Grant Brings ‘Joy Of Music’ To Kailua Keiki

Windward Choral Society will conduct a pilot singing camp next month for children in fifth and sixth grade, offering a one-day experience in “fun, musical learning and performance.”

The free program runs from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. April 6 at Kainalu Elementary School for students in the Kailua and Kalaheo Complex schools. Enrollment is limited to the first 50 students who register. The Atherton Family Foundation is funding the choral society’s unique project, titled “Joy of Music Youth Choral Festival.” Registration began March 8 on the WCS website, thewindwardchoralsociety.org, or call 261-4436.

Break-out sessions will run throughout the day led by certified music teachers and WCS artistic director Susan Duprey. Training will include music reading, vocal techniques, rhythm and movement, and group choral singing of multicultural songs – just like the grown-ups sing at WCS concerts. The finale for the children will be a concert with WCS at 5:30 p.m.

“It’s unfortunate that so many schools have cut their music programs,” noted WCS member Ann Auman, “so Windward Choral Society got this grant to do a workshop for the kids.”

The group’s mission is to promote joy, love and appreciation of multicultural music. Led by Duprey, the chorus of about 100 non-auditioned singers (from high school age on up) perform in Windward Oahu and around the state in a variety of free concerts each year. Coming up soon are shows at Pohai Nani at 7 p.m. April 2 and a community choral festival at 4 p.m. April 7 at Sacred Hearts Academy. They practice at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Holman Hall at Kailua United Methodist Church. For more information, call 261-9879.