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Children's Choirs of Southwest Missouri (CCSM) was established in 1993.
The choir program enrolls approximately 135 children from 28 Springfield schools and 14 surrounding towns, covering seven Southwest Missouri counties; the students attend public, private and home schools. The children audition (and re-audition) annually.Singers are placed in one of seven groups. Placement is based on age, experience, skill and level of commitment. The choirs are:
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Although the program is tuition-based,
participation by children of all socioeconomic
backgrounds is encouraged.
Through the generous support of the
Community Foundation of the Ozarks,
the Wal Mart Foundation,
the Trott Family Foundation, the
Vogel Scholarship
Fund, and other private contributions,
needs based financial assistance is extended to approximately 30% of the students in the Children's Choirs.
CCSM is managed by Music Director Deborah Lee, assisted by choir directors Mark Bowdidge, Norma May, Daniel Gutierrez and Leah Hamilton Jenkins; accompanists Jacque Hamilton and Lou Howard. Business Administrators are Kathy McCormick and Becky Fraley. An Advisory Board of parents and community leaders and a host of parent volunteers comprise a strong support network. Each choir averages four to six rehearsals monthly, August through April, ranging in length from 45 minutes for the beginning singers to one hour and 45 minutes for the more advanced choirs. Auditions are held annually in May and early June, and at other times by appointment. The season kicks off with Choir Camp in August. Annual concerts include the "Holiday Prelude" in December and the "Spring Showcase" in April. Other performances have included major regional appearances, TV specials, national invitational concerts, and international tours to Italy and Japan. | |
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• 1993 Andy Williams Christmas Special on PBS •1993 Springfield Symphony Carols of Christmas •1994 Organization of American Kodaly Educators National Conference, Chattanooga •1995 Old St. Patrick's Church, Chicago •1996 Music Educators National Conference, Kansas City •1997 Children In Harmony Choral Festival, Walt Disney World •1998 Southwestern Division of the American Choral Directors Association, Corpus Christi •1998 Organization of American Kodaly Educators National Conference, New Orleans •1999 America Sings! Washington, D.C. •2000 Southwestern Division of the American Choral Directors Association, Oklahoma City •2001 The American Celebration of Music in Italy •2001 The Missouri Choral Directors Association Convention, Jefferson City •2002 Sister Cities Ambassador Trip to Isesaki City, Japan •2004 Performance tour of Paris and London •2004 Congressional Delegation Dinner; Missouri Governor's Mansion; Jefferson Cityi •2005 Feed the Children Christmas Special with the Oak Ridge Boys - Televised •2006 Performance Tour of New York City •2006 Springfield Symphony Home for the Holidays •2006 Messiah Project Amahl & the Night Visitors •2007 Springfield Regional Opera Sleeping Beauty •2007 MSU President's Concert Mahler's Eighth Symphony |
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•95/96 SMSU Sounds of Christmas •1996 Feed the Children Nationwide Fundraising Concert •1996 First commissioned work, Ozark Folk Fantasy, written by Dr. John Prescott •1998 Springfield Regional Opera "Il Pagliacci" •2000 Pipes Spectacular •2000 Holiday Dazzle, FOX 27 and KOLR 10 •2000 Springfield Symphony Mahler's Eighth •2001 Springfield Regional Opera Carmen •2001 American National Fish and Wildlife Museum Grand Opening •2002 Foreign Language Association of Missouri •2003 CASA Victim's Center •2003 Jordan Valley Art in the Park •2003 Fall Festival of the Springfield Sister Cities Association •2004 Art in the Park •2004 United Way Kick-Off Event •2004 Springfield Jr. League Celebrate the Season •2004 Springfield Regional Arts Council Caroling Downtown •2005 United Way Kick-Off Event •2005 Shrine Ladies Luncheon •2005 United Way of the Ozarks Annual Meeting •2005 Springfield Area Retired Teachers' Association •2006 Art in the Park •2006 Springfield Jr. League Celebrate the Season •2006 Springfield Federated Music Clubs •2010 Community Partnership Event for Foster Parents |
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Springfield Regional Arts Council and City of Springfield, "Festival of Lights"
 *Denotes Narrators | |
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The American Boychoir Springfield Youth Symphony *Peggy Lennon *Gary Ellison The Lennon Brothers & Gail Lennon *Roger Ray *Roseanne Bentley The Hawthorne Trio *David Belcher Jeff Carney, Tenor John Waldo, Classical Guitarist *Cristina Mohr King *Lissa Hamblen *Angie Weidinger Jim Zinecker Yolanda Lorge *James and Judith Billings |
Caduceus, the Doctors' Band *Michael Casey *David and Susan Smith *Beth Mack Don McCarty and Bev Rohlf Paula Patterson, Mezzo-Soprano *Lisa Rose Springfield Vocal Arts Ensemble *Jack Ernst Mozark Brass Quintet *Theresa Petry *Mick Denniston *Tom Trtan *Ned Reynolds *Mark & Tina Stillwell *Jeff and Leah Hamilton Jenkins *Dr. Norman Ridder * Randy Stewart |
