14 UCW NOVEMBER 8 - 14, 2017
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
EVENTS
The Campbellton Youth Chorus, a cho-
ral music group, has no affiliation with
any school or church. The organization
is dedicated to fostering music literacy
and giving children a lifelong love for
music. As its website states, this group
is open to "youth ages 9 to 14, regardless
of school affiliation, ethnicit y, socio-
economic background or religion."
The group's artistic director, Donna Jo
Mangus, said, "It's really a community
choir and the only youth community
choir in Cumberland County."
The idea for a diverse, music-centered
youth choir came from the Cumberland
Oratorio Singers, a local adult sym-
phonic choir of which Mangus is a
member. The connection works well for
both groups, providing the Campbell-
ton Youth Chorus opportunities to sing
three times a year as the opening act for
Oratorio Singers concerts. Once a year, the youth
are even given the opportunit y to sing in a joint
performance with their parent choir and learn
about large group performances.
Those performances are in addition to the youth
chorus's three yearly concerts and other events.
Mangus said the youth choir sings, "secular, sacred
and patriot music." She added that this spring they
will also sing pop songs and some show tunes.
The choir is in its third year and second full
season and is already scheduled to perform Nov.
10 at Saint Patrick Catholic Church; Dec. 16 at
Anderson Street First Baptist Church; and March
1-3 they will be in Greensville as part of the 2018
Piedmont Invitational Children's Choir Festival.
A lso, t he chor us w i l l per for m in a joint con-
cer t w it h t he Cumberla nd Orator io Singers at
Hay mont United Bapt ist Chu rch Apr i l 27, a nd in
Ju ly t hey w i l l pa r t icipate in t he Independence
Day sy mphony concer t at
Fest iva l Pa rk.
Those interested in invit-
ing the chorus perform for
events, as well as those par-
ents who would like to have
their child join the Camp-
bellton Youth Chorus, should
send an email to Mangus at
DonnajoMangus@gmail.com.
The chorus practices once
a week, and yearly dues are
$90 for what Mangus says is
"almost like a private group
singing lesson." Interested
children are not required to
have any vocal experience or
education. The group is de-
voted to inclusivity and music,
so the only requirement is a
love of singing.
More information about t he group's mission
and t heir performance schedule is available at
w w w.campbelltonyout hchorus.org.
A choir for the community
by ALEC NICCUM
ALEC NICCUM, Contributing Writer.
COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin-
gweekly.com. (910) 484-6200.
