Open Door Children's Theatre

Red Grammer is Coming to Boise on March 6th.

noreply@blogger.com (Vashti Summervill) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:25:00 +0000

Critically acclaimed and GRAMMY® nominated recording artist Red Grammer is coming to Boise to perform a public concert and an educator's workshop.

When: Saturday, March 6th 4 p.m.
Where: Boise High Auditorium
Tickets: $10 (2 and under free) Available at the downtown YMCA front desk.

Red has set the gold standard for writing and performing contemporary children’s music. Consistently winning awards for music with uplifting themes, innovative lyrics, and irresistible melodies Red and his wife (co-lyricist Kathy Grammer) have created a treasure trove of music for families and classrooms. His music has a universal appeal that cuts across generations, backgrounds, ethnicity and religions.

"Picking the best of Red Grammer is like picking the best chocolate from a box of Godiva...you can't go wrong!...." - Parent's Choice Awards

Red will also be presenting a educator's workshop called "Bebop Your Best! Music To Build Character." The workshop will be on Saturday, March 6th at 9:00 a.m. and last 90 minutes. For more information or to register, please call 571-4242.

Workshop Description
In addition to playfully engaging children’s hearts and minds through his award-winning recordings, his acclaimed concert performances, and his powerful “Red Day” one day residencies in schools, Red Grammer also uplifts and inspires those who educate and care for children, day in and day out, through his “hands-on” teacher workshop.

Red Grammer’s work has always been about building “community” in our schools, our cities and towns, and in our world. In his Teacher Workshop, Red shows teachers of all persuasions and abilities how music can playfully engage the best part of children and help build and support the kind of positive social classroom culture that every teacher strives for. His years of experience working with children and learning from the creativity and resourcefulness of teachers have resulted in an extensive “bag of tricks” incorporating the disciplines of movement, art, writing and music to take the lessons in Red’s songs to new levels of integration in the school community. Red will share specific methods for incorporating music and movement into a curriculum where character develops as children learn to make responsible choices.

Fall Choir Concert on November 21st!

noreply@blogger.com (Vashti Summervill) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:14:00 +0000

The Boise Intergenerational Choir, under the direction of Will Martin and Vashti Summervill, will present our fall concert on Saturday, November 21st at 4 p.m. at Boise First Presbyterian Church (10th and State). The choir is over 100 voices spanning several generations. The concert will feature an eclectic mix of music including African songs accompanied by a marimba ensemble and a 50’s set featuring a special band. Admission is free although donations towards supporting the choir’s work will be gratefully accepted. We hope you will join us for this joyful family event!

Fall 2009 Intergenerational Choir!

noreply@blogger.com (Vashti Summervill) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:54:00 +0000

All kids and parents, grandmas and gramps, friends and cousins, uncles and aunts….The Boise Intergenerational Choir, under the direction of Vashti Summervill and Will Martin, will begin its third session on Wednesday, September 16th at 6:30 p.m. at 1520 N. 12th Street. A great project for ages 1 – 100+! The choir will meet for 10 weeks on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. with a public concert on Saturday, November 21st. The cost is a $10 per person music fee. If this poses a hardship for anyone it will be waived, no questions asked. Both individuals and multi-generations of families are encouraged to participate together. The project is process oriented with a focus on making each rehearsal a joyful creative experience for everyone. Come join us as we explore an eclectic repertoire. Bring your instruments as a band always evolved out of the choir. To register, simply e-mail Vashti (vashti@cableone.net) names and ages of each family member participating, your e-mail address and a contact phone number. We ask for your age just so we can track how intergenerational we really are. It is okay to fib! We look forward to another session of making beautiful music!

You can find music for the Fall Choir here.

Intergenerational Choir to Begin Again in September!

noreply@blogger.com (Vashti Summervill) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:57:00 +0000

We are in the final planning stages for the fall session of the Intergenerational Choir. Stay tuned for more information very soon. We are working on collaborations with the refugee agencies and hoping that some of the refugee population will join us. We look forward to making new friends, making wonderful music, and learning new songs from around the world. Updates very soon!

Spring 2009 Intergenerational Choir News

noreply@blogger.com (Vashti Summervill) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:59:00 +0000

Dear Intergenerational Choir Members, Friends, Prospective Members,

Happy New Year! It has been a while since we were in touch after our wonderful concert.
Thanks again for all your time, hard work, and commitment. It resulted in a very joyous and uplifting experience for us; we hope it was the same for all of you!

In the short term, we have decided, after much discussion, that it is better to let the weekly choir rehearsals lie fallow this Spring, and move forward a little more slowly. The Choir requires much time, commitment, and energy from all of us, and everyone has so many important activities on their schedules. It is often difficult to fit in a rehearsal every week, not to mention a concert, or concerts, after the 10 weeks.

SPRING SINGALONG
So we like to invite you to a Spring Singalong instead! We will sing and play lots of the songs we have learned together, as well as lots of other music we haven’t even visited yet! All are invited-- current and former Choir members/families, prospective members, friends, and probably some folks who don’t even know that they are prospective singers! It should be a lot of fun, without having to deal with the nuts and bolts of weekly rehearsals. We have reserved the shelter at Municipal Park, on S. Walnut St., for Sunday, April 26, around 1:30. PLEASE, save the date!

INTERGENERATIONAL CHOIR WORKING GROUPS
We have been thinking about the best way to proceed from here. Many of you have offered to help with various tasks of operating the choir. Thank you for that!
We would like to take you up on your offers to help. This group is so rich with amazing talent of all kinds—it’s unbelieveable what we have done so far!

