Saecula Choir Foundation Inc

TO PROVIDE MUSIC EDUCATION, PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. SAECULA CHOIR FOUNDATION INC. TRANSFORMS LIVES THROUGH CHORAL MUSIC.

ENSEMBLES SAECULA SCHOLA CANTORUM IS A ONE-ON-A-PART LABORATORY-STYLE VOCAL ENSEMBLE PROVIDING ADVANCED SIGHT-SINGING AND SIGHT-CONDUCTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED MUSICIANS OF ALL AGES. AS A PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO FOSTER PROFESSIONALISM AND INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY, THE SCHOLA IS OF PARTICULAR VALUE TO EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED SCHOOL-AGED MUSICIANS WHO WOULD NEVER OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH RIGOROUS AND FAST- PACED MUSIC-MAKING EXPERIENCES PRIOR TO COLLEGE OR GRADUATE SCHOOL. AT EACH SESSION, MEMBERS READ THROUGH SEVERAL UNFAMILIAR PIECES, REHEARSE THEM BRIEFLY, AND THEN PRESENT THEM TO A SMALL AUDIENCE. PARTICIPANTS COACH ONE ANOTHER AND TAKE TURNS CONDUCTING. REPERTOIRE INCLUDES RENAISSANCE POLYPHONY AND CHORAL CHAMBER MUSIC OF ALL PERIODS. DURING 2022, THE ENSEMBLE PERFORMED COMPLINE SERVICES AT SEVERAL CHURCHES IN CONNECTICUT, INCLUDING SEYMOUR CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN SEYMOUR, ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WATERBURY, AND ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WASHINGTON. SAECULA SINGERS IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL TREBLE-VOICE CHAMBER CHOIR PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GIFTED SINGERS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS (AGES 7 THROUGH ADULT) TO DEVELOP CONDUCTING SKILLS, LEADERSHIP, CONFIDENCE, AND STAGE PRESENCE IN A CHALLENGING YET SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE GROUP PERFORMED IN SEVERAL EVENTS AT ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN WASHINGTON, CONNECTICUT. OUTREACH ACTIVITIES SAECULA CHORAL BRIDGE IS A NEW SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN WHICH OUTSTANDING MUSIC STUDENTS FROM LOCAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES SERVE AS MENTORS AND TEACHERS-IN-TRAINING AT EDUCATIONAL CAMPS FOR AT-RISK YOUTH. THE INAUGURAL CHORAL BRIDGE PROJECT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2022 IN COLLABORATION WITH HORIZONS AT THE FOOTE SCHOOL, AN AWARD-WINNING, TUITION-FREE, ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM SERVING LOW-INCOME PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THE NEW HAVEN COMMUNITY.

COOPERATIVE LIVING PROGRAM THIS SAECULA COOPERATIVE LIVING PROGRAM PROVIDES SAFE, HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE COMMUNAL HOUSING FOR A SMALL GROUP OF YOUNG ADULTS (AGES 18 AND OLDER) WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION OF "TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH CHORAL MUSIC- AND WHO ARE CURRENTLY AND/OR HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CHORAL MUSIC COMMUNITY.

INSTITUTE SAECULA CHORAL INSTITUTE IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CONDUCTORS AND MUSIC EDUCATORS, WHICH OFFERS WORKSHOPS, MASTERCLASSES, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS RELATED TO LEADERSHIP, CONDUCTING, AND CHORAL PEDAGOGY. PARTICIPANTS ARE INVITED TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS IN A COLLABORATIVE, NURTURING ENVIRONMENT UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF EXPERIENCED CLINICIANS AND FACILITATORS. THE INSTITUTE'S CHORAL EXPLORATION ONLINE COACHING PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION IN MUSICIANSHIP AND CONDUCTING VIA TELECONFERENCE. DURING 2022, MORE THAN 50 SESSIONS WERE HELD, EACH LASTING BETWEEN ONE AND TWO HOURS. A WIDE ARRAY OF SUBJECTS WERE EXPLORED, INCLUDING MUSIC HISTORY, FORM AND ANALYSIS, SCORE STUDY, EAR TRAINING, HARMONY AND COUNTERPOINT, VOCAL TECHNIQUE, PHRASING, DICTION, COMPOSITION, CONDUCTING GESTURE, AND PHILOSOPHY OF LEADERSHIP. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT, IN THE YEARS AHEAD, MANY OF THESE TOPICS WILL BECOME PILLARS OF THE CURRICULUM OF SAECULA CHORAL ACADEMY (SCA) A YET-TO-BE-ESTABLISHED PRE- COLLEGE CONSERVATORY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING WORLD-CLASS TRAINING IN CONDUCTING, ACCOMPANYING, COMPOSITION, AND ENSEMBLE SINGING TO PRODIGIOUSLY TALENTED MUSICIANS, AGES 7-18.