The return of children’s and youth choirs

After a pandemic pause we are thrilled to offer new opportunities for young people to sing

By Brent te Velde

We are delighted to be broadening our music ministry for children and youth at St. Stephen’s this fall from what has been prudent so far during the pandemic. The ability to sing and make music in other ways is a God-given gift, and nurturing these gifts in our children is central to our calling in music ministry. Rendering these gifts back to God in praise will once again strengthen our worship. Music has been used to praise God throughout human history, and developing these gifts early in life offers manifold returns throughout our lives. St. Stephen’s has a long tradition of excellence in choirs for children and youth, and it is upon this legacy that we hope to build.

Choirs for children and youth are not simply groups for learning music. They offer spiritual formation of a kind that is embedded in the melodies polished over months and years and, in some cases, committed to memory. Choristers return to these melodies, indivisible from the Scripture and other texts they illuminate, in the most difficult times and in the most joyful times for the rest of their lives. By leading worship, choristers learn at a deep level the importance and function of the liturgy, and in studying our rich musical tradition, choristers learn the history of the church itself. Most importantly, just as Jesus and the disciples demonstrated by singing a hymn at the Last Supper, choristers learn that music is a sign of God’s love for us, and that singing shows our love for one another. It is frequently found that those who have seemingly lost all memory late in life due to Alzheimer’s disease will still recall and sing hymns known from childhood. Music remains firmly rooted in our souls, and with it the reminder that we are loved by God.

Making music in ensembles teaches us how we might share God’s love with others, and reminds us to continually seek to broaden its welcome. Children’s choirs teach the importance of servant leadership by exemplifying the offering of one’s unique gifts in service of a whole that is far greater than the sum of its parts. There cannot be a choir without its members courageously offering their individual gifts, but there also cannot be harmony without each member doing so in service of a greater purpose. Choirs therefore demonstrate the transformative power of living in ways that unite heart, mind, body, and soul, and that find strength in vulnerability. When children lead worship we truly sing as the Body of Christ, and we model the balance of power in the world that is the promise of our discipleship. When we offer our voices in worship, it has the power to change lives. As one of my mentors, Bruce Neswick, and many others have said, the participation and leadership of children and youth is the most important indicator of the church’s vitality.

Making music in ensembles teaches us how we might share God’s love with others, and reminds us to continually seek to broaden its welcome. Children’s choirs teach the importance of servant leadership by exemplifying the offering of one’s unique gifts in service of a whole that is far greater than the sum of its parts.

The skills developed in children’s choirs are useful in all walks of life, whether or not they’re seen as musical or spiritual. In addition to leadership, children’s choirs teach teamwork, service, work ethic, commitment, and friendship. They seek to instill confidence and poise in each chorister in order to be both vital members of a team and to empower others. These are valuable skills for any profession later in life, musical or not. In our modern world, it is essential that we continue to encourage these skills of human connection and cooperation in the next generation.

Music also has much to offer the mental health challenges that we all face in this particular time. Music is a physical activity, and as such has an effect on our bodies that affects our mental well-being. Numerous studies show the positive health effects of making music, including improved heart rate, motor skills, improved memory and cognition, and immune system enhancement. A new study from the Emory University School of Medicine found that older adults with musical experience perform better on some cognitive tests than those who had never studied music. The results match those from other studies of challenging tasks, including findings that learning a second language protects against dementia. These studies also frame the gifts of spiritual formation through music in scientific terms, reporting that music encourages bonding and connections, management of emotions, facilitation of self-development, engagement with a child’s support system, and positive coping strategies in adverse situations. Whether seen through a spiritual or a scientific lens, it is apparent that we need music in our lives now more than ever.

I am very excited to have as a partner in this work our new associate director of music, Diana Chou, and with our combined efforts we hope to make our goals for children and youth music ministry a reality. More specific information about the choirs, their schedules, and the curriculum they will use can be found on St. Stephen’s website, and in the weekly eSpirit newsletter. Please reach out to me or Diana anytime with questions, and we hope you will consider engaging in these and all our music ministries this fall!

Youth choirs

St. Stephen’s is delighted to be broadening its music ministries for children and youth this fall by forming two choirs: • St. Stephen’s Choristers, grades 5-12 • St. Stephen’s Junior Choristers, grades 1-4

Both will be inclusive of all genders, and both will sing for services in the main church and in Palmer Hall.

We have planned initially for the first rehearsals for these choirs to be on September 14, and the first Choral Evensong on October 5.

More details about these and other opportunities for young people as well as a detailed calendar for the program year can be found at ststephensRVA.org/ youth-choirs.

The choirs will use the Voice for Life curriculum, a graded approach to teaching musicianship required for singing in choirs. Developed by the Royal School of Church Music, this curriculum draws on decades of experience by choir trainers around the world. While it is rooted in the repertoire of the centuries-old Anglican tradition, it is also inclusive of modern music, music of other traditions and styles, and music of under-represented composers. It is intended to teach singers of any age, regardless of experience.