Children’s Choir invited to sing at the White House

The Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir has been invited to sing at the White House Christmas Tours on Dec. 21, according to Yvette Peake, choir manager.

The acclaimed children’s choir, now in its twentieth year, had applied for the honor in April 2011. “We were thrilled to get this invitation in mid-November and had almost given up on this working out,” said Julia White, Artistic Director and Founder. “We are ready to go, with repertoire, uniforms and red capes for this extraordinary invitation.”

The SVCC will sing in the East Room of the White House while visitors are passing through for Christmas Tours. Although some tours are open to the public, the SVCC’s time slot of 4 – 6:30 p.m., Dec. 21 is closed for security reasons.

“The last time we were selected we sang for Senate and Congress families but we don’t know who will be coming through while we sing this time,” said Ms. White.

Performances at the White House and for presidents are familiar to the SVCC.  In 1997 the choir sang at the National Christmas Tree Lighting with President Clinton, opera star Placido Domingo and the U. S. Coast Guard band. They have sung for the Christmas Tours and have also sung for President Jimmy Carter at the Gandhi awards in 2009.

“I express my congratulations to the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir upon your selection to perform at the White House during the Christmas season,” said Bob Goodlatte, U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 6th District. “The White House’s selection of your choir above many others is a huge honor and testament to the quality of your choir.”

About the children’s choir

The SVCC has an already rigorous 2011-12 year, having sung two concerts December 3 and 4 with the Washington Symphonic Brass Quintet of Washington, DC. Upcoming invitations, in addition to spring concerts, include the American Choral Directors Association conference in March and the Carnegie Hall Children’s Choir Festival in May in New York City.

The SVCC is part of the music  department at Eastern Mennonite University. SVCC will be holding auditions for the two younger, auditioned choirs, the Preparatory and Treble Choirs, on Jan. 5, 2012.  Spring auditions will be held in May 2012.

For more information about the SVCC see www.emu.edu/svcc.