Interested in joining Red Rose? Boys and girls who will be entering 1st through 8th grades (and girls entering grades 9-10) are invited to the Summer '08 auditions for the 2008-2009 season. Contact Amy Younts for additional information. You can download an Audition form here (32 KB PDF). Answers to frequently asked questions can be found below or a printable version can be found here (68 KB PDF).

Amy Younts, Executive Director
847-548-8432 or e-mail her with any questions

How do I know if my child is ready? Perhaps the most important question for you to consider is: Does my child love to sing? Experience has shown that motivated students naturally excel and succeed in the RRCCLC. We invite you to bring your child to one of our concerts so they can see for themselves what fun it is to sing in the RRCCLC.

The ability to sing in tune develops at a time that is unique to each young child. Like learning to play a sport, it is a skill each child masters step by step. We only accept children who are able to match pitches accurately. For a child not yet able to match pitches accurately, choir would be a difficult experience for them, and they might not enjoy it. However, we will invite them to return for an audition the following year. In many cases, we've seen children who have not been quite ready to sing in a choir have waited and auditioned successfully a year later.

Frequently Asked Questions (July, 2008)

• When will my child be notified if they are accepted into the choir? Letters will be sent to the parents of each child one week after auditions.

• When does the choir season begin? Rehearsals start the Tuesday and Wednesday after Labor Day. Each choir rehearses once a week. The week of a performance there are always two mandatory rehearsals.

• What is the tuition for the choir? Tuition for Prelude Choir is $550.00 for the season. Tuition for Concert Choir, Master Singers and Chamber Choir is $600.00 for the season. Plus a $25 Attire Rental Fee. A non-refundable deposit of $100.00 secures your child’s spot in the choir. It is deducted from your tuition.

• When is tuition due? Tuition is due by September 1st unless you choose to make installment payments which may be arranged with the Executive Director.

• What types of music will my child be learning? The repertoire of the choir is based on American folk literature, European classics and poetry. The choir also performs sacred, patriotic and traditional holiday pieces. Many songs are sung in different languages and occasionally the choir explores styles such as avant-garde, jazz and musical theater.

• Is my child automatically accepted into the choir for the next season? Each spring the music directors evaluate each singer to listen to how they improved over the season and to decide if they are ready for the next level of choir. If there are problems or issues the director would notify you before the end of the season.

• When can my child tour? Singers are eligible to tour after they have finished the 6th grade and have completed one year in Master Singers. All tour applicants must be interviewed by the directors.

• Is fund raising required? Each season the choir gives singers the opportunity to fund raise. The money they make is kept in a restricted account, which can be used for tours or the annual choir retreat. When the child leaves the choir, any remaining money goes into the choir general fund. Fund raising is optional.

• Is the choir affiliated with a religious organization? RRCCLC is a nonprofit organization and is not affiliated with any other organizations. We rent rehearsal space at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and often use churches for our concerts.

• What can I expect my child to gain from being a member of RRCCLC? Your child will share their passion for singing with other children who love music. The choir is designed to achieve the following qualities in each singer’s development as a choir member: a healthy use of voice as a musical instrument; improved reading and listening skills; increased self-esteem and self discipline; a sense of community and teamwork; and an appreciation for the musical arts.