The Children's Aid Society Chorus to Debut Compositions by Cohen and Voth at 10th Annual Spring Concert

May 15, 2007

Over 300 children from across the city to sing

Contact:
Ellen Lubell, The Children's Aid Society, (w) 212-949-4938, (c) 917-854-6864
Emily Crossan, The Children’s Aid Society, (w) 917-286-1548, (c) 201-344-5742

When:
Thursday, May 17, 2007
7:00 p.m.

Where:
The New York Society for Ethical Culture
2 West 64th Street at Central Park West

What:
Over 300 children ages 5-18 from Children’s Aid Society locations across New York City will raise their voices in song in a wide variety of styles – folk, spirituals, world music, classical, theater and rock - at the 10th Annual Spring Concert. The Children's Aid Society Chorus provides both structure and a creative outlet for children and youth from Children’s Aid community schools and centers, many located in Washington Heights, Harlem and the Bronx. No formal voice training or musical experience is required to join the Chorus.

The concert will feature the debut of three new songs by two composers awarded Children’s Aid Society Chorus Composition Grants.

Composer Robert Cohen collaborated with lyricist Maria Siegenthaler on “My New York,” a mix of hard driving theater and rock music that pays tribute to everyone’s favorite city. Ms. Siegenthaler interviewed the 19 adolescent members of The Children’s Aid Society Chamber Chorus to find out what they love about New York City and built the song around their responses.

Ellen Voth composed two songs for the Chorus using text by Emily Dickinson. “Out of the Morning” and “Ashore At Last” are both beautiful classical compositions.

There is a suggested donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12, available only at the door. Seating is general admission. All proceeds benefit The Children's Aid Society Chorus Scholarship Fund. The Fund allows choristers to participate in long-distance trips regardless of their family’s financial situation. For ticket information, call 212-533-1675.

Who:
The Children's Aid Society Chorus consists of 16 local ensembles. The Chorus seeks to foster the personal, musical and social growth of its members. Over the years the Chorus has performed at the United States Postal Service dedication of the Ella Fitzgerald stamp, at Gracie Mansion and the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, as well as on such television programs as NBC’s Today Show, Good Day New York on FOX and the CBS Early Show.

The Children’s Aid Society was founded in 1853. It is one of the nation’s largest and most innovative non-sectarian agencies, serving more than 150,000 of New York’s neediest children and their families with a network of services that includes community schools, neighborhood centers, camps, adoption and foster care services, teen pregnancy prevention, education, health and recreation. Children’s Aid offers a wide range of programs in the visual and performing arts, including instrumental bands, award-winning choruses, theater, photography, the American Ballet Theatre’s “Make a Ballet” and CAS/AileyCamp. For more information, please call212-949-4938 or visit www.childrensaidsociety.org.

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