These kids can `Sing!'

The Boston Children's Chorus has performed in national tours, swung through Japan and was a highlight of the Democratic National Convention in 2004.

Their next appearance is their most exciting yet: They're coming to a CD player near you.

The multiracial chorus, now in its fourth performance season, recently released ``Sing!'' its first professional recording. The 15-song CD features the voices of 130 members of the Boston Children's Chorus' five performance groups.

``We were always anxious to put something on a recording, and, as we enter our fourth performance season, it seemed like a fitting time,'' said David Howse, director of programs and community impact for the Boston Children's Chorus. ``It's a wonderful way to chronicle our history and a good chance for the kids to sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor.''

The Boston Children's Chorus was founded by Hubie Jones, who had a vision of a chorus where children from diverse backgrounds united in song. The first chorus came together in October 2003, and it is now in its fourth performance season, with about 50 performances a year.

More than 400 children have participated in Boston Children's Chorus programs since its inception. Earlier this year, the third annual Dr. Martin Luther King Concert by the chorus was broadcast live on WCVB-TV in Boston and rebroadcast to more than half a million viewers nationally by Superstation WGN to celebrate Black History Month in February.

``Sing!'' is comprised of songs from the Boston Children's Chorus concert repertoire, with selections in Latin and Hebrew, a Japanese lullaby, African-American spirituals, gospel songs and American anthems.
It also includes the first commissioned piece for the chorus, ``Trilogy of Dreams,'' by composer Rollo A. Dilworth, who set three poems by Langston Hughes to music.

Elizabeth Strzepa, 15, a Shrewsbury resident, is now in her third year with the chorus. Heading into the recording studio with her fellow members of the concert chorus was a highlight, she said.

``I had never been inside a recording studio before. It was a really good experience,'' Strzepa said. ``It sounded better than I thought it would. It sounds really, really good, really professional.''

Strzepa, a soprano, auditioned for the chorus after spotting a magazine ad. Her previous performing experience was in her school chorus and in musical theater.

``I'm usually in Boston eight hours a week,'' said Strzepa, a ninth-grader at Worcester Academy. ``It's a lot, but it's worth it.''

Strzepa cannot hear her own voice on the recording, but she wasn't expecting to be in the forefront.
``I was in the back row during the recording,'' she said. ``But I can pick out some of my friends' voices in it, which is cool.''

When planning for the CD, care was taken to ensure that the music was as diverse as the makeup of the choir.

``It was important that we have representation of all of our different choir programs,'' Howse said. ``We wanted to make sure we had even our youngest kids, who might not be as polished. It was exciting for the kids. They really didn't know what to expect going into this, and they did remarkably well.''

The CD is now available on the group's Web site, bostonchildrenschorus.org, for $20 (shipping included) and arrangements are being made to have it sold in venues such as the Boston Children's Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts.

``The response has been overwhelmingly positive,'' Howse said. ``We're hoping this is just the start for our recordings.''