74. First Program Chorus

Since 1997, Dalton’s First Program Chorus has drawn students who arrive at school early to rehearse for two concerts. The Winter Concert features mostly American music, while the Spring Multi-Cultural program highlights world music sung in a variety of languages and accompanied by third grade students on instruments.

Singing in a choir at any age is an exhilarating and transformative communal experience. Dalton’s First Program chorus began in 1997 as an outgrowth of a vibrant singing, movement, and Orff program. Voluntarily open to all first, second, and third graders, between 60 and 80 children participate each year.

Committed members arrive at school early two mornings a week to rehearse for two concerts per year. Our first Winter Concerts (February) were programmed with music from the Medieval and Renaissance Periods. A small instrumental ensemble playing period instruments (lutes, viola da gamba, and percussion) accompanied. The young children were joined by 30–40 voices from the High School chorus. The Winter concert, featuring mostly American Music, has continued with programs designed to highlight beautiful singing by young voices.

The Spring Multi-Cultural program features music from around the world sung in diverse languages that include Spanish, French, Arabic, Italian, Russian, Hebrew, German, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Ashanti, Kiswahili, Tamil & Korean. Third graders, in particular, look forward to this concert as they are all invited to participate as accompanists on recorders, percussion and Orff instruments. Over the years students have also played violin, cello, guitar, harp and koto.

The performances are disciplined and joyful. As we near each performance there are always a few jitters, but they are quickly overcome and the final result is one of tremendous satisfaction.

It is always a gift to hear the voices of children singing.
—Janet Chinelli and Nancy Silber, First Program Music Teachers