New Chorister Academy director Arianne Abela radiates both joy and enthusiasm when she talks about choral singing.
"Everyone is on the same beam, listening to each other, supporting each other as each human voice contributes to the song," Arianne says. "When you sing, your body is the instrument."
A life-long singer and a recent graduate of the Yale University School of Music/Institute of Sacred Music with a Master of Music degree in conducting, Arianne has been singing since she was six years old, when she became a part of the San Francisco Girls Chorus. So intense is the choral singing experience that the friends she made in that chorus in her early childhood remain her best friends today.
Arianne is excited about her new position as Chorister Academy Director at St. John's Parish-on-the-Green because she looks forward to helping young people from the Brass City make "deep and meaningful connections" in the same way she has as a singer, a student of music, and a leader of various choral groups in the Elm City.
"My experience growing up is that belonging to a choir can help you build confidence, independence, a value for hard work, and a sense of commitment. Belonging to a choir can enhance how you feel about yourself," she says. "It can help young people come out of their shell."
The Chorister Academy is open to boys and girls in grades 3 through 12. For more information, please contact the church office at 203-754-3116.
