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December 12, 2009. Milwaukee Ballet The Nutcracker. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel critic Elaine Schmidt writes that The Nutcracker "offers fascination for kids, adults," and states that the " delightfully enormous cast included young dancers from the Milwaukee Ballet School in parts ranging from party guests to mice, soldiers, angels, geese and Mother Ginger's children - all of them polished and adorable. A lovely chorus of young voices from the Milwaukee Children's Choir was also heard." Read Elaine Schmidt's review.
November 22, 2009. Present Music Thanksgiving Concert. "In Beauty May I Walk" by Alexandra du Bois was commissioned for the concert and premiered at the afternoon event. The piece was performed by MCC's Cantare, Milwaukee Choral Artists and Present Music instrumentalists. MCA director Sharon Hansen conducted. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel critic Elaine Schmidt wrote, "Du Bois' piece is exquisitely constructed of fascinating textures and colors. At times it combines the women's and children's voices seamlessly, blurring them into a single sound. Hansen, the combined choirs and the instrumentalists of Present Music executed the piece beautifully." Read Elaine Schmidt's review. Cantare member Larissa Clopton and MCA member Indra Brusabardis sang Arvo Part's Estonian Lullaby. Third Coast Digest critic Tom Strini said they "sang it with utter simplicity and thus made it endlessly touching." Read Tom Strini's review.
July 20, 2009. Milwaukee Children's Choir Fills Artistic Staff Positions. Milwaukee Children's Choir is pleased to announce the appointment of several new artistic staff members. "These individuals are some of the most talented music educators and performers in the Milwaukee area," said Milwaukee Children's Choir Artistic Director Carol Storck. "They are individuals known not only for their musicianship and passion for quality music education, but also for their leadership in the field of music." With these hires Milwaukee Children's Choir completes an artistic leadership transition that began almost a year ago when Founder and Artistic Director Emily Holt Crocker told MCC's Board of Directors she intended to end her term as artistic director as of June 30, 2009. Read press release. Read about MