FLORIDA MOM MAGAZINE - July '08 - Jacksonville Children's ChorusBy: Michele Gillis Photos: Carrie-Lynn Smith
 There’s nothing more beautiful than the song of a child.
When the children of the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus (JCC) open their mouths to sing, there is something almost spiritual in the sound that flows out. The music created by the JCC is so beautiful that it exemplifies what a host of angels must sound like.
As the children sing, they draw the listeners in, taking them captive and making them forget the world around them exists, even if only for a moment.
The JCC was founded in 1995 at Jacksonville University with sixteen voices and has grown to serve approximately 400 First Coast children. Its performance choir program includes over 160 talented young singers ages seven through eighteen.
The JCC gives children an opportunity to help them develop their gift of singing in a fun and educational way. Participating children come from a diversity of racial, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds and come from five counties in Northeast Florida and represent 75 schools.
Over the past 13 years, the JCC has evolved into a multi-faceted community music program providing the social and cognitive rewards of vocal music and choral participation to area children.
 “The mission of the JCC is to provide a high-quality choral music education for children of diverse backgrounds, fostering teamwork, self-discipline, accomplishment and pride while filling an important cultural need in the community and sharing the beauty of the choral art form through artistically excellent performances,” said Darren Dailey, director of the JCC. “Our artistic and program staff work to create a supportive, challenging and affirming musical experience. Our goal for JCC includes artistically excellent performances, which requires a caring and structured environment for learning.”
Darren Dailey, the current director of the JCC goes above and beyond in his quest to bring out the best in his singers. He puts his heart and soul into his directing. When the music is upbeat, Dailey’s moving to the music encouraging his singers to follow, but when the music is deep and intense, he is as well, causing his singers to follow his lead.
 “Darren and the entire JCC staff treat the young artists as professionals from the moment they step into rehearsal to the moment they leave the stage,” said Dr. Cara Tasher, director of choral activities at the University of North Florida. “Believing in children and holding high expectations for them is a way to make them rise above what their own limitations may be. Darren is amazing at encouraging this work ethic and social dynamic and the children of JCC will go on to do great things both in and out of music. The level of discipline that is instilled in an excellent children's chorus is a skill that will stay with its participants for a lifetime.”
Tasher and Dailey both moved to Jacksonville from New York City two years ago with a song in their heart. “Since then we have been scheming up choral ideas for Jacksonville together and the JCC has performed at both of the annual University North Florida Feast of Carols programs as well as in the Jacksonville Sisters Cities Association September Concert that is held at St. John's Cathedral,” said Tasher. “From our first meeting, I knew that Darren was going to be a fireball and a fabulous addition to the choral community. As former associate conductor of the Young People's Chorus of New York City, I was aware of his work getting the Boston Children's Chorus up and running and was thrilled to know that he would be in Jacksonville. Darren brings a very high standard of excellence to children's choirs and I'm certain the community has witnessed their growth even in just a short period of time.”
 Joining the JCC allows the children to take the learning of music to a whole new level. Tasher said the young singers (and sometimes even non-singers) are afforded the opportunity to learn music in a fun and approachable way.
"In my opinion, it (being in a choir) is much more successful in the development of musical skills such as sight reading, stylistic nuances in phrasing and dynamics, developing range and healthy vocal tone than studying privately,” said Tasher. “When parents email me regarding voice lessons for their children, I always recommend that their child join the JCC as this is less pressure than a studio lesson. While fabulous pedagogical ideas are instilled in the children, it is usually much more rewarding and fun prior to age 16 or so.”
Silas Mosco, a home-schooled 12-year old singer from the Yulee area found the JCC two years ago. He has always loved to sing, but never found the right vehicle to help him develop his gift. He and his parents were leaving a performance of The Nutcracker at the Times Union Center and there was a JCC booth just waiting for him to meet his destiny.
“It was just the answer to everything,” said Mosco’s mother, Kirsten. “The values taught at home need to be reinforced out in the world. The JCC staff seconds these lessons or rather exemplifies them to my son. Thus Silas can see teamwork, dedication and practice really pay off.
”Being in the JCC requires a lot of commitment and hard work. Practice is once a week for two hours. Once a month they hold a three-hour practice and so far this year they’ve had nine performances. Not to mention the practicing the children must do at home for both the songs and the choreography.
“My favorite thing about being in the JCC is the overall camaraderie that I feel from all of the other singers,” said Mosco, who is in the concert choir. “It’s kind of like harmony in a way because you are interacting with children your own age, as well as older and younger children that enjoy singing. We all share the love of it. It is such a great experience that no child should miss out on.”
 Silas said that Dailey is a great because he gives motivating speeches to the children in a straightforward and encouraging manner.“We really enjoy those because he tells us that we really must go out there and make a difference out there in the world through the art of music,” said Mosco. Mosco would like to do something in the church musically when he grows up.
The JCC just recently held a concert at the Grace Episcopal Church in Orange Park and then took a trip to New York City where they performed at the Distinguished Artists International Carnegie Hall Festival at Carnegie Hall.
“I extended the invitation to several children’s choirs in the local public and private schools,” said Dailey. “Jacksonville Country Day School and First Coast Christian School accepted the invitation and sang with us in New York City.”
It seems JCC has a place for everyone if they make it through the audition process. They have a Training Choir, Treble Choir and Concert Choir.We have three divisions of JCC,” said Dailey. “For our entry level ensemble, which is our training choir, we expect the child to be enthusiastic about singing and for them to be able to sing a simple song like Row, Row, Row Your Boat in tune.”
If the Jacksonville Children's Chorus sounds like something your child would like to get involved in they encourage parents to visit their Web site at www.jaxchildrenschorus.com to learn more about the audition process and the program. |
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