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! 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 film their children and send in recording clips. 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, long-time conductor with 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: The Mystery of Alexa (Those voices are really spooky!)
Would you like to star in your own movie? Join our new “Let’s Make a Movie Musical” session! 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 film their children and send in recording clips. 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, long-time conductor with 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.
- Mondays, January 25 - March 1, 2021, 6:00 – 6:45 pm.
- Registration deadline January 18, 2021.
- Minimum 6 participants; maximum 9.
- $105 ($100 if register by Dec 31)
- There will be a short parent meeting on Saturday, January 23, 5:00 pm on zoom.
Let’s Make a Movie Musical: The Mystery of Alexa (Those voices are really spooky!)
- For children in grades 5 and 6.
- Mondays, January 25 - March 1, 2021, 5:00 – 5:45 pm.
- Registration deadline January 18, 2021.
- Minimum 6 participants; maximum 9.
- $105 ($100 if register by Dec 31)
- There will be a short parent meeting on Saturday, January 23, 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 when is it safe to meet in person. Online classes will be held on zoom. 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 when is it safe to meet in person. Online classes will be held on zoom. Instructor: Oksana Rodak.
- Mondays, 4:00 - 4:40, January 25 - February 15, 2021
- For students in grades 9 - 12
- $50
- maximum 8 participants
Masterclass in Musical Theater: "Break a Leg”
January 31, February 7, 14, 21, 2021, Grades 9 - 12.
Register by January 20. Submit recording by January 27.
Maximum 12 participants. Minimum 7 participants.
$55
Actor/singer Jacob Carter from the U.K. will lead this musical theater workshop in topics: healthy vocal technique and style in Broadway/pop songs, how to prepare for an audition, professionalism in the theater industry. Participants will explore creative ways to communicate their songs more dynamically, working on their singing voice, facial expression, and stage presence. Each participant will have the opportunity to participate and receive individual feedback. Students are asked to submit a 1-2 minute recording of themselves singing a Broadway/pop song; the song can be from a performance or it can be a "work in progress" that will be used in the workshop. The classes will take place virtually on zoom and will be recorded for educational purposes.
Jacob Carter is an actor and singer from the U.K. He trained at the Arts University Bournemouth for 3 years on the Acting Degree, while also studying for his musical theatre diploma. Since graduating he has been teaching singing at the university, directing the university theatre ensemble, and composing. His musical theatre credits include: Edmund- ‘The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe’, The Phantom- ‘The Phantom of The Opera’, Adam/Noah- ‘Children of Eden’. Jacob is also a founding member of UpsideUp Theatre Company, a company specializing in movement and puppetry in educational theatre.
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 soon be released.
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 soon be released.
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: this semester, our singers worked virtually with an actor in Scotland, and had a masterclass in vocal technique with a vocal pedagogue in Singapore. Each session was followed by interesting questions dealing with culture, food, climate, language, and much more! In 2021, we will continue our connection with Singapore and meet musicians from other parts of the world. Local connections: our boys choir had a vocal master class with a Naperville music teacher.
"It's our duty to instill strength and stability in our nation through music." Master Sgt. Christal Rheams