"The sound was like a waterfall. It flowed over the balcony railing, cascaded down to the floor…the effect of the music was extraordinary…the vocal sound was amazing." So proclaimed Jeff Kaczmarczyk in the Grand Rapids Press after the north american choral company's holiday performance. One hundred and fifty singers, accompanied by a chamber orchestra, lit the season for hundreds.
But what is the north american choral company? Who are these people? The answer is astounding: a collection of hundreds of child-artists, ages 5-18, grouped into four after-school ensembles and an innovative in-school choral program in four Grand Rapids Public Schools. Their weekly rehearsals at Grand Rapids Public Schools Montessori Building move them toward the realization of a single common goal...to make the world a more beautiful place.
Lauded for artistic excellence and a distinctive social vision, the north american choral company has received several commissions to produce concerts that explore the concepts of tolerance and world peace.
The company's reputation continues to reach far beyond its regional boundaries. In the past 10 years the choir has appeared in Toronto, Princeton, New Jersey, and New York where they were presented on the concert series of the New York University Chapel. In recent years the choir has performed regionally in Chicago, Des Moines and Indianapolis, Iowa and South Carolina and internationally in places as diverse as Amsterdam, Dublin, Helsinki, Accra, Antigua, and Tallinn.
Choir Divisions
north american choral company
Vox Lumina/ Sanna Valvanne (conductor)
Deonna Catledge (vocal trainer)
Boys and girls, ages 10 - 17. Meets Thursdays from 4:30-7:00 PM weekly from September - May. Vox Lumina choristers must demonstrate solid vocal techniques and the ability to sing in 4 part harmony. Each singer receives monthly individual lessons with a vocal trainer. They master challenging music in may styles, languages and learn to sing authentically in many genres.
Midwest Chorale/Sanna Valvanne (conductor)
Deonna Catledge (vocal trainer)
Boys and girls, ages 9-14. Meets Wednesdays from 4:30-6:30 PM September - May. Singers learn vocal production, sight reading and sight singing, aural training and performance skills. They learn to sing in 2-3 part harmony in many languages and genres. Each singer is given individual attention to develop their vocal technique.
Senior Company/Sanna Valvanne (conductor)
Boys and girls ages 7-11. Meets Mondays from 4:30-6:30 PM September - May. Children learn vocalization, sight reading, written music theory, and performance skills. They sing unison, and two part repertoire in many languages.
Junior Company/Sanna Valvanne (conductor)
Boys and girls ages 5-7. Meets Tuesdays from 4:30-5:45 PM September - May. Children learn basic vocal techniques such as posture and breathing, ear training using solfege and performance skills. They sing unison, in many languages.
To hear a sample of the choir's music go here, or if you would like to learn more about how to join the north american choral company check out our membership section.