Building Skills in Our Youngest Singers

Their young voices are getting stronger, helping to bring the word of our Lord to life. 

There are now 17 junior choirs in parishes throughout the Eastern Diocese, with five parishes working to establish their own junior choirs.  "Hye" Point, Springfield, New Britain, Hartford, Evanston and Boca Raton are among those planning to start new junior choirs.

"It's important to cultivate the talents of these children, because we need to make them feel connected to the Badarak and ultimately to the Church," said Fr. Garabed Kochakian, pastor of St. John Church of Southfield, MI, during a choir association meeting in 2002.

In 2002 the Eastern Diocese and the Association of Armenian Church Choirs of America worked not only to increase the numbers of junior choirs, but to improve their skills, as well.

The Choir Association produced a children's Badarak book that transposes the music to a lower key for use by junior choirs.  Dr. Socrates Boyajian provided the musical material and the Diocesan Department of Religious Education developed a hymnal commentary geared towards youngsters in conjunction with the book.

In September 2002, the Choir Association also sponsored a regional junior choir gathering and seminar hosted by the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, RI, where 61 children (ages 5 to 17) from seven New England parishes learned hymns, vocal techniques, and music appreciation.  The Choir Association will hold similar workshops throughout the Diocese in 2003.

"If you weren't looking at them, you would think you were listening to a professional, adult choir.  The Hayr Mer and Soorp Asdvadz were especially beautiful," said Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, director of programs and ministries for the Diocese. 

The goal of the Diocese is to have a junior choir in every parish.  It is a way to not only make the celebration of the Badarak more special for the parishioners, but also to get the next generation involved in the life of the Church.

To help raise funds for the junior choir movement, the Choir Association produced a CD-recording of four combined junior choirs -- 54 children in all -- who sang at a choir assembly in Trumbull, CT, in November 2002.  The singers represented parishes in Trumbull, CT; Wynnewood, PA; White Plains, NY; and Bayside, NY.  Proceeds from the $10 CD will be used to develop junior choir programs throughout the Diocese.