In the meantime, some of us, who are interested and committed to making the Intergenerational Choir an ongoing, vibrant part of Boise life, can work to put some things in place so that the Choir can continue with vigor, to inspire us and bring joy to all who sing or hear. There are so many things, including:
-email
-posters & publicity & programs
-music & songbooks, communication
-rehearsal conventions that we can all agree on
-transportation and moving instruments
-concert set-up
-lots we haven’t thought of.

So some of us could work on those “nuts & bolts” periodically.

RESUME REGULAR REHEARSALS FOR FALL
In the Fall we will start up again with a series of rehearsals and a couple of concerts, and nobody will be stretched too far to enjoy and savor the experience.

We are totally committed to the Intergenerational Choir, the idea, the group, and the music. We think it will be wonderful to continue this year, and for many years to come.
Please let us know what you think of this approach, and share any ideas you might have through the "contact us" button on this website.

Thanks for all the joy we have shared so far, and all your energy. Love, and commitment. We look forward to further adventures and more beautiful Music with all of you!

With Gratitude and Friendship

Vashti Summervill and Will Martin

Intergenerational Choir Concert Sunday, November 23rd

noreply@blogger.com (Vashti Summervill) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:07:00 +0000

The second Intergenerational Choir concert will be held on Sunday, November 23rd at 3 p.m. at Boise First Presbyterian Church (950 W. State Street). Admission is free but as part of fulfilling our mission of building community through the arts, donations will be gratefully accepted for Corpus Christi House, a day shelter for homeless in Boise.

The Intergenerational Choir is in its second season in Boise and, with over 70 voices ranging from age 1 – 80+, is a rare opportunity for several generations to participate together.

"We have 3 generations participating in some families. It is a chance for parents to have an activity to do with their children, rather than ‘farm them out.’ We seem to lack opportunities in our modern culture for participatory music experiences. As one choir member put it, ‘This isn’t a serious choir, but it is a chance to experience music the way it should be experienced!’ It is said that the average American family knows no more than 5 songs they can sing together, such as ‘Happy Birthday,’ ‘Twinkle Twinkle,’ and the ‘ABC’s.’ I like to point out that after participating in the Intergenerational Choir they have a whole ‘road trip repertoire!’ The concert will be a diverse blend of music accompanied at times by instruments and ensemble performances of choir members. I also believe that joy filled experiences such as this are paramount to counteracting the stress that the world seems to be experiencing presently.” Vashti Summervill - Director

Corpus Christi House, 525 Americana in Boise, is an inter-faith sponsored, all volunteer organization providing clothing, showers, laundry, computer and internet access, U.S. mail, referrals, periodic medical consultations, haircuts and other services for the homeless, as well as coffee, snacks and hospitality. Its mission is to provide loving attention to “the least of them” and to encourage self confidence and self esteem among its guests.

Intergenerational Choir To Resume In September!

noreply@blogger.com (Vashti Summervill) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:12:00 +0000

The spectacular Intergenerational Choir under the direction of Vashti Summervill will begin our fall session on Wednesday, September 17th. If you don't know about this unique group please read our testimonials or call Vashti at (208) 571-4242.

We will meet for 10 weeks and end with another glorious concert on Sunday, November 23rd at 3 p.m. The choir is open to all ages and no skill is necessary. Just show up, smile, have fun, and the directors will take care of the rest. We encourage families, singles and especially hope to add more community members over the age of 65. Here are the details:

When:
Wednesdays (September 17th - November 19th) 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Where:
1520 N. 12th Street (Hyde Park Mennonite Fellowship)
Choir Dues:
$50 for an individual $100 for an entire family. 65 and older are FREE

PLEASE DON'T LET THE CHOIR DUES KEEP YOU FROM PARTICIPATING. Scholarships are offered on the honor system. Simply tell Vashti you need a partial or full scholarship and it will be awarded. No questions.

Register online or by mail via the links below. Call Vashti Summervill at 571-4242 or contact me vial e-mail.

To register ONE PERSON ONLINE click here.

To register TWO OR MORE ONLINE click here

To register BY MAIL click here

Intergenerational Choir in the News

noreply@blogger.com (Vashti Summervill) — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:54:00 +0000

Get the Flash Player to listen here.

Summer Music Theater Performance Camps

noreply@blogger.com (Vashti Summervill) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:25:00 +0000

Open Door Children’s Theatre in Partnership with the Treasure Valley YMCA are pleased to announce our Summer Music Theater Camps and Summer Advanced Music Theater Camp

Participants will learn the basics of singing, acting, staging, and choreography as they work towards a public performance that will be held the last day of the class. No auditions to qualify. Everyone will get their moment to shine. This years shows include "Cinderella," "The Jungle Book," and "School House Rock Live, Jr." More information.

» More information about the Summer Camps

Intergenerational Choir Concert May 3rd!

noreply@blogger.com (Vashti Summervill) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:21:00 +0000

Open Door Children’s Theatre (A program of Treasure Valley Institute for Children’s Arts) is pleased to announce the Intergenerational Choir Concert on May 3rd at 7:00 p.m at Boise First Presbyterian Church (950 W. State Street). Admission is free but donations will be gratefully be accepted to benefit Treasure Valley Institute for Children’s Arts. Come join 60 of your neighbors, age 3 – 70, for an evening of innovative choral singing. Call 571-4242 with questions.

» More information about the Intergenerational Choir