PALS Children's Chorus

PALS Children's Chorus is dedicated to the transformation of children into performing artists. With singing at its core, and training in drama and dance, PALS empowers children to engage with audiences in profound ways.

Johanna Hill Simpson and PALS, at Tanglewood
PALS at Tanglewood

Considered one of the nation's premiere treble-voice ensembles, PALS Children's Chorus is based at the W.H. Lincoln School, a public K - 8 school in Brookline, MA. This after-school performing arts program trains typical children from one school community, transforming individuals into an ensemble of the highest caliber.

Founded in 1990, PALS currently brings together 100 children ages 7 through 14 in three choral ensembles, and provides additional performing opportunities for high school students. Through frequent rehearsals and performances, the children of PALS develop self-discipline, confidence and leadership skills, as well as an enduring appreciation of the arts.

PALS Children's Chorus is frequently heard in collaborations with distinguished adult performing groups as well as in concerts of their own, presenting a diverse repertoire of classical, traditional and popular music. Commited to the presentation of contemporary music, PALS has premiered over a dozen new works, and continues to commission serious new music for treble voices.

Jordan Hall, 2000: the tenth anniversary concert

How We Work

PALS students receive training in music, drama and dance, though the heart of the PALS program is choral singing. PALS is the major source of music and performing arts education for most of our students. Correct breathing, vowel production, posture, tone quality, color, diction, intonation, part singing and note reading are taught using repertoire drawn from classical, folk, blues, spirituals and popular idioms. Stage deportment, concentration during rehearsal (all music is memorized), and the ability to work productively within the group are all addressed at a level appropriate to the singer's abilities and experience. With three PALS ensembles at the elementary school level, the PALS program carries students through their school years with progressively more challenging performing opportunities. PALS members graduate with a vast store of artistic experiences and high expectations for excellence in the performing arts.

PALS' teaching staff is a group of working professional artists, dedicated both to their individual performing careers and to sharing their artistry with children. The PALS program provides a supportive environment that encourages creative exploration and risk-taking. Through diversified performing arts training, PALS students are given the skills and the confidence to become effective communicators, disciplined performers and artistic leaders.

Values

PALS believes in the artistry of children and in their ability as performers to transform audiences.

PALS believes in the pursuit of artistic excellence:

Hiring a staff of dedicated professional artists who also are gifted and inspired teachers.
Providing the focus and discipline necessary to achieve a high level of performance.
Programming diverse and challenging repertoire, as well as commissioning new works.
Seeking frequent and varied performing opportunities for children.
Participating in collaborations with major adult performing artists and ensembles.

PALS performing at Carnegie Hall

PALS believes in the artistic potential of each child:

Through commitment and hard work, instilling the skills and confidence for the children to be effective artistic communicators.
Offering a safe, supportive environment that encourages creative exploration and risk-taking.
Providing instruction in music, drama and dance to build communication skills that integrate body, mind and voice.
Empowering each child to perform both as an individual artist and as a member of a working ensemble.
Challenging the children to discover the passion and joy in choral singing and the other performing arts.

PALS believes in the importance of our artistic community:

Creating a community of diversity, respect and trust for young performers in multi-age groups who will work together over many years.
Building a community of families enriched through the arts and energized through pride in the artistic achievements of their children.
Reaching out to the community at large through frequent performances and collaborative events.
Through our unique Musical Philanthropy initiative, bringing public attention and support to worthy children's causes.

Vision

PALS’ vision for the future is to continue to strengthen our work in the realms of musical artistry, children and community. We will do so by:

Pursuing musical excellence through high-caliber musical collaborations with professional performing groups, both as a participant and as an initiator. We will continue to commission and perform serious new works for treble chorus.
Reaching more children by serving as a national model for replication. We will work to share our expertise by mentoring aspiring conductors and directors through seminars, summer workshops and partnerships with other schools.
Maintaining our home at the Lincoln School and our commitment to the diverse population of the Brookline. We will seek to strengthen the diversity and artistry of our ensembles by continuing to actively recruit from all the Brookline schools, as well as include children from beyond our artistic community.

To help us accomplish our vision, we have three specific goals for the long-term future of PALS:

To enhance our Staff with additional personnel responsible for Summer Programs, Concert Tours and Educational Outreach with partner schools and conductors.
To house our organization in a facility with ample rehearsal, performing and administrative space. We will work collaboratively with local arts organizations to advocate for the creation of a shared community arts center.
To establish an endowment to have the resources to fulfill our mission and vision. We will enhance the financial stability of our organization in order to continue the creative growth and evolution of our programs.