had in New York. It would be great to share my experience with all of you, both newcomers and returnees so I can't wait to see you all there!

Kelsey Vivian

Meet our Athletics Director!

2009-06-25T11:04:00.000-07:00

Nathan Holst

Athletics Director

Nathan is the current Athletics Director and Physical Education teacher at Saint Thomas Choir School, teaching the boys sport on a daily basis. He will shortly be running the outdoor program at Camp Incarnation, an annual trip to Ivoryton CT which has become something of a tradition for the boy choristers post exam season.
Outside of the Choir School walls Nathan coaches the Varsity Soccer, Basketball, and Softball teams. Besides coaching he has recently joined a soccer team and plays in an Inner City league in NYC. Nathan has also developed a love for the great outdoors being an avid rock climber.
Not only is Nathan a keen sportsman. He was once a Saint Thomas chorister himself, attending Saint Thomas Choir School from 1995-1999. As a result of his first hand experience as a boy chorister, Nathan has a unique perspective and has built a strong rapport with the current students.
Nathan received his Bachelors Degree from Rhode Island College in the field of Elementary Education with a concentration in Theatre. He has performed in many shows both at High School and College level, and uses what he learned through these theatrical experiences to keep his students engaged.

Meet our Housemother!

2009-06-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

Susan Sullivan
Nurse & Housemother

Susan has worked at the Choir School for the past 14 years as the School Nurse/ Housemother. This year is her final one at the school as she looks for a new adventure elsewhere. She has worked for the Girl Chorister Camp for three years since its inception five years ago. Susan enjoys working with the girls and comments that the y chromosome makes a huge difference! She enjoys seeing girls come together from all over the country and finds it fascinating how quickly girls bond with each other when there is a common goal. Susan states "This job is so different from all of my other jobs. Caring for girls is fun and I hope to continue to do it where ever I wind up".

Meet our Registrar and Dorm Counsellor!

2009-06-25T11:02:00.001-07:00

Anna Winser
Registrar and Dorm Counselor

Anna is this year's British Mountbatten intern at Saint Thomas Choir School. She arrived in New York in September 2008 and will serve at the school until September 2009.
Anna has a flair for languages and a passion for music. She graduated from the University of Nottingham (England) in July 2007 in Joint Honors Hispanic and Latin American Studies & French Studies. Having lived abroad in Latin America and France, Anna was looking for a new challenge overseas, but one which offered vocational training in an international context. The Mountbatten Internship in NYC seemed to fit this criterion perfectly!
Anna also has a strong passion for music. She is a keen pianist and sings in the Broadway Choir at the 92nd Y Center on the Upper East Side. She plans to join a Cabaret singing group over the summer.
Anna also has experience with teaching and youth programs. She has taught English as a Foreign Language in Europe, Latin America and in her home town of Canterbury, England. She was involved with the social programs attached to these language courses often assisting in team sports and conducting tours of large towns of interest.

Meet our Assistant Accompanist!

2009-06-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

Kevin Kwan
Assistant Accompanist

Kevin Kwan is Assistant Organist at Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue in New York City. There, he works daily with the Choir of Men and Boys, playing for services and assisting in the training of the choristers. Mr. Kwan is a native of San Francisco, California. A winner of the 2005 American Guild of Organists/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists, Mr. Kwan has also won awards from the AGO San Diego Chapter, the Spreckels Organ Society, and the Cleveland Institute of Music. In 2007, Mr. Kwan obtained his Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Todd Wilson. In Cleveland, he served as Organ Scholar at The Church of the Covenant, and was the principal accompanist for the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus. Before moving to Cleveland, Mr. Kwan was Organ Scholar at St. Paul’s Cathedral in San Diego. He has participated in master-classes led by Marie-Claire Alain, Olivier Latry, Gerre Hancock, and Thomas Trotter. Most recently, Mr. Kwan was Organ Scholar at Gloucester Cathedral, one of the most stunning acoustical and architectural environments in the world. During his year in England, he enjoyed two international tours with the renowned Choir of Men and Boys, was featured live on BBC Radio, and played solo piano with the Philharmonia Orchestra in the Three Choirs Festival. Whilst in England, Mr. Kwan performed solo recitals in many prestigious venues, including Lichfield, Truro, Bristol and Gloucester Cathedrals, as well as at Bath Abbey and Westminster Abbey.

Meet our Sight Singing Teacher!

2009-06-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

Kirsten D'Aquino
Sight Singing Coach

Kirsten is looking forward to returning to the Girl's Course for the second year. After taking in a workshop in Gregorian Chant this winter, she realized that this would be very useful and interesting to pass along to the girls. Kirsten has been a Cantor in the Lutheran church since she was 13 and has a deep affection for the roots of church music.Kirsten has four boys, a husband, a dog and a cat and some fish and earned her degrees from the Juilliard School in organ performance.

Meet our Vocal Coach!

