Celebrating the Arts for All

Santa Clarita Encore Chorale, a nonprofit musical arts program for seniors, invites adults 55 and older to join the Fall 2017 semester. Holiday repertoire includes favorites of Christmas and Hanukkah, with styles ranging from Celtic feel to salsa to “12 Groovy Days of Christmas” that brings back the 1970’s.
SCV’s Encore Chorale debuted in Fall 2015 as one of the newest affiliates of the national Encore Creativity for Older Adults, the largest, fastest growing choral program for seniors in the nation.
Kickoff rehearsal is Friday, August 18, continuing for 12 Fridays (and two Thursdays, due to Labor Day & Thanksgiving holiday weekends), from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (plus half-hour sectional rehearsals TBD). The 15-week semester climaxes with a free public concert on Friday, December 1st. Rehearsals and concert are at the Newhall Church of the Nazarene, 23857 The Old Road (near Calgrove and I-5). A modest semester “tuition” helps cover costs; introductory rehearsal is free with no obligation.
Encore Creativity for Older Adults sprang from a National Endowment for the Arts study on involvement in the arts and its effects on the physical, mental, and social health of older adults. In fall 2001, Jeanne Kelly, professional conductor, opera singer & educator in the D.C. area, began a chorale program for the NEA study. In 2006 NEA’s report, “Creativity and Aging” detailed substantial benefits to participants and captured national attention on CBS News with Dan Rather, in U.S. News and World Report, and 400+ newspapers worldwide. In 2007 Kelly created the nonprofit Encore Creativity for Older Adults to provide “an excellent and accessible artistic environment for older adults, 55 and over, regardless of experience or ability”.  In May, over 700 singers in the Baltimore/D.C. area joined the 10th Anniversary concert at Constitution Hall.
Cheri Walters, conductor of the SCV Encore Chorale, is a 30-year resident of Santa Clarita. Walters produced and directed the SCV’s Living Christmas Tree, the valley’s largest free holiday music/drama production for 12 seasons. From 1988-1999, a community choir & actors performed for audiences of 1,100 – 3,500 at venues including Hart High School and Magic Mountain.  “I’m excited to conduct holiday music with Encore Chorale this season,” Walters said. “It’s a great program for seniors and we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
For more details, contact Cheri Walters at 661-347-3221, email: cheri.walters@gmail.com or Roberta Kessler at 818-291-6548 or email: rkessler@accoes.com.