What's New
Creativity. Community. Connection.
Let's Make a Movie Musical
Would you like to star in your own movie? Join our new “Let’s Make a Movie Musical” session in the fall! Children will develop theater and musical skills, imagining and creating roles, present parts of a story, while building courage and confidence in a positive group setting. No previous acting or singing experience is necessary. No audition is required. Children need access to a camera or phone. Parents need to be available to record their children and send in short recording clips every week. (The clips are short and the assignments are FUN and creative. Parents tell us they love recording their children and have even ended up in the movie themselves!) Class will be held using the zoom platform. At the end of the 7-week class, children will receive a short movie to share with family and friends. Instructor: Daniel Wallenberg, conductor emeritus of the Chicago Children’s Choir. Mr. Wallenberg currently serves as conductor of the Music Institute of Chicago Chorale and the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation adult and children’s choirs. He brings a wealth of experience, energy and excitement to all of his work with children and youth.
Let’s Make a Movie Musical: PTF (Potato Task Force: That famous potato who goes by “Mister” has disappeared. Can you help find him?)
Let’s Make a Movie Musical: GPS (I can't live without you!)
Would you like to star in your own movie? Join our new “Let’s Make a Movie Musical” session in the fall! Children will develop theater and musical skills, imagining and creating roles, present parts of a story, while building courage and confidence in a positive group setting. No previous acting or singing experience is necessary. No audition is required. Children need access to a camera or phone. Parents need to be available to record their children and send in short recording clips every week. (The clips are short and the assignments are FUN and creative. Parents tell us they love recording their children and have even ended up in the movie themselves!) Class will be held using the zoom platform. At the end of the 7-week class, children will receive a short movie to share with family and friends. Instructor: Daniel Wallenberg, conductor emeritus of the Chicago Children’s Choir. Mr. Wallenberg currently serves as conductor of the Music Institute of Chicago Chorale and the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation adult and children’s choirs. He brings a wealth of experience, energy and excitement to all of his work with children and youth.
Let’s Make a Movie Musical: PTF (Potato Task Force: That famous potato who goes by “Mister” has disappeared. Can you help find him?)
- For children in grades 2 – 4.
- Wednesdays, September 22 - November 3, 6:00 – 6:45 pm.
- Minimum 6 participants; maximum 9.
- $110 ($100 if register by September 10)
- Registration deadline September 17
- There will be a short parent meeting the Saturday before the first class, 5:00 pm on zoom.
Let’s Make a Movie Musical: GPS (I can't live without you!)
- For children in grades 4 - 6.
- Wednesdays, September 22 - November 3, 5:00 - 5:45 pm.
- Minimum 6 participants; maximum 9.
- $110 ($100 if register by September 10)
- Registration deadline September 17
- There will be a short parent meeting the Saturday before the first class, 5:00 pm on zoom.
Choral Conducting
Students will learn the fundamentals of conducting and establish a clear gesture. Technical aspects will include: beat patterns, staccato and legato beats, up beats and the anacrusis, dynamics, accents and syncopation, pauses, cueing, score preparation, rehearsal technique. This class will have several sections throughout the year. Students who take all sessions will have the opportunity to conduct Spectrum Youth Singers at a live concert. Instructor: Oksana Rodak.
Students will learn the fundamentals of conducting and establish a clear gesture. Technical aspects will include: beat patterns, staccato and legato beats, up beats and the anacrusis, dynamics, accents and syncopation, pauses, cueing, score preparation, rehearsal technique. This class will have several sections throughout the year. Students who take all sessions will have the opportunity to conduct Spectrum Youth Singers at a live concert. Instructor: Oksana Rodak.
- For students in grades 9 - 12
- contact spectrumsing1@gmail
Private Voice and Musicianship
Everyone can sing! We give you the tools to find your voice and sing well! Students will develop healthy vocal technique, will learn exercises for vocal freedom, and will develop confidence in singing. Voice lessons will be individually customized. Learning to read music and improvement of sight-reading skills will be done based on the student's experience. Online or in-person.
Everyone can sing! We give you the tools to find your voice and sing well! Students will develop healthy vocal technique, will learn exercises for vocal freedom, and will develop confidence in singing. Voice lessons will be individually customized. Learning to read music and improvement of sight-reading skills will be done based on the student's experience. Online or in-person.
- For students in grades 2 - 12
- Wednesdays or Fridays
- $100 for six 30-minute lessons
- contact spectrumsing1@gmail.com to register
Recent Events
Songwriting Workshop with Jim Papoulis
In October, students created an original piece of music under the guidance of world-renowned composer Jim Papoulis. The workshop offered the experience of creative collaboration and promoted teamwork and respect. In the first session, participants got to know each other, talked about what songs are, talked about their lives, their hopes, their wonders, and created a topic for the song. In between the first and second session, a track was produced, so by the second workshop, participants could hear the track, talk about harmonies and finish the song. Upon completion, students recorded the song. It will be released in 2021.
Jim Papoulis writes for films, corporations, choirs, dance and a wide swath of other artists. He has conducted hundreds of performances worldwide, with symphonies, chamber ensembles, pop bands, gospel and children’s choirs. Jim is a longtime collaborator with top international musicians including: Jason Mraz, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Beyonce, the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, London Boys Choir, London Symphony, Beijing Children’s Choir, Faith Hill, Natalie Cole, Tokyo String Quartet, Moscow Philharmonic, and even Snoop Dog.
Jim's true passion is conducting original songwriting workshops for children.
In October, students created an original piece of music under the guidance of world-renowned composer Jim Papoulis. The workshop offered the experience of creative collaboration and promoted teamwork and respect. In the first session, participants got to know each other, talked about what songs are, talked about their lives, their hopes, their wonders, and created a topic for the song. In between the first and second session, a track was produced, so by the second workshop, participants could hear the track, talk about harmonies and finish the song. Upon completion, students recorded the song. It will be released in 2021.
Jim Papoulis writes for films, corporations, choirs, dance and a wide swath of other artists. He has conducted hundreds of performances worldwide, with symphonies, chamber ensembles, pop bands, gospel and children’s choirs. Jim is a longtime collaborator with top international musicians including: Jason Mraz, Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Beyonce, the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, London Boys Choir, London Symphony, Beijing Children’s Choir, Faith Hill, Natalie Cole, Tokyo String Quartet, Moscow Philharmonic, and even Snoop Dog.
Jim's true passion is conducting original songwriting workshops for children.
Global connections: in the Fall of 2020, our singers worked virtually with an actor in Scotland and had masterclasses in vocal technique with a vocal expert in Singapore. Each session was followed by interesting questions dealing with culture, food, climate, language, and more! In 2021, we have continued our connection with Singapore and learned a song in the Malay language and in Mandarin. We met an actor from Britain who worked with us on the importance of facial expression. TIK TOK SINGER NATHAN EVANS TAUGHT US THE WELLERMAN AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH HIM.
Local connections: our boys choir had a vocal master classes with a Naperville and Plainfield music teachers.
Local connections: our boys choir had a vocal master classes with a Naperville and Plainfield music teachers.
"It's our duty to instill strength and stability in our nation through music." Master Sgt. Christal Rheams