2009-06-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

Abigail Haynes Lennox
Vocal Coach & Counselor

Acclaimed as angelic and stylish in her interpretations of Bach and Mozart, Abigail is equally at home with genres ranging from early plainchant to 19th-century mélodie to improvised avant-garde. Originally from Bartlett, Tennessee, she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where, after finishing her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance at the University of Michigan, she served as music director for the Wesley Foundation of First Methodist, performed with the Michigan Opera Theater under Stephen Lord, and was a frequent soloist appearing on premier recordings of contemporary works. In May 2007, Abigail completed her master’s degree in voice at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music where she studied under James Taylor, Ted Taylor, and Judith Malafronte. In addition to participating in master classes with Martin Katz, Stephen Layton, and David Daniels, she has performed as soloist in Bach’s St. John Passion and Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu nostri under Simon Carrington, Mozart Vespers with Sir David Willcocks and again with Sir Neville Marriner, Bach’s Magnificat in E-flat Major with Helmuth Rilling, Beethoven’s Mass in C and multiple Bach cantatas with Yale ensembles, and a program of French Baroque music with the Ensemble Européen William Byrd. She made her debut with American Bach Soloists as a soloist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in January 2007, and returned this season to perform Bach's Mass in B Minor in January and Handel's Laudate pueri in May. Inspired by such ensemble experiences, Abigail enjoys teaching young musicians and engaging in collaborative projects with fellow artists in addition to pursuing a solo career. She is thrilled to be returning to the St. Thomas Girl Chorister Course as voice instructor. The week spent with such talented young women is the highlight of her summer.

Meet our Resident Advisor!

2009-06-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

Deborah Beien
Resident Advisor

Mrs. Beien is a musician with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. She has been conducting a mixed children's choir for 10 years and is also a singer and soloist. She currently works at Queen of Angels parish on Chicago's north side. Having been a singer since childhood herself, Mrs. Beien is pleased to participate in the Girls Choir Course which enables girls to develop their talents. Music is a lifelong joy, and one well worth the effort.
Mrs. Beien and her husband, Jim, have four children who are all in their twenties. She is also a serious gardener with a specialty in roses. It is a struggle to leave the garden for this week, but the sounds of all the complex and wonderful music being made, makes it impossible to resist.

Meet our Course Manager!

2009-06-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

Ruth Cobb

Course Manager

Ruth Cobb has been the Director of Admissions and Alumni Relations at Saint Thomas Choir School for seven years and has been a part of the Girl Chorister Course since its founding in 2005. She has previously been an Organist and Director of Music in Episcopal Churches and taught music in Independent Schools. Ruth earned a Master of Music Degree from Northwestern University and her Bachelor of Music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Ruth lives in New Haven, CT with her husband, David and chocolate lab, Scout. They have three children who are young adults in college or working.

I have trouble naming one favorite part of the course, but I really enjoy the sense of our own little Brigadoon springing to life each summer as the girls return and welcome the new choristers to the course. The girls make it a very delightful week!

Welcome to the 2009 Girl Chorister Course!

2009-06-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 2009 Girl Chorister Course starting early afternoon on Saturday July 25 and ending on August 2 following the 11 AM service! A timetable will be posted shortly. Preparations are underway and we look forward to welcoming you into the Choir School next month!

Meet our Choir Director!

2009-06-25T07:25:00.001-07:00

Sarah Baldock
Choir Director

Sarah Baldock took up the post of Organist and Master of the Choristers at Chichester Cathedral in April 2008. She was previously Assistant Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral where she accompanied the Choir in daily services, tours, broadcasts and recordings. She founded the Winchester Cathedral Girls’ Choir in 1998, and was its Director until 2008. During this period the choir toured Sweden, Italy and Denmark, made a CD for the Griffin label entitled Immortal Fire, and gave concerts in the UK including two Christmas performances at Birmingham Symphony Hall. Several former Girl Choristers have won choral scholarships to Cambridge and other universities.

During her time in Winchester she was accompanist to the Waynflete Singers and Organ Performance Tutor at Southampton University. She has been a faculty member of the Calgary, Edinburgh and Oundle Organ Courses, and involved in education projects at the Royal Festival Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall. She is a Trustee Council member of the Royal College of Organists.

Educated as a music scholar at St Paul’s Girls’ School in London, and as Organ Scholar of Pembroke College, Cambridge, she won prizes in the RCO diploma examinations and a bursary for postgraduate study with David Sanger and Thomas Trotter.

Finalist in the 1998 Calgary International, and prizewinner at the 2000 Odense and 2002 Dallas International Organ Competitions, Sarah Baldock enjoys an active career as an organ soloist in the UK and abroad. Performances have included concertos with the City of Birmingham Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic and Hampshire Youth Orchestras and solo concerts in Europe, USA and Canada. In 1998 she released a CD on the Marcussen organ in Tonbridge School Chapel for Herald, and two other recording projects are underway.

Sarah Baldock has directed choral workshops in the UK, USA, Norway and Sweden. She lives in Chichester Cathedral Close with her husband, David Hurley.