The Ascension Youth Choirs & Arts Program is an integrated arts initiative for the children of Church of the Ascension that combines religious education with choir, music, and theater arts. The program seeks to foster the love of God through music and theater and provide content which nourishes the intellect as well as the heart so that children's musical abilities and faith can flourish. Music andn arts are an essential part of the human experience and are especially important in a child's development. Exposure to music and the arts helps children increase academic skills, but more importantly, sustained participation in arts programs helps develop discipline, perseverance, reasoning skills and imagination.
Cherub Choir: Directed by Denise Young. Denise is a creative director who knows how to bring the best out of our little ones musically. Not only does she help the children to thrive in their creative talents but she also makes the choir a fun place to be!
Youth Choir: Directed by Bailey Joy Myers, our Director of Music Ministries, Bailey is a gifted musician, composer, director, and teacher. The Youth Choir seeks to foster the love of God through music. As a member of the choir, children will learn basic musical skills in rhythmic notation and sight singing, and apply these skills to songs and hymns from the Hymnal 1982 and other music resources. Music education has been shown to increase academic scores in subjects, such as math, while also encouraging collaboration and self-esteem.
Youth Players: Directed by Shellie Williams, an arts professional, grew up in the community theater and has performed in musical productions in South Carolina, Michigan, Florida and Maryland. The Youth Players will use drama as a method for teaching children about the Episcopal Church and biblical stories. Drama workshops provide children with a safe environment in which to explore and question liturgy, ritual and Biblical history. The Youth Players will undertake one to two dramatic workshops and performance a year including a Christmas performance. In addition to its religious education aspects, drama workshops also help children with literacy skills, increased self confidence, presentation, listening and observational skills.
All Choirs sing solo performances throughout the church year
and also sing as a combined choir on special occasions.
A Highlight of the Year is the Children's Christmas Pageant.
Directed by Bailey Joy Myers and the Sunday School Teachers
each pageant is unique, telling the Christmas story
in fresh ways that contemporary Christians can enjoy.
