November 2023 Newsletter

A Word From the Kids

"My favorite things about the Choir School are the opportunities you get to have and the relationships you get to build. This is such a great place with such amazing people and opportunities that can take you so far."

Jade, age 16, YAP Scholar. This is her first year at the Choir School. She emceed the Cabaret concert in October!

December 9: Sounds of the Season

Ring in the festive season with our annual holiday concert! With music chosen by popular demand from singers and audiences, the concert will be nonstop fun for the whole family.

Musical Highlights:

Selections from Handel’s Messiah

Kwanzaa music popularized by Sweet Honey in the Rock

A Hanukkah classic by Peter, Paul, and Mary

Gospel hits

Saturday, December 9, 2023 | 7:30pm

Grace United Methodist Church, Wilmington, DE

Tickets: $25 | Kids FREE!

Get Your Tickets Today!

What's New at Debnam House?

It's been a busy fall at the Choir School! The Greatest Hits Concert Season kicked off with Life is a Cabaret on October 21st. Students and adult singers shared rousing solos, duets, and large group numbers from beloved musicals. Their performances brought the house to their feet! Thank you to everyone who came out to support our singers.

We celebrated Lights On Afterschool with a community festival at Brandywine Mills Park on October 26. This nationwide event spotlights the importance of afterschool programs for communities. We were thrilled to bring our community together - including students, families, neighbors, volunteers, politicians, and more - for this joyful celebration. Our party featured live performances, speeches, fair snacks, a moonbounce, and dancing!

Special thanks to City Councilman White, City Councilwoman Oliver, and Ms. Tracey Roberts (Principal of Harlan Elementary School and Choir School Board Member) for coming out to support and offering remarks!

Outside of these events, after-school students have been busy with homework, music lessons, and preparations for our holiday concerts. Students also enjoyed special workshops in anthropology, STEM, and constitutional law.

Tune into DETV on December 4!

The Choir School will appear on DETV's Good Morning Wilmington on Monday, December 4 at 10am! Tune in to see adults and children from our intergenerational choir talk about Sounds of the Season and our impact in the Wilmington community. We will also perform some festive music!

How to Watch:

Tune into DETV - Comcast Channel 28 on 12/4 at 10am

Can't tune in live? Check our social media later in the week for rewatch links!

December Performances

It's the most wonderful time of the year! There are plenty of opportunities to welcome in the holidays with the Choir School. We can't wait to see you!

Saturday, December 2:

Green Show

Our youngest students will sing as part of this festive event at Christ Church Christiana Hundred. Stop by for some good food and holiday shopping! The event is from 10am to 3pm. We perform at 11:30am.

Learn More

Thursday, December 7:

Light Up the Village

Youth singers will perform carols and spirituals as part of the annual tree-lighting ceremony in Brandywine Mills Plaza. Stop by to meet Santa Claus, hear the Gerald Chavis Big Band, and enjoy festive snacks! Performance Time: 5:30pm

Learn More

Saturday, December 9:

Sounds of the Season

Our annual holiday concert, featuring the full intergenerational choir in a diverse program of holiday favorites, is not to be missed. This year's concert features movements from Handel's Messiah.

Learn More and Get Tickets

December 15-17: Wilmington Ballet presents The Nutcracker

A small group of choristers will be featured as the choir in Wilmington Ballet's production of The Nutcracker. Our performance comes at the end of Act I in the Waltz of the Snowflakes. There are four performances to choose from!

Learn More and Get Tickets

Sunday, December 17:

Diocesan Lessons and Carols

The Choir School joins the Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Delaware in the Episcopal Diocese's annual service of Nine Lessons and Carols. We will host in our historic home at The Village of St. John, formerly the Cathedral Church of St. John.

Learn More

The Choir School of Delaware is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on DelawareScene.com.

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