Lianna Magerr, Executive Director, and Kimberly Doucette, Artistic Director, discussed the Wilmington Children’s Chorus and their mission to empower young people to change their world through music.  Founded in 2002, the nation’s largest tuition=free childrens chorus offers music education to over 400 children  ages 5 to 18 through four performing groups, vocal music camps,  and community based programming for all levels of talent.  The program emphasizes music literacy and beautiful singing as well as building life skills including commitment, teamwork and, leadership.   Participating in WCC programming offers children the opportunity to learn about language and culture, and their repertoire includes traditional classic pieces as well as world music, with over 30 languages represented so far.   The chorus has performed with local artistic institutions including the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, OperaDelaware, First State Ballet Theatre, Delaware ChoralArts, Newark Symphony Orchestra, in Germany through an exchange program with Wilmongton’s sister city, Fulda; they have performed for Presidents Obama and Biden, European royalty and community groups across the region.

During the pandemic and racism of 2020, the chorus members participated in a video project expressing their feelings and how they have dealt with isolation, fear and their adversity using music and art to heal.  A documentary, And Still We Sing, featuring their original artworks by choristers, and special guests Traci Currie, JaQuanne LeRoy, Jea Street and Bebe Coker will premiere in theater and by live-stream May 22. Tickets are avaialble now HERE.

Learn more about the Wilmington Children’s Chorus at wilmingtonchildrenschorus.org