New singers must be able to read words fluently and carry a tune. It is not necessary to read music; our children quickly learn the basics of sight-singing.
Most children have the ability to sing - and participating in a good children's choir is the best way to acquire that skill. Singing in a choir is like being on a sports team. Everyone's voice contributes to the sound of the group.
The choir rehearses on Monday afternoons during the school year, usually beginning the Monday after Labor Day and ending early in May. Younger singers rehearse from from 4:15 until 5:45. Older singers, middle and high school aged, rehearse from 4:15 until 6:15. From time to time there are extra rehearsals. Children may join the choir in either the fall or spring semester each season.
Upcoming and past events - performances - are shown on the Events page. One reason for maintaining the list of past events there is to give prospective parents an idea of the kinds of opportunities for Cantate to perform which occur over a period of years. Occasionally Cantate has performed in cultural events out-of-town - including in Washington D.C., Roanoke, Charlottesville, and Richmond.
Rehearsals contain a break of about ten minutes for snack-time. Ensuring a snack and liquid refreshment are available for each child is an important detail in organizing rehearsals; there is opportunity for parents and others to be supporters in this area.
There is a tuition fee of $175 per semester.
No one has ever been turned away from Cantate because they could not afford to pay. A generous grant from the The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation provides partial-tuition scholarships. A simple confidential application form is filed with our Scholarship Committee.
A blue Cantate polo shirt is provided for each child. The cost of the shirt is borne by tuition fees. Black and white choir vestments are used for some concerts. Singers do need to provide their own black pants, black shoes, and black socks. Sometimes singers wear their own white shirts.
The director and the assistant director are always present. Frequently there is also a parent or grandparent present as well. We always welcome parents or guests at rehearsals. Time is put to good use, and parents often express amazement when they hear how quickly the children learn the often-complicated music we sing!
We frequently sing music in the original language. In a typical year we might sing in English, Latin, French, German, and Hebrew. In the past we have sung in such unusual languages as Serbo-Croatian and Scottish Gaelic.
There are several community children's choirs in Virginia. Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Richmond, and Hampton Roads are other areas that support fine children's choirs.
We have had great success with some "shy" children. Since our singing is done in a group, a child is not in the spotlight. Not infrequently, parents are particularly struck by how shy children grow and blossom into self-confident adolescents as a consequence of singing in our group.
Cantate singers range in age from 8 to 18: broadly speaking, we say from third through twelfth grade. All education choices are represented in the choir: some of our children attend private and public schools in Central Virginia, and others are home-schooled. Third grade is a good age to start singing in Cantate. Occasionally we accept a mature second grader. In a normal season we have over thirty singers, of whom about one third are in the younger group (elementary), and two thirds are in the older group (middle school and high school).
One of the great advantages of a community children's choir is the wide age range of the children in the group. The singers are at different stages of their musical development, but each age range has a valuable contribution to make to the overall sound of the choir. Plus, once a child is familiar with the choir, it can become a "constant" factor as he or she experiences various milestones of transition through the school-age years.
Yes, there is some...
As with most educational organizations where a child's physical presence is involved, a parent or legal guardian is required to complete confidential forms covering emergency contact information and consent for emergency medical treatment.
We also ask parents to sign a permission form to use photos of Cantate for publicity.
In order for a child to be considered for a scholarship, a parent or legal guardian is required to complete a confidential form for the Scholarship Committee.
Auditions are low-key: for example, singers do not need to bring a prepared piece to sing, although they are welcome to do so. The audition will include well-known songs like "Happy Birthday", as well as introducing the singer to a new piece.
There are various ways to get in touch. Use the response form on the Contact Us page, or call the director, Peggy Howell, using her direct line at St. John's Episcopal Church, (434) 473-7526, to schedule an audition. The response form has a checkbox you can use to have a copy of your message emailed to you from the website. Or, you can write to
There are various ways to get in touch. Use the response form on the Contact Us page, or call the director, Peggy Howell, using her direct line at St. John's Episcopal Church, (434) 473-7526, for further information. The response form has a checkbox you can use to have a copy of your message emailed to you from the website. Or, you can write to
Revised January 2025