J
ennie Nolan always
knew she would start
her own choir one day,
but the timing of life tends
to sidetrack a lot of dreams.
Fortunately for her, however,
her children are now old
enough to allow Nolan to focus
less on homeschooling and
more on her true passion –
music.
A classically trained singer with a degree in Choral Music from
Biola University in California and a current singer with the Pittsburgh
Camerata, Nolan directed choirs in California before her husband
took a job in Pittsburgh 13 years ago.
“I directed the San Diego Children’s Choir and the Palomar Youth
Chorale,” Nolan said. “I’ve taught band, classroom music, English,
you name it. I most enjoy working in a choral situation, and we finally
decided it’s time to start something that really isn’t like anything else
in the South Hills area.”
The South Hills Children’s Choir is a nonprofit, community choir
open to any kids who can sing, audition and join. The choir got off the
ground last fall and made it through its first holiday season.
“We sang at Phipps and people really enjoyed that. We also sang at
South Hills Village and local senior living communities. We got a lot
of good feedback and people were very responsive to us.”
What makes the South Hills Children’s Choir different is the depth
of the material Nolan is willing to explore with the kids. From Bach,
Brahms and Mozart, to traditional Maori tunes from the indigenous
people of New Zealand, Nolan’s not afraid to rise to the music at hand.
Throughout the year, they’re scheduled to sing “The Star Spangled
Banner” at a Washington Wild Things game, entertain at Washington
Area Assisted Living Center and are trying to get into Kennywood for
some performances.
“We want to offer something unique, to give kids depth in their
understanding of music and life,” Nolan said. “We also want to be a
real, true, functioning choir and not a whim that passes after a couple
of years. We want to be a place where kids can come and learn singing
techniques and learn teamwork in a creative, artistic situation.”
Because different schools have different policies on sending fliers
home with students, the South Hills Children’s Choir currently has a
core of Canon-McMillan students, some Christian schools and some
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