Bel Canto
View Bel Canto's performance on March 28, 2010:
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Bel Canto Overview
Bel Canto Singers began in August 2009. The idea of having just another singing group was not appealing, but the idea of having a singing group that could be called on to sing for anyone from “street people to Presidents” with a strong missional purpose was appealing to both FPC Children’s Ministry and Children’s Music Ministry. This group of auditioned students, grades 5 - 8 serves as representatives of First Presbyterian, Houston and whether they are singing secular or sacred music, they carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever they go.
Bel Canto had an exciting first year. They went from black velvet to blue jeans and classic to contemporary! After much hard work and lots of fellowship, they sang at FPC Advent Night dressed in Dickens Character costumes. They were an integral part of our Christmas Eve service and sang in worship services throughout the year. To show their playful side, they sang Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious in the Youth Variety Show. Bel Canto hosted our first ever Piano Extravaganza event to raise funds for their music and mission tour to New York City. It was an elegant evening for everyone! Their year ended with their Music and Mission Tour to New York City June 3-8, 2010 with a final performance in Carnegie Hall. While Carnegie Hall was a highlight of this trip, the children also sang in Central Park, enjoyed a good ole New York hot dog and visited Graffiti Church where they learned about mission work. There they handed out flyers in the park promoting Christian based weekly camps at Graffiti. They combined forces with the Groove Crew to lead worship in a cutting edge style at our sister church, 5th Avenue Presbyterian in NYC where they were extremely well received.
So what is in store for Bel Canto in 2010 and 2011? They will lead all worship services on October 3, where they will feature some selections from Heartsongs, the musical piece they premiered at Carnegie Hall. They will sing for FPC’s Messiah Sing-Along, dressed again as Dickens Characters, and will sing for the 5 pm Christmas Eve Service. They will prepare a special work by John Rutter for the Ash Wednesday service presented with orchestra and Sanctuary Singers and they will be a part of the church-wide Spring Choir Musical. Missional work will be a strong component again this year. Details of our travel have not yet been finalized.
Anyone, boy or girl, entering grades 5-8 can audition. There are no prerequisites other than being able to match pitch and commitment to rehearsals and performances. Rehearsals are Sundays from noon to 1:30 p.m. in CE 240. Occasionally throughout the year, we hold a fun rehearsal on a Friday night.
Auditions will be held on Sundays, August 15 and 22 at 11 a.m. Please e-mail Cameron Gallagher for your audition time. Children should come prepared to sing a portion of a song of their choice, or even Jesus Loves Me! Our first rehearsal is August 22 from noon to 2 p.m. followed by a pool party until 4 p.m. Rehearsals then resume on September 12.
If you have any questions please e-mail me.
Blessings,
Diana
Bel Canto Technique
Bel canto means, most literally, "beautiful singing." It is a term used to describe all Italian singing, but in particular the light, bright quality that Italian opera singers use to charm audiences. Bel canto emerged in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with roots all the way through the Middle Ages. It grew out of teaching students and has become a very popular form of instruction throughout the centuries. True bel canto singing is an extension of normal speaking and voice expression.
Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, Marcello and Pacini are some of the most famous bel canto composers. In their operas, one finds the light, soaring soprano and tenor arias that have made Italian opera famous. Because bel canto is, by its very nature, Italian singing, it will exist as long as Italian singing does. From the popularity of Andrea Bocelli and other Italian singing stars, one can see that bel canto will be around for quite a long time.