All of Who They Are

By Sam Barge, Executive and Artistic Director

I try not to call the MasterSingers “kids.” At least, not in front of them. They are teenagers, after all, and they strive to understand the world from a place of maturity.

One singer brought bubbles to rehearsal this week. During our mid-rehearsal break, our singers went outside to the church courtyard to enjoy the sunny weather—and, yes, blow, pop, eat and whack bubbles. I saw the unbridled, youthful giggles and joy of kids.

Just minutes before, they had been singing a Renaissance frottola and a mixed-meter chorale, each piece requiring a rather mature level of musicianship.

Indeed, our singers are so many things. They are kids, and they are astute musicians. They are mentors for our younger singers, and they are bubble-poppers.

At BYC, we want all of our singers to feel free to be all of themselves.

This range of being was on full display during our recent trip to Philadelphia. The MasterSingers had a choral clinic that morning at Temple University before they went sightseeing in the city. A mark of a good trip: each singer had a different highlight. Whether it was the clinic, lunch at the college dining hall, the tour of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Kimmel Center, a visit to Independence Hall, or the ice cream stop at the end, each singer had something they loved that day.

At the clinic that morning, our singers were serious and professional in demeanor. They absorbed everything that Dr. Paul Rardin asked of them, improving their tone quality, dynamic range, energy and articulation in each exercise. At each stop afterward, they displayed humility and respect for the space they were visiting.

But on our bus between stops? Energy abounded. Not a minute passed without singing and laughter. Whether it was a song from Hamilton or “Barbie Girl,” they kept the music flowing. They were bonding and soaking in these moments together.

However, one thing remained constant all day: how they treated each other. Not a single singer walked alone. Whether on the move or huddled together for warmth against the wind, the group was connected, compassionate and kind toward each other without fail.

As a chorus, this matters.

No two ensembles can sing a piece the same way because their voices are different. The people are different. What you bring to any creative endeavor affects the product as much as anything else. What, where and when you sing is important—but the ‘who’ is vital. And music can only be fully explored if the performers feel free to be themselves and know that their fellow singers support them.

We want our ‘kids’ to express who they are—all of who they are. They are expressive artists. They are passionate performers. They are diverse and come from different walks of life. They are curious students. They are strong friends. And they are still learning themselves and need space to explore who they are becoming.

When our singers feel comfortable bringing all of themselves into our space, they can think, feel, play, learn, grow and sing with all they’ve got.

And that is when they can truly accomplish anything.

The Most Musical Time of the Year

By Sarah Hilpmann (Kreider), BCCC alumna and BYC Choristers Director

It is undeniable that December is a month filled with music. Whether we’re walking around the grocery store hearing holiday pop songs on the radio, walking down the streets hearing carolers at a nearby shop, or maybe even singing the carols ourselves, singing is a huge part of this season.

Making music together, and specifically singing together, is an impactful, grounding, and heart-filling part of the hubbub of this month.

As I think back on the Decembers of my childhood, I have many fond memories of the gift of making music in Berks Classical Children’s Chorus Christmas concerts over the years. Specifically, I loved the arrangement of “Children Go Where I Send Thee” that we sang together. I vividly remember laughing with friends and joyfully rehearsing the piece in GoggleWorks room 420.

BCCC offered these moments for me at all times of the year, and it gave me a space to foster a love of music that I didn’t understand the significance of at the time.

I very much looked forward to rehearsals where I knew I would share smiles with friends, but also knew I would learn through some pretty wonderful directors. They were inspiring not only through the way they led us and taught us musical skills, but in the way they fostered a fun and welcoming environment for us to grow and learn.

I can remember summer weeks with Dr. Wolfe joking around about his fun patterned socks and shorts. His smile was contagious and his passion for choral music and sharing that passion with us young singers was always apparent. Dr. Adams would joke with us, but also held us to high standards (most notably when we needed to memorize the German words to “Heidenroslein” but were not rising to her expectations, and she begrudgingly made us signs with the words to follow along and spark our memories). Mr. Brunner was always a goofy bright spot to rehearsals. He always made things fun and exciting, but in a way that still allowed us to reach our full potential when it came to making beautiful music.

These are just a few of the adults who touched my life as a young singer. I credit all of my BCCC directors with helping to mold me into the musician that I am today, and the music teacher that I am today.

It is surreal for me to think that I have stepped into a similar position for new singers that these role models held for me years ago. I am so thankful for the young singers that have been a part of Choristers these past two years and I strive to be for them what my directors were for me throughout my time in BCCC/BYC. I love sitting back and watching the singers interact with each other before and after rehearsals and during breaks. Stepping back and seeing their friendships blossom and grow each week is so rewarding.

Although much has changed in the organization since my early days in Berks Classical Children’s Chorus starting in 2003 (such as the name), I am happy to report that the enthusiasm of our singers is a constant.

A love of singing and music making is the glue that holds this organization together, and it is a glue that bonds our singers to each other. They are the reason we do what we do, and they are so worth the work that goes into everything. Seeing them find their place in an inclusive environment amidst a world that is often so exclusionary is rewarding. It is all the more rewarding knowing they are finding their place through music and song.

There is something special about singing together. It bonds us together despite our differences and it is a powerful force. I am so thankful that BYC is still sharing the beauty and impact of communal music making with young people. I am honored to be a part of this process and to be fostering a love of singing and choral music in a new generation of children.

As you continue through this holiday season, take note of the communal music making happening around you. We are so thankful for all you have done to make sure that our BYC singers can continue to grow and make music together.

Our voices are a powerful force—both in this month when music seems to be in the very air we breathe, and as we strive to carry the spirit of this season with us throughout the rest of the year.

In a world where there is Berks Youth Chorus, “how can we keep from singing?”

Steps and Leaps

How often do you step out of your comfort zone?

We ask our singers to do it all the time. New singers are worried their voice isn't good enough to fit in. Most singers are nervous before they perform. We encourage quiet kids to raise their hands to answer questions. Some of our singers' voices change and drop far faster than anticipated!

Mistakes are scary, change is uncomfortable, and stage fright is common.

My first reaction is to assuage that fear. I tell them that chorus is the perfect place for shy singers to find their way because they're not alone. I remind them that even Beyonce and Taylor Swift get nervous to perform; it's only human. They tend to be...skeptical of my counsel.

Of course, I get to watch our kids reach the other side of that fear. I see them learn to sing out, form friendships and find their way. That sense of pride and accomplishment from a performance well done is invaluable. It sticks with them long after they've sung their last note with BYC.

Case in point: MasterSingers pushed past their inhibitions in their first rehearsal, and they sounded fantastic on the first piece they learned.

If the zone beyond our comfort is where the magic lies, we should go there more often.

As their teachers, we take risks alongside them. Each rehearsal, we try new activities, games and techniques to help them grow. This year, we are hosting visits from guest artists and other choirs, taking the MasterSingers on a trip to Philly, and planning even more performance opportunities than before. Our singers will perform for meandering museum goers, fundraiser attendees, peers, hockey game-goers.... they'll see it all.

I must admit—these new plans push me beyond my comfort zone too sometimes. I worry whether I've properly prepared our singers for success. But just like our singers, I can grow by leaning into that discomfort. It's worth it on the other side.

Each leap of faith is a step toward true growth, as musicians, artists and community members. I'm proud of our singers for their courage, resilience, and most of all, their unrelenting kindness toward each other. It's much easier to be uncomfortable when you find solace in each other.