“Celebration in Song” Choral Festival

A “Celebration in Song” summer choral festival and teacher training event is well attended by both singers and teachers, and is endorsed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.  The camp was founded in 1992 by Sandy Holland, Artistic Director, and continues to serve the greater Charlotte community.  Each year the camp has a waiting list and currently enrolls  children and instructors from a variety of schools within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg system.  Children are recommended for the camp by school music teachers and church music directors.  The purpose of the “Celebration in Song” program is to offer an in-depth, yet inexpensive, experience in choral singing for children in the greater Charlotte community. 

Children study choral music, choral performance techniques, and culturally diverse music and musical instruments.  During this week-long camp, the children move, sing, and create musical art, taking ownership of their creations.  Daily instruction is offered to the participants in vocal techniques, rehearsal and performance skills, and in the use of various musical instruments.  The festival culminates with a free concert, advertised and open to the general public, highlighting the skills the children have learned throughout the week. 

A Teacher Training component was incorporated in 1999, which is offered in partnership with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.  Teachers in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools who attend the festival receive 3.0 continuing education credits.  Participating teachers and other music directors attend the festival classes with the children in the morning, and attend independent instruction in the afternoon. 

The “Celebration in Song” choral festival has received funding from the National Endowment of the Arts, Target Foundation, and the Young Singers Foundation.