Twelve aspiring young composers aged 6 to 11 took the stage to premiere their original musical pieces last month at Music Together in Hopewell. The annual concert, part of Voices Chorale NJ’s award-winning Young Composers Project, showcases the creativity and budding talent of children in grades K-7.
Through this program, students not only compose their own music but also receive mentoring and develop their compositions with the guidance of local composers. This initiative underscores VCNJ’s commitment to fostering music education and community engagement among the youth.
This year, composer and producer Ken Guilmartin, founder and artistic director of Music Together, collaborated with Helen Linz to bring the young musicians’ creations to life. Their compositions spanned a wide range of themes: from nature and animals (such as spring, seahorses, rain and rabbits) to weightier topics like love, war, power, hopes, and dreams.
Among the whimsical arrangements was a piece titled “Your Soda Can is Almost Empty” and an ode dedicated to Lionel Messi, the Argentine soccer player. An ensemble of over twenty Voices Chorale singers provided accompaniment for most of the performances, complemented by a variety of instruments including piano, drums, cello, and even glockenspiels!
After a shy six-year-old bravely sang his composition, “It’s Time to Play in the Rain”, on his own, Ken Guilmartin then encouraged Voices Chorale and the entire audience to accompany him for a rousing encore that brought down the house! The concert was an unforgettable experience for the participants and their families.
The Young Composers Project is set to reconvene in the 2024-2025 academic year. If you know a creative child who loves music, enjoys singing, or has a story to tell through music, contact Carole Moore, VCNJ Young Composers Project Administrator, at [email protected] or 609-658-2636.
To stay up-to-date on our future projects you can join VOICES Chorale NJ’s mailing list at voiceschoralenj.org.
