OT-St Mikes Choir School
- Thread starter ferris198
- Start date
Do they enjoy it ?
The reason I ask is because DS was asked to audition, and at this point has passed both the vocal and academic testing, and we are waiting to see if he is accepted as there are only a limited number of spots.
DS is unsure if he wants to attend.
Thanks
The reason I ask is because DS was asked to audition, and at this point has passed both the vocal and academic testing, and we are waiting to see if he is accepted as there are only a limited number of spots.
DS is unsure if he wants to attend.
Thanks
shoppgirl
DIS Veteran
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- Jan 15, 2008
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- 685
We know a family who has all 3 of their sons in the school. They love(d) it! We were invited to a Christmas concert at Massey Hall one year and were absolutely amazed by the caliber of singing these boys did. If your son was invited, and passed and offered a placement at this prestigious school, I would highly encourage him to at least try it out for a year. It made me wish I had boys that loved to sing and could try out for this school when I heard the choirs sing! LOL!
braydensmom
A Momma that is a Disney fanatic!!!
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- Jun 22, 2008
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- 325
My brother and cousin went to St. Mike's...they loved it, and the school itself opened alot of doors for them and their friends. If we move back to Toronto, we will be sending my son to St. Mike's.
You need to be accepted into St. Mike's you just can't decide to send your kids there.
Here's part of an article from the Toronto Star:
"The school admits about 25 new boys in Grade 3 every year. The prospective students have to be smart and hard-working "because they have to fulfill all academic requirements as well as the music," says Missio.
Besides singing, each pupil is required to take lessons in piano, organ or violin.
Missio points out despite the musical and academic demands, there are a number of sports teams on the go as well.
St. Michael's graduates leave its halls with a strong musical background and, with impressive regularity, often go on to have professional careers in music.
Among high-profile recent graduates are jazz singer Matt Dusk, bass Robert Pomakov, who sang in the Canadian Opera Company's production of Wagner's Ring Cycle earlier this year, and dazzling concert pianist Stewart Goodyear.
Despite the school's excellent reputation, Missio says it's not always easy to fill all the available slots in the lower grades.
"It's a major commitment on the part of both parents and boys," he says, particularly the return trips downtown to sing Mass on Saturdays and Sundays.
It's also a financial stretch for some families, as there currently are no individual grants or bursaries available to help out talent-rich but money-poor kids.
"Since 1987 we've managed to raise $500,000 in an endowment fund," says Missio. "But it really should be more like $5 million."
The boys present their 67th Christmas concert tomorrow and Saturday night at Massey Hall. In keeping with the diverse ethnic backgrounds, the 30-piece program mixes sacred music from several different cultures and centuries.
As the boys sing through a piece, choir director Jersy Chichocki sits at the front of the room behind a battered old upright piano, punctuating his hand-waving with loud exclamations: "timbre," "phrase it," "more" and "less." The voices follow his instructions.
During the rehearsal, some of the singers are having trouble with the traditional Spanish carol "A la Naninta Nana," so Chichocki turns to a Spanish-speaking boy to provide the correct pronunciations. Minutes later, the group is sounding properly Hispanic.
To keep it interesting for the boys, he calls on their additional talents, such as drumming or violin accompaniments.
But the fidget factor increases as the 90-minute session nears its end. As the boys exit, the clatter and chatter is straight out of a regular high school. As are the tired faces.
"These kids are stretched," says Chichocki afterwards. A student alumnus himself, Chichocki has been teaching at St. Michael's for 17 years and has noticed how the boys have acquired more and more activities and obligations claiming their time."
Here's part of an article from the Toronto Star:
"The school admits about 25 new boys in Grade 3 every year. The prospective students have to be smart and hard-working "because they have to fulfill all academic requirements as well as the music," says Missio.
Besides singing, each pupil is required to take lessons in piano, organ or violin.
Missio points out despite the musical and academic demands, there are a number of sports teams on the go as well.
St. Michael's graduates leave its halls with a strong musical background and, with impressive regularity, often go on to have professional careers in music.
Among high-profile recent graduates are jazz singer Matt Dusk, bass Robert Pomakov, who sang in the Canadian Opera Company's production of Wagner's Ring Cycle earlier this year, and dazzling concert pianist Stewart Goodyear.
Despite the school's excellent reputation, Missio says it's not always easy to fill all the available slots in the lower grades.
"It's a major commitment on the part of both parents and boys," he says, particularly the return trips downtown to sing Mass on Saturdays and Sundays.
It's also a financial stretch for some families, as there currently are no individual grants or bursaries available to help out talent-rich but money-poor kids.
"Since 1987 we've managed to raise $500,000 in an endowment fund," says Missio. "But it really should be more like $5 million."
The boys present their 67th Christmas concert tomorrow and Saturday night at Massey Hall. In keeping with the diverse ethnic backgrounds, the 30-piece program mixes sacred music from several different cultures and centuries.
As the boys sing through a piece, choir director Jersy Chichocki sits at the front of the room behind a battered old upright piano, punctuating his hand-waving with loud exclamations: "timbre," "phrase it," "more" and "less." The voices follow his instructions.
During the rehearsal, some of the singers are having trouble with the traditional Spanish carol "A la Naninta Nana," so Chichocki turns to a Spanish-speaking boy to provide the correct pronunciations. Minutes later, the group is sounding properly Hispanic.
To keep it interesting for the boys, he calls on their additional talents, such as drumming or violin accompaniments.
But the fidget factor increases as the 90-minute session nears its end. As the boys exit, the clatter and chatter is straight out of a regular high school. As are the tired faces.
"These kids are stretched," says Chichocki afterwards. A student alumnus himself, Chichocki has been teaching at St. Michael's for 17 years and has noticed how the boys have acquired more and more activities and obligations claiming their time."
Both my brothers attended the school, one from 6th grade to grad and one from 3rd grade to grad.
They are now both about 40 yrs old and although they made friends at school, they would not send their own kids there.
If children are very musically inclined, it's a good school. NOt every child likes organ, piano, violin lessons as part of school program.
And being required to sing every sunday at mass can really change a teen's perspective on attending mass as an adult. It may take years to change views on attending mass.
Academically it was a good school, but both my brothers went on to have rather strange relationships with women that they probably would not have picked had they been in a more rounded type of environment.
It is a strict program which is great for some kids, but not for every child.
They are now both about 40 yrs old and although they made friends at school, they would not send their own kids there.
If children are very musically inclined, it's a good school. NOt every child likes organ, piano, violin lessons as part of school program.
And being required to sing every sunday at mass can really change a teen's perspective on attending mass as an adult. It may take years to change views on attending mass.
Academically it was a good school, but both my brothers went on to have rather strange relationships with women that they probably would not have picked had they been in a more rounded type of environment.
It is a strict program which is great for some kids, but not for every child.
braydensmom
A Momma that is a Disney fanatic!!!
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