Pittsburgh Girls Choir

Programs: Functional categories 1. Concentio this ensemble, which includes girls ages 11-18, performs throughout the pittsburgh region and travels nationally and internationally. Concentio gives girls of all cultural, geographic, and socio-economic backgrounds the opportunity to sing in the community. The ensemble is an uncompetitive musical environment, where girls learn to use music as a positive emotional outlet and work together in a spirit of mutual respect and encouragement. Concentio does not have a competitive or selective audition process; all girls are taught muscial skills and are mentored to make their best contribution. The ensemble is also a clique-free environment, where the unique contribution of every girls is valued and where healthy friendships are fostered. The demographics (race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status) of the choir are diverse, reflecting our vision to grow into a highly accessible choral community that truly reflects the cultural and geographic diversity of the pittsburgh region. A growing number of students are from wilkinsburg, homewood, and central lawrenceville, and financial aid is made available to all qualifying families. 2. Chamber choir this ensemble includes members of concentio who have made an extraordinary commitment to rehearsal and performance. The chamber choir performs for social and charity events throughout the year, strengthening our connections in pittsburgh. Members of the chamber choir support concentio as mentors and section leaders. 3. Melodia, harmonia and via melodia, harmonia and via (aka the "traning choirs") include girls from grades k-7 and are grouped by age and skill. These two choirs educate young singers in musical literacy, healthy vocal production, and choral fundamentals, as well as sight singing, part singing, and foreign languages. Choir members develop musical skills through age-appropriate repertoire, musical games, and educational activities that stretch the young singer. Due to recruiting efforts in underserved neighborhoods, these two choirs are highly rich and diverse. Members graduate through the program and may eventually move to concentio. Melodia is for girls in first through third grade. An emphasis on musical games, folk songs, solfege, and rhythm learning makes music education fun and physical. Melodia performs at the annual christmas concert, at the may melodia & harmonia concert, at the annual singathon and singalong, and at local venues several times a year. Harmonia, for girls in third through seventh grade, builds on the fundamentals taught in melodia. Singing primarily in two or three parts, harmonia performs at the annual christmas concert, at the may melodia & harmonia concert, at the annual singathon and singalong, and at other local venues throughout the year. Via is a transitional choir from the training choir program to concentio. Girls continue to develop part singing skills and musical literacy. This transitional choir enables them to become more independent and more greatly prepared for the advanced repertoire sung by concentio. In addition to weekly rehearsals, they participate in a week long camp, a winter retreat and a three day tour. 4. Neighborhood music outreach neighborhood music outreach, which began in september 2010 as wilkinsburg sings at the hosanna house, serves at-risk and disadvantaged children in preschool, prekindergarten, and grades k-3. The program helps children in underserved neighborhoods to see what is possible in their own lives and in the world around them by engaging in music. In underserved neighborhoods, we teach weekly "music and movement" classes to boys and girls and work with their classroom teachers to enrich the lives of students who have few musical opportunities available to them in their own neighborhoods. The program is a comprehensive curriculum with measurable goals in intellectual, social, emotional, and musical development. We work with the classroom teachers to continually evaluate and improve the opportunities we offer their students through music. Neighborhood music outreach currently serves over 80 children in wilkinsburg and the north side. 5. Women of song women of song is a choir class for women of all ages. It provides training in healthy vocal production, literacy and ensemble skills for women who are either untrained or who have not sung for many years. For those who are more skilled, women of song prepares them for more demanding choir auditions such as the "mendelssohn choir". Other women find this a good fit for the long terms. This choir performs at canterbury place and the reformed presbyterian home.