North Georgia Children's Choir

Bringing the Joy of Singing to Children

The North Georgia Children’s Choir is happy to have you visit our site.

Mission

The mission of the North Georgia Children’s Choir is to train young singers musically and artistically, and to sing together in harmony. The Choir is dedicated to developing musical excellence, artistry, and literacy through the choral arts. We strive to give our singers an experience that will inspire them and encourage them to continue making music throughout their lives.

How Does My Child Join the Choir?

If you have a child who is interested in joining the choir, please view the NGCC Registration page to see the tuition policy and complete the registration form for your child. For questions email Dr. Marie Graham.

The North Georgia Children's Choir was originally envisioned as an opportunity for homeschoolers to experience choral singing and to be exposed to fine choral literature. Since its inception in the fall of 2007, the group has grown and the vision expanded as well. Until the shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the chorus provided an opportunity for treble singers from public and private schools, as well as homeschoolers, to experience choral singing.

Founder Ruth Purcell retired and relocated to northeastern Georgia in the fall of 2021, leaving NGCC dormant until spring of 2024. Now the leadership has passed to Dr. Marie Graham, DMA, the Coordinator of Music Education at UNG.

Read More About the Chorus >>

Choir News

Good News!

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There has been no news since 2020, but now we have some news that is truly good news!

Although the recorded early childhood classes developed into a total of 32 lessons, (still available online at ruthpurcell.com – see Ruth’s August 12, 2020 Choir News article), unfortunately NGCC was not able to rally following the pandemic, and Ruth and Michael made the decision to relocate to Toccoa, Georgia.

Early in 2024 we were contacted by Dr. Marie Graham of UNG, who had encouraged us since her arrival at UNG the year before the shutdown. We are very pleased to announce that the baton will now pass to her leadership and that the North Georgia Children’s Choir will experience a resurrection at last under her leadership! Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming Fall 2024 season. You may email Dr. Graham at marie@ngachildrenschorus.org for more information.

Fall 2020 Update

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In the 2019-20 school year, our focus shifted because of the young ages of our enrollees. We did a full semester in the fall, and a ¾ semester until the COVID-19 shut-down in mid-March. 

Using the First Steps in Music curriculum created by Dr. John Feierabend, which has always been the backbone of our training choir program, we added a segment on preliminary choral learning. This hybrid was enthusiastically received by our young singers. After the sudden cessation of lessons, one recorded video was sent out to the singers as a closing class for the term.

At the present time, there are no plans for a fall 2020 session. Instead, there is a video series in development for ages 4-8, using the First Steps in Music curriculum. The summer session, Summer Fun, has completed one cycle and is about to begin a second cohort. The fall video series will be released in October.

For more information about the First Steps in Music video series, please see this short introductory video.

Fall Session Final Class – Primary Choir… Plus

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All Primary Choir… Plus parents were able to attend the final Open Class Day on Monday, November 11, Veteran’s Day. They participated right along with their super singer sudents on every singing and movement activity, which was my fondest pedagogical hope! Everyone had a great time! At the end of the class, the singers performed songs they had been practicing since September.

Now we turn our attention to the Winter Quarter:
Calling all singers 6+ to young 8’s for more Primary Choir… PLUS! January 27 – March 30, Mondays 4:30- 5:30 p.m.
No audition required.

Calling all singers 2nd-4th grade for the UPBEAT SINGERS! Our concert theme is FRESH VOICES. Rehearsals on Mondays, January 13 – March 30, 4:15 – 5:45 p.m. Please contact Ruth Purcell at 706-482-8031 to schedule a vocal interview!

All new singers should schedule a vocal interview and register on our website by Friday, January 10.

Click here for more details and general information about the program.

2019 marks twelve years of of Bringing the Joy of Singing to Children. Take a trip back in time and view the programs from all of the past choir concerts, as well as some pictures of the choir each term.

View the Past Programs Archive >>