Chorister Profiles | 2023 - 2024 Seniors

We have an outstanding group of seniors in the FCCC this year! It is always interesting to learn about them, their favorite songs and to hear their thoughts about the choir. Below is the first group of profiles for this season. Congratulations to these talented singers!

Name: Phoebe Tunnell

Age: 16

School: Fairfield Ludlowe High School

Town: Fairfield, CT

Favorite FCCC Song: Even When He Is Silent, Sing Me to Heaven, Wanting Memories

Being a member of FCCC for 9 years has been such a constant source of joy growing up. When I reflect on everything I’ve been so lucky to experience, I remember a moment when FCYC was first learning the song Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful world, during a normal night's rehearsal, and we all broke out into harmony perfectly without ever even practicing it. I immediately got chills, and felt so proud of the unspoken communication and understanding by everyone in the room that night. It was just magical. I've felt so immensely grateful for the truly wonderful and talented people that I get to call my friends, and of course to all of the choir conductors who are there for every level and every step of everyone's musical journey.

Of course, I would like to thank Mr. Noyes for always reminding us to breathe, focus, and enjoy

every moment. As I know now being a Senior, choir goes by way too fast. I find such a sense of comfort

and pride in choir that’s unlike anything else. I can hear, sense and see the emotion and the power we

express while all singing together. I will never forget the overwhelming feeling while singing Ave Maria in

the Tabernacle in Martha’s Vineyard, or simply the overwhelming feeling of happiness during a normal

Monday or Wednesday rehearsal. I'm grateful for every concert, every moment, every song, every note.

Name: Vicky Sgaglione

Age: 17

School: Fairfield Ludlowe High School

Town: Fairfield

Favorite FCCC Song: Biebl Ave Maria, City Called Heaven, Kafal Sviri

When I first heard about FCCC in 5th grade I was originally anxious to audition, I had little knowledge about music. However, auditioning for this choir was the best decision I ever made. There aren’t words to express how much FCCC means to me. Not only have I learned how to be a musician, and been exposed to high-caliber music, but I’ve made life-long friends. The community of this choir is like nothing I have experienced before, everyone has such a pure passion for music and is so supportive and kind. Hearing us sing all together still amazes me 8 years later, and seeing the impact our music has on audiences makes me so proud to be a part of this group. Thank you so much to Mr. Noyes for pushing us to be our best and to the conductors for everything I’ve learned! I’m so grateful to have been part of a choir that makes it so hard to say goodbye.

Name: Ellen Ou

Age: 16

School: Staples High School

Town: Westport

Favorite FCCC Song: Hotaru Koi, I Love the Mountains

FCCC has been a truly unique experience in all 8 of my years in attendance, and I am really grateful to the conductors and directors that made it possible, and who have created so many amazing opportunities for us to push ourselves out of our comfort zones. The amount of energy and passion the conductors, the band, and the choristers have blows me away every time I attend the weekly rehearsals. I appreciate the diversity of the songs in our repertoire, and I hope that we keep up our efforts to expand the scope of the songs we learn as a group. I am not sure where I'm going to go in life, or even which major I plan on pursuing. Despite this, I do know that music and singing will be a big part of my life, even if I do not plan to go into it as a career, and that FCCC is greatly responsible for that. I am immensely thankful to everyone involved in FCCC for all of the concerts, rehearsals, and most importantly the relentless enthusiasm and determination!

Name: Samara Negrin 

Age: 17                   

School: Homeschool  

Town: Trumbull  

Favorite FCCC Song: Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Stand in that River, One Voice  

My experience at FCCC has been incredible! It makes my heart soar to think of all the harmonious music our choir family has made together each year. I have learned so much from all of the amazing choir directors and I appreciate the time and effort that they put into every choir season. They have always made me feel like anything is possible and they truly want the best for everyone. I have made many wonderful friends over the years and I will cherish the fantastic memories. I am very grateful for my years at FCCC and I will proudly take all that I have learned with me to sing in a college choir and throughout my lifetime. Thank you so much Mr. Noyes, conductors and accompanists for the beautiful gift of music!

Name: Melanie (Mel) Dreizen

Age: 16

School: Fairfield Ludlowe High School

Town: Fairfield

Favorite FCCC Songs: Kafal Sviri, Biebl Ave Maria, Will the Circle, Total Praise

I have been singing with FCCC for 7 years, and this choir has shaped my life in so many ways. It has developed me as a musician, through performing a diverse and exciting repertoire every year and learning how to sight read, harmonize, and work together with other people. I have made lifetime friendships on tours and felt an unspoken sense of kinship with everyone as we sing together in harmony. I’ve gained valuable skills like time management, hard work, commitment, and collaboration. I was thrilled to be able to write and arrange a song to be premiered at the Klein, and to perform at Carnegie Hall twice. I am so incredibly grateful for the lessons I’ve learned, the friends I’ve made, and the opportunities I’ve been given by being in this choir for as long as I have. Without Mr. Noyes, I would not be nearly as well-versed as a musician as I am right now. I plan to pursue music in college and even afterward, and being in this choir has only solidified my love for music. FCCC means so much to me, and I’ll always hold Mr. Noyes and all of my choirmates in my heart and in my music.

Staff News

We are pleased to introduce our new music staff members!!

Chris Anne Powers – Concert Choir Conductor

Mrs. Powers has been teaching music since 1995. Currently, she is the K-5 General Music, Band, Chorus, and Theater teacher at Cos Cob School in Greenwich, Connecticut, where she co-directs the Greenwich Public Schools Honor Choir (GPSHC).

During her time with the GPSHC, Chris has had the good fortune of collaborating with world-renowned conductors and composers such as Rollo Dilworth, Henry Leck, Nick Page, and Jim Papoulis. Chris received her undergraduate degree in Music Education as well as her Kodály Certificate from The Hartt School, where she first met and studied with Dr. John Feierabend. She is now the director of the Kodály Certification Program at the Hartt School, as well as the Methodology III professor. Chris also holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Sacred Heart University. As an Endorsed Teacher Trainer for the Feierabend Association for Music Education (FAME), Chris presents professional development workshops and FAME certification courses around the country. Chris is a contributing author to the Feierabend Fundamentals book and is the author and curator of the Feierabend Repertoire Database published by GIA Publications. She has studied conducting with Doreen Rao. In 2019, received the Greenwich Distinguished Teachers Award.

Rodney Loren – Accompanist

Rodney Loren recently moved to Connecticut from San Diego, California following early retirement in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Prior to arriving at Wilton Presbyterian Church as music director, Mr. Loren had a lengthy career teaching university and public school students and serving as church organist. He holds a B.A. in Music Education and Sacred Music, an M.M. in Organ, and Ph.D. in Music Education. He taught general/vocal music at a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon school, and on the faculties of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Illinois, teaching courses in music education and technology. An advocate of integrated arts education, Rodney was named Music Teacher of the Year by the Civic Music Association and served as program director Arts in Community Education—a program sponsored by National Endowment of the Arts and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. While studying on a Fulbright-Hays scholarship to Hungary and the Czech Republic, he became interested in the folk music of the Hungarian and Moravian people.

Best wishes to Ashley and Gabriel for “the most incredible experiences, lasting memories, and ... strong friendships that … will last forever.”)

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A contribution to the Fairfield County Children's Choir is an investment in the future. We train outstanding young performers and help them to grow – both as musicians and as responsible, caring young adults. Your support makes it possible for us to bring our world-class choir experience to musically talented children, many of whom receive tuition assistance. Your gift is tax deductible, and we gratefully thank you for your generosity.

Fairfield County Children's Choir

P.O. Box 1528

Fairfield, CT 06825

SingFCCC.org

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