RFAS celebrates diversity of thought, experience, and culture.

 

25th ANNUAL CHORAL CELEBRATION

March 12 and 13, 2024
Meymandi Concert Hall

25th ANNUAL CHORAL CELEBRATION

March 12 and 13, 2024
Meymandi Concert Hall

OUR FOCUS

About The Choral Celebration

OUR HISTORY

In 1999, Raleigh Fine Arts Society began a new tradition: an annual Choral Celebration. The project offers elementary school choral groups in Wake County public, private, and charter schools an opportunity to share their music, as well as enjoy the musical achievements of other elementary school choruses in a non-competitive format.
The first performances were held at Martin Middle School and moved in 2002 to the newly built Meymandi Concert Hall, home of the North Carolina Symphony. Since its inception, the Choral Celebration’s visibility has grown significantly and achieved record attendance of more than 3,000 people.
Today we accept up to sixteen elementary choral groups to participate, with each school performing two songs. Raleigh Fine Arts offers Choral Clinician advisory services to participating schools’ Choral Directors on performance techniques, as they prepare students for the March Celebration. In addition, a qualified Adjudicator will provide valuable, constructive reviews of schools’ performances during the Celebration.

Choral Celebration--Adjunicator Jeremy Tucker

MOVING FORWARD

Applications will be available this September 25-29, 2023 on this website for Choral Teachers to use for applying. Please check back soon for the application link.

Performances will be held on March 12 and March 13, 2024 (with a dress rehearsal on March 5) for all participating schools. Upon selection, your school will be assigned a performance night on either the 12th or 13th of March so mark your calendar!

Our choral clinicians will work with each choir director of the selected schools in preparation for the Celebration and each director will receive valuable feedback from our adjudicator the night of your performance.

This is a musical celebration (not a competition) and we hope you will apply! Be on the lookout for a future notice regarding applications – available 9/25 to 9/29. In the meantime, be inspired by clicking on videos and photos from prior Choral Celebrations.

We look forward to a magical Choral Celebration this coming March 2024!

Carol Lynn Z. Foster
Nancy Z. Kenna
Co-Chairs, Raleigh Fine Arts Society Choral Celebration
rfaschoral@gmail.com

About The Choral Celebration

Choral Celebration--Adjunicator Jeremy Tucker

OUR HISTORY

In 1999, Raleigh Fine Arts Society began a new tradition: an annual Choral Celebration. The project offers elementary school choral groups in Wake County public, private, and charter schools an opportunity to share their music, as well as enjoy the musical achievements of other elementary school choruses in a non-competitive format.
The first performances were held at Martin Middle School and moved in 2002 to the newly built Meymandi Concert Hall, home of the North Carolina Symphony. Since its inception, the Choral Celebration’s visibility has grown significantly and achieved record attendance of more than 3,000 people.
Today we accept up to sixteen elementary choral groups to participate, with each school performing two songs. Raleigh Fine Arts offers Choral Clinician advisory services to participating schools’ Choral Directors on performance techniques, as they prepare students for the March Celebration. In addition, a qualified Adjudicator will provide valuable, constructive reviews of schools’ performances during the Celebration.

MOVING FORWARD

Applications will be available this September 25-29, 2023 on this website for Choral Teachers to use for applying. Please check back soon for the application link.

Performances will be held on March 12 and March 13, 2024 (with a dress rehearsal on March 5) for all participating schools. Upon selection, your school will be assigned a performance night on either the 12th or 13th of March so mark your calendar!

Our choral clinicians will work with each choir director of the selected schools in preparation for the Celebration and each director will receive valuable feedback from our adjudicator the night of your performance.

This is a musical celebration (not a competition) and we hope you will apply! Be on the lookout for a future notice regarding applications – available 9/25 to 9/29. In the meantime, be inspired by clicking on videos and photos from prior Choral Celebrations.

We look forward to a magical Choral Celebration this coming March 2024!

Carol Lynn Z. Foster
Nancy Z. Kenna
Co-Chairs, Raleigh Fine Arts Society Choral Celebration
rfaschoral@gmail.com

TESTIMONIAL

Our Impact

{

“Dear Raleigh Fine Arts,

Thank you so much for making tonight possible!  I am so excited !  Thank you for being so generous.  Thanks to you I am able to sing at Meymandi!  Not every singer gets to sing at such a big place!  Thank you so very much!”

Student
Heritage Elementary, Directed by Barina Bailey
{

“Dear RFAS,

Thank you for providing this wonderful opportunity to me.  I enjoyed performing and getting to see others perform because it opened my eyes to different types of music and song.”

Student
Heritage Elementary, Directed by Barina Bailey
{

“RFAS has been instrumental in the growth of our choral program.  It provides our children an opportunity to diligently prepare and sing in a world-class concert hall., and they learn so much more than the music they sing.  Thank you RFAS for your gift to our children and community and for providing a once-in-a-lifetime experience that creates lasting memories. ” 

Mary Elliott Michael
Director for Turner Creek Elementary

TESTIMONIAL

Our Impact

{

“Dear Raleigh Fine Arts,

Thank you so much for making tonight possible!  I am so excited !  Thank you for being so generous.  Thanks to you I am able to sing at Meymandi!  Not every singer gets to sing at such a big place!  Thank you so very much!”

Student
Heritage Elementary, Directed by Barina Bailey
{

“Dear RFAS,

Thank you for providing this wonderful opportunity to me.  I enjoyed performing and getting to see others perform because it opened my eyes to different types of music and song.”

Student
Heritage Elementary, Directed by Barina Bailey
{

“RFAS has been instrumental in the growth of our choral program.  It provides our children an opportunity to diligently prepare and sing in a world-class concert hall., and they learn so much more than the music they sing.  Thank you RFAS for your gift to our children and community and for providing a once-in-a-lifetime experience that creates lasting memories. ” 

Mary Elliott Michael
Director for Turner Creek Elementary

PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS

Featured Performances

Oak Grove Elementary

Students perform “Stars”, one of the traditional massed songs from the Choral Celebration. 

Parkside Elementary

Students rehearsing a performance piece with their teacher, Kim Demery, and Clinician Robert Unger. Ms. Demery highlights the benefits all children and schools experience through their participation in this annual celebration of elementary school choral groups.

Robert Unger, Clinician

Robert discusses his role with participating schools as well as the uniqueness of the program and the opportunities it provides choral groups in Wake County.

PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS

Featured Performances

MORE PERFORMANCES

Virtual Voices

Please enjoy the music these elementary schools made as they prepared for past Choral Celebrations.

Baucom Elementary

Performing “Circle of Our Song” and “On Silver Tipped Wings“. Mrs. Michelle Seaboch is their Music Teacher. Their Choral Celebration Clinician is Jane Bruer.

Abbotts Creek Elementary

Students have fun warming up before visit from Clinician, Bob Unger in preparation for their rehearsal with their Director, Susan Reynolds. Click on their photo below to listen. 

North Raleigh Christian Academy

Hear North Raleigh Christian Academy rehearsing “Build Me a World” by Ginger Littleton for Clinician Marshall Butler.  The children are directed by Lisa Pennington Bass and accompanied by Laurel Walter.

Douglas Elementary Magnet School

Students rehearse “The Beautiful Rain”. Susan Zelasky, Director with  Accompanist, Marty Long.

MORE PERFORMANCES

Virtual Voices

Please enjoy the music these elementary schools made as they prepared for past Choral Celebrations.