With our academy director Maria Coffin, some of our choristers attended the diocesan choirmasters' conference at St. Paul's in Fairfield on Saturday, January 3.
The Chorister Academy of St. John's Parish gives youth in the Greater Waterbury area the opportunity to sing in a chorus that is faithful to the highest standards of the choir art. The chorus is open to those in third grade through high school. Director Arianne Abela graduated from the Yale University School of Music/Institute of Sacred Music with a Master of Music degree in conducting. Ms. Abela is an accomplished singer and soloist, having spent years performing with the San Francisco Girls Chorus. As an undergraduate at Smith College, she performed with the Chamber Singers, College Chorus and Glee Club. While attending the Northampton, Massachusetts college, she began her conducting career. Before graduating in 2008, she received the Susan Rose Award, granting her full funding to travel to Bulgaria to conduct the Verdi Requiem with the Vidlin State Philharmonica Orchestra. While at Yale, she conducted or assisted with the Yale Glee Cub, the Yale Camerata, the Saybrook College Orchestra, the Yale Chapel Choir and the Yale Repertory Chorus. She also conducted professional choirs at Christ Episcopal Church, New Haven.
REHEARSAL TIMES
Resuming in September: Thursdays: 5 to 7:15 p.m. (with supper)