South Hadley Children’s Chorus
The South Hadley Children’s Chorus enrolls girls and boys (with unchanged voices), ages 7-14, from many Pioneer Valley towns, from public and private schools and homeschool situations, rehearsing Wednesday afternoons between September and May. Their 2010-11 season included concerts in Amherst, Northampton, Belchertown, Chicopee, Holyoke, and South Hadley, a repertoire which included songs from around the world in many languages. With the South Hadley Chorale and orchestra they performed Bach’s Cantata 4 and participated in the ACDA/Kodaly-sponsored Big Sing West at Elms College. Named a semi-finalist choir in WGBY’s Together in Song Festival, they performed on live TV at Springfield’s Paramount Theatre Hippodrome.
Founded in 2001 by Catherine Waldron, the Children’s Chorus is now planning its sixth nine-month season under the baton of Dr. Catharine Melhorn. Still partially subsidized by the South Hadley Chorale, the Children’s Chorus has traditionally depended on grants from the South Hadley Cultural Council and donations from a few generous community patrons, as well as parent fundraisers and annual membership fees ($125 per child, with discounts for siblings and scholarships available).
Children are accepted by informal audition testing a child’s ability to read words and match pitches. To sign up for a 10-minute appointment or for more information, please contact Director Cathy Melhorn, email: cmelhorn@mtholyoke.edu.
Cathy Melhorn, Conductor
Cathy Melhorn, recently retired as long-time Choral Director at Mount Holyoke College, presently serves as President of the American Choral Directors Association, Massachusetts chapter. A graduate of Smith College with advanced degrees from UC Berkeley and the University of Illinois, she has led Mount Holyoke choirs on tours to China, South America, Eastern and central Europe, England, Wales, Costa Rica and throughout the US and Canada. Between 1987 and 1992, Ms. Melhorn was founder and director of the highly successful Mount Holyoke Children’s Choir. She is thrilled with this opportunity to work again with young singers.
"I really love watching kids develop a passion for singing in the company of other children who share their interest and enthusiasm. Through exciting repertory drawn from many different cultural traditions and good vocal training, I aim to nurture the artist in each child. The kids learn songs, of course, but also poise, self-esteem and the joy of creating and sharing something beautiful through careful and persistent practice. And it's great fun!"