Schola Cantorum
A children’s choir hosted by Grace Lutheran Church, Little Rock
Please use this form to enroll your chorister(s) in the Schola Cantorum for 2023-2024. Please fill out the form by August 15 so that Voice for Life workbooks can be ordered. If you need to sign up after this date, please contact Kantor. Late enrollments will be accepted but choristers may not have workbooks right away.
Additional questions not answered on this page? Contact Kantor Jacquelyn Magnuson at jacquelyn.magnuson@glclr.org
Who is Schola Cantorum for?
Schola Cantorum (Latin for “School of Singers”) is a treble choir for children and youth in 2nd through 8th grades.
High school age girls are also welcome to continue singing in the Schola Cantorum and may be given opportunities to help lead younger singers. They may also join the Kantorei (adult choir) at Grace or their home congregation.
The Schola Cantorum is a treble choir, so boys will stop singing with the choir when their voices change regardless of age. They are invited to join the Kantorei.
Wednesday Schedule (beginning September 6):
5:30 PM - Dinner
6:00-7:00 PM - Choir Rehearsal with Kantor
- Bible class with Pastor Schaaf
7:15-7:45 - Evening Prayer (during Advent and Lent only)
The Wednesday schedule is meant to be flexible to meet family needs. Singers are expected to attend weekly rehearsals from 6-7 PM, but the rest of the evening is completely optional. If it is helpful for part or all of your family to join us for dinner at 5:30, please come! If parents or older siblings would like to attend Bible class during choir rehearsal, you are encouraged to join us! If it works better for you to drop singers off for choir and pick them up after, that works too! You are also invited to join us for Evening Prayer during Advent and Lent, but this is not required.
Music Education within a Lutheran Church Context
Schola Cantorum uses the Voice for Life program published by the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).
Voice for Life provides a structured framework for children to learn how to properly develop their voices, grow in their musicianship and aural skills, and learn to read music. Singers will also grow in their knowledge of composers, hymns, and choral repertoire. They will develop an understanding of the choir’s purpose within the Lutheran Church and liturgy.
To accomplish all of these things, rehearsals will include time for learning music to sing for church services as well as games and activities designed to teach specific music skills.
Each singer will be given a Voice for Life workbook to complete throughout the year. Much of the material from the program will be covered during rehearsals, but occasionally children may be asked to research a hymn or a composer at home. Motivated students may also work ahead in the workbooks. Once a student has completed a workbook, they will be eligible to test out of that level and move on to the next. Testing involves demonstrating achievement over a wide range of skills and knowledge. Some of these skills will be tested during an individual meeting with Kantor (e.g., definitions of vocabulary, basic sight-reading, etc.), and others must be demonstrated consistently during rehearsals and performances over a length of time. Students may earn certificates, pins, or medals at the successful completion of each level of the Voice for Life program.
Church Services & Performances
Schola Cantorum sings for Sunday morning services at Grace approx. once per month.
On Sundays that the choir sings, we meet to warm up at 8:40 a.m. Following warmups, children attend Sunday School from 9:00-9:45. The Divine Service begins at 10:00 and generally finishes around 11:20.
The choir may also sing for the occasional hymn festival or other events at Grace.
The full service and performance schedule will be provided at the informational meeting on August 10 and will be linked on this page when it becomes available.