Mid-Columbia Mastersingers: Together in Harmony: Mastersingers Youth Choir educates a new generation of singers

Deep breathing. Creative expression. Team building, problem solving, and conceptual learning with a side of laughter, camaraderie and creating something beautiful. There are few activities that offer humans so many benefits, bring people together so vividly, and enrich lives so completely as singing in choir.

Studies of brain activity have shown that when people sing, they experience cranial activity in several areas simultaneously, connecting the left and right hemispheres. Singing together creates community and bridges cultures and generations. Anyone who sings knows that it decreases stress, anxiety and depression. For youth, it also statistically increases SAT scores and the likelihood of graduating from high school.

That’s why the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers created its newest and most educational program, the Mastersingers Youth Choir. Affectionately nicknamed “MY Choir,” this program exists to support the future of music in the Tri-Cities. Designed to work side-by-side with school choir programs, MY Choir trains young singers in an educational, creative, social and fun environment.

The first notes of this program were sung in 2014, when a single youth ensemble called the Mid-Columbia Boys’ Choir opened to boys age 9-13 on the recommendation of local school music teachers. Four years later, the program expanded to four choirs: the Girls’ Choir and Boys’ Choir for grades 4-7, and the Treble Choir and Bass Choir for grades 8-12. Young singers now join these ensembles for Fall Session from September to December, Spring Session from January to May, and Summer Camp in August.

Choir Summer Camp is an introductory program, designed for singers to explore the joys and challenges of choral singing. Campers attend each morning for a week, learning proper vocal technique and how to craft artistry in concert. Camp concludes with two concerts: one for family and friends, showcasing the songs learned that week, and one performing the national anthem at a Dust Devils baseball game.

Fall and Spring Sessions are the staples of the MY Choir program. Singers meet weekly, learning songs while expanding their understanding of music theory, vocal technique, balance, artistry, professional concert etiquette and more. Each choir performs several times per session, often in collaboration with other local performing groups, including the four “Mid-Columbia” groups — the Symphony, Ballet, Musical Theater, and the three adult ensembles of Mid-Columbia Mastersingers. These collaborations provide the young singers with invaluable experiences, role models, relationships and confidence.

As often as possible, MY Choirs give back to the community by singing in programs like the Martin Luther King Jr. Children’s Celebration at Richland Library, the Benton-Franklin Domestic Violence Services Vigil, and at local retirement homes.

It is not an easy feat for a community choir to double as an educational and performing group, especially with only one rehearsal per week. MY Choir’s secret? Four distinct ensembles, each with its own director focused on the challenges unique to that group. For example, when voices change during adolescence, the larynx and vocal cords lengthen and thicken. This is a time when many boys struggle with their love of singing. Kurtis McFadden, who is director of MY Bass Choir and also of the McLoughlin Middle School Choir, is well-trained in coaching boys through this transition, helping them to maintain vocal health and quality, develop their passion for singing, and express themselves during a crucial time in their cognitive and emotional development.

Mastersingers Youth is always accepting new singers age 9-18. No auditions are required, everyone is welcome, and scholarships are available for those in need. Join us in our mission to transform lives through the power of choral music.

This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Mid-Columbia Mastersingers: Together in Harmony: Mastersingers Youth Choir educates a new generation of singers."