CoroLAB
In 2017, Baltimore Choral Arts established CoroLAB, an educational partnership with Overlea High School, to amplify Baltimore County students’ awareness about art and life through participation in a professional singing environment beyond their high-school offerings. To participate in a big project outside their normal scope of reference can transform a young person, building their self-confidence and skills, and this interactive learning will instruct them in self-discipline, teamwork, vocal technique, and more. At Overlea High School, 58% of students receive free and reduced meals, and 15% receive special education. Choral Arts will provide all necessary transportation and other resources.
Choral Arts’ Music Director Anthony Blake Clark, in partnership with Baltimore County Public Schools Choir Director Kellie Zephir, have since expanded the program to also include Eastern Technical High School, and BCAS looks forward to the continued growth of this program to reach even more high school students.
Highlighted Activities:
2018: Sing Out Day
To kick off this collaboration, Choral Arts conducted a Sing Out Day workshop of vocal pedagogy for the students during Ms. Zephir’s 75-minute choir class at Overlea High School, led by Mr. Clark and Leo Wanenchak, our Associate Conductor. The group included members of the Baltimore Choral Arts Chamber Singers and Vocal Fellows, who sang alongside the students to build community and provide mentorship.
2018: Sing-Along Messiah at Goucher College
CoroLAB students were invited to attend and participate in a sing-along version of Handel's Messiah, with transportation provided. Ms. Zephir coached the students in a few of the movements from Handel’s oratorio in preparation for this collaborative rendition of Handel's holiday masterpiece.
2019: The Monster in the Maze, a contemporary piece for chorus and orchestra by U.K. composer Jonathan Dove
Choral Arts performed the U.S. premiere of this piece on May 12, 2019 at Goucher College, and select CoroLAB students were invited to perform alongside Choral Arts’ adult singers. This “community opera” was written to be performed by both youth and adults side-by-side, and this collaborative, multi-generational performance will included The Maryland State Boychoir, The Larks of the Junior League of Baltimore, The George Washington University Singers, the Choral Arts Orchestra, and Peabody Youth Orchestra. The Monster in the Maze describes the ancient legend of the Minotaur, his destruction by Theseus, and the triumphant liberation of Athenian youth, played by a combination of Vocal Fellows and CoroLAB students.
2023: Christmas with Choral Arts
CoroLAB students were invited to perform at the Baltimore Basilica as part of Choral Arts' annual Christmas concert, Christmas with Choral Arts. This concert has been an annual tradition in Baltimore for over 40 years, featuring lively singalongs, festive carols, and choral classics.
2024: Sacred Heritage
CoroLAB's newly expanded program, now including students from both Overlea and Eastern Tech high schools, was included in Choral Arts season opening concert, Sacred Heritage, on Sunday, November 3rd 2024 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. The students performed their own repertoire under the direction of Ms. Kellie Zephir, and combined with Choral Arts for a moving performance of See Me by Reena Esmail. To round out the concert, the CoroLAB students joined BCAS for "chorus angelorum," choir of angels, at the end of the final movement of the Duruflé Requiem.
Sing and Play with Choral Arts
In the fall of 2023, Choral Arts launched a new series of early childhood music classes in partnership with the Enoch Pratt Free Library: Sing and Play with Baltimore Choral Arts.
It’s never too early to introduce your little ones to the joy of making music! Children ages 0-5 and their caregivers are invited to join us for these free, 30-minute classes, led by certified music teachers from Baltimore Choral Arts Society. Children will experience singing, creative movement, and listening to musical stories that spark their imagination.
To see upcoming class times and locations, visit the Pratt Library website here.
Student Composer Project
Student Composer Project
Since its inception in 1990, the Student Composer Project has encouraged young student composers to write choral music. The 2023-24 Student Composer Project is on Wednesday, June 5th at 7:30 pm at Grace United Methodist Church, 5407 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210.
Three participants will be selected for the project, receiving a live reading of their choral work. The three winners of the Student Composer Project will also each receive a $250 prize, and after the reading session the Chorus will present the “Singer’s Choice” Award of an additional $250 prize to one of the students.
The composers will attend a pre-reading lecture with Music Director Anthony Blake Clark and Associate Conductor Leo Wanenchak, have a one-on-one lesson with a guest mentor composer, have their work read by the Baltimore Choral Arts Chamber Singers, and receive a recording of their piece.
2023-24 Guidelines for Submission of Compositions
- Composers must commit to traveling to Baltimore at their expense for the Master Class and must live within 125-mile radius of Baltimore County.
- Composers must have been enrolled in high school or college as of December 31, 2023.
- The piece must be no longer than five minutes.
- The work may be scored for Chorus and Piano or Unaccompanied Chorus (mixed chorus, women’s chorus, or men’s chorus). Works for larger instrumental forces are accepted if there is an adequate piano reduction score to be used in the clinic.
- All compositions must be newly composed works. Arrangements of pre-existing compositions (i.e. carols, etc.) will not be considered.
- The text may be sacred or secular, in any language. The composer must secure copyright and permission to use published texts.
- Hand-written manuscripts will not be accepted.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: Friday, May 17th at 5 pm ET. PDFs of scores can be emailed to Rachel@BaltimoreChoralArts.org.
This program is funded in part by the generous support from The Sheridan Foundation.
Vocal Fellows Program
The Vocal Fellows program aims to advance the careers of young professional singers in the greater Baltimore region through the following activities:
- Employment as contracted members of the chorus.
- Opportunities to perform as soloists with Choral Arts throughout the season.
- Coaching experience as section leaders to help guide Choral Arts’ volunteer singers.
- Hands-on experience designing music curriculum and teaching youth through CoroLAB.
- Entrepreneurial training from Anthony Blake Clark and Leo Wanenchak on how to be an effective “team member” as a choral singer.
- Master class sessions led by visiting “mentor” artists covering topics including vocal techniques, vocal health, and audition techniques, including mock auditions.
- Access to the rich choral environment of the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. region through audition exposure.