Huntsville’s youth choir is back with new name and approach

The Huntsville Youth Choir is back and has been revamped with a new approach and name: The Four & Twenty Blackbirds Choir.

The choir, which is run by local musician and teacher Ruth Cassie, is open to boys and girls ages 7-14 of all singing and musical abilities. However, Cassie says that basic reading knowledge is needed.

“I want to develop community and mentorship in the group so that’s why the choir is open to such a broad age range of kids,” said Cassie.

More than 12 years ago, Sherisse Stevens passed the choir over to Cassie when she returned to Huntsville after five years working at a university and teaching private music lessons in Australia. Cassie still teaches private music lessons at her home in Huntsville.

“Ruth is an amazing teacher and I think that she has made me a much better singer,” said student and choir member Summer Nicholson.

The cost is $80 for the seven-week program, and if there is enough enrolment, Cassie will renew the choir again after Christmas holidays.

“I want to honour multiple faiths and backgrounds so it is essential we reach out to all different types of people,” said Cassie.

“The classic kids repertoire has a lot of outdated language so I want to draw from more pop culture and build relationships through multiple generations. We perform for parents, kids, siblings as well as retirement homes,” said Cassie. “We will be singing songs that come from film, TV, songs that are current as well as still a bit of the classics.”

Cassie also says that she is making the harmonies in the song repertoire less complex so that students of all musical abilities can participate.

If finances are an issue, Cassie says that parents can reach out to her to discuss pricing. If you enrol one of your children, their siblings’ enrolment will be at a lower cost.

Rehearsals will be at The Annex (beside Huntsville Public Library) on Monday nights from 5:30-6:15 p.m.

For more information or to register contact Ruth Cassie at rmcassie@gmail.com.

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