Last Updated: Monday, November 26, 2007 11:44 PM  

Youth Information Sheet

Dear Parents/Guardians of Youth Chorus Members,

          It is a blessing to have children participate in the Passion Play each year.  What better way to teach your children about God’s greatest gift than to commit to their participation in this beautiful re-enactment.  Keeping Christ as the center of what we do, we must realize that this performance transcends the typical theatrical experience.  Any theatrical experience is cooperative – no one person is more valuable than another.  The Passion Play is not about who gets what part, which performances we get to participate in or how much one person does over another.  The reason we are here is to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As directors of the Youth Chorus, we must insist that this is our focus.

          Please read the following rules for participation in the Youth Chorus.  It is essential that ever parent and child understands and follows these guidelines in order to establish a positive environment for all.  When you sign your name to the information sheet, you are committing to follow the guidelines and to accept the consequences of not doing so. 

          Thank you in advance for your complete cooperation.  The presence that children have on stage gives the play energy and life.  It also gives us a sense of hope in the future of out faith – as Jesus said, “Let the little ones come to me.”  If you have any questions,  we will be available at rehearsal at 5:45pm to speak with you.  We look forward to a prayerful, spiritual and energetic performance!  Thanks again!

Sincerely,

Director Youth Chorus

Director Youth Supervision

Guidelines for Participation in the Youth Chorus 

Requirements

Children, pre-K 4 and up to and including including the 7th grade can join the youth chorus. The child must be 4 years old by January 1, of the current play year. If your child wishes to participate in this chorus, he/she MUST, without exception:

  1. … be capable of and willing to follow directions.
  2. … be capable of sitting quietly
  3. … be accompanied by a parent or guardian during ALL rehearsals.
  4. … have at least on parent or guardian involved in the production.
  5. … attend all rehearsals.  Youth rehearsals are from 6:00pm sharp to 7:00pm on Wednesday evenings. The combined rehearsals may run as late as 10:00pm.  We only have seven rehearsals in which to learn and perfect all the music so one absence is too many.  In case of an emergency, you need to call Bonnie Peterson by 5:00pm the day of the rehearsal to report your child’s absence.  Otherwise the absence will be considered unexcused and may result in the child’s removal from the chorus.

Conduct

Children must behave appropriately at all times.  This includes being positive and encouraging to all chorus members, as well as being a productive member of the chorus.  Anyone whose behavior distracts or inhibits the rehearsal process (talking, fooling around, not keeping hands to self, etc.) will receive a warning.  At that time, the child will be asked to sit with his /her parent for the remainder of the rehearsal. The next infraction will result in dismissal from the play.  Working together is fun and exciting but we need to maintain a working environment, which is conducive to our learning the music.  Talking and fooling around are distracting to everyone’s concentration and I will not be tolerant of distractions. 

Auditions

There are roles available from each chorus (A and B) for children to sing or speak.  Auditions will be held during one of the rehearsals and will be announced within a few weeks.  If a child is interested in auditioning for a speaking and /or singing part, please indicate that on the registration form.

Attitude

We need to maintain a “What Would Jesus Do?” attitude throughout the rehearsal process.  We all need to be patient with one another and remember the focus of this production:  Jesus Christ.  This is not a talent show or a stepping-stone to Broadway.

It’s a prayer.  Please keep that in mind when situations you might question arise. 

Working together, we can all keep this experience a positive and prayerful one.

Gratitude

We are grateful for your child(ren)'s participation and you commitment to them and to the entire St. Thomas extended family.

God bless you and "Thank You" !

 

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