a non-profit organization located in the Tri-Valley,
is committed to developing within children and young people
the love and experience of artistic, beautiful singing.
Cantabella Children's Chorus started in 1992 as a music literacy class of 10-12 children, ages 5-7, and was inspired by Zoltan Kodaly's philosophy that the singing voice should be every child's first and lifelong musical instrument. Today, the Cantabella Children's Chorus has a membership of more than 150 singers.
Our youngest members begin in the Cantabella Training Choirs (CTC), which offers an excellent training program using the Kodaly approach for children K through 4th grades. Singers in the training program are placed in small classes to allow for more individual attention. The Cantabella Children's Chorus (CCC) is composed of choristers in the 4th through 7th grades. Our advanced choristers in the 7th through 10th grades make up the Chamber Choir (CH), and graduates in the 11th and 12th grades may return to sing as alumni.
PERFORMANCES
Cantabella performs two free concerts, a Spring Concert and a Holiday Concert, annually in the Tri-Valley. Cantabella is often invited to perform with other local arts venues, as well as for community and benefit events. Past performances include:
• Livermore Valley Opera Company's production of "Carmen", "Elixir of Love", "Tosca", and "Marriage of Figaro", "The Tales of Hoffmann", "Hansel and Gretel" and "La Boheme"
• Participation in the American Choral Director's Association Children's Festival, and the Holy Names College Children's Choir Festival with George Vance as clinician
• Guest performances with local arts such as Livermore Amador Symphony, the Valley Dance Theatre, the Tassajara Symphony, and the Valley Concert Chorale
• Guest performances at community events such as the International Pasta Festival, Hope Hospice, Downtown Pleasanton Tree Lighting, and ValleyCare Health Library Benefit
• Guest performing choir at "An Evening with Frederica von Stade" at the Dean Lesher Center for Performing Arts
• "Judy Collins 2002 Christmas Tour Concert" guest performing choir
• Guest performing choir at the Rotary Club's "Don Lewis Experience" fundraiser to wipe out polio
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Bee Chow, Founder and Artistic Director, has a Master of Arts degree in music education. She holds certifications in Kodaly and Suzuki instruction. Bee is a member of the American Choral Director's Association, Northern California Association of Kodaly Educators, Music Teachers' Association of California, and Suzuki Association of the Americas. She has many years of experience teaching music in the public schools, in her private studio, and directing children's choirs. Bee also maintains a very successful private piano studio in Livermore, CA.
For additional information, please visit our website at www.cantabella.org.