The SLCC's mission is to provide children with a choral music experience that emphasizes musical excellence and character education. From simple beginnings in 1978, the program now includes about 500 1st through 12th graders from over 225 schools in the St. Louis, MO area. At the apex of the six progressive levels is the Concert Choir, which performs regularly with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and tours nationally and internationally under the direction of Barbara Berner, who also oversees all the Children's Choir programs. These 31 songs from the SLCC's annual Spring Concerts, most lightly accompanied, begin with 6 wonderful cuts by the Concert Choir, especially Mozart's "Love Duet" from The Magic Flute and a lovely solo on Bill Henderson's (heavily accompanied) "When I Sing." Then we have 3 very sweet live tunes by the Preparatory Choir, particularly "Mrs. Jenny Wren" and "All Night, All Day." Following are the Beginning Choir's "A Distant Shore," and "Orpheus with his Lute," the Intermediate Choir's version of Bob Chilcott's "Concrete" and "Streetseller" (from City Songs), the Choristers' "Oh Susanna" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street," and the Chamber Singers' "Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal" and "For Spacious Skies." The CD closes with all choirs singing their powerful Theme Song, "We Gather Here Together." Great stuff from one of the best children's choir programs we've heard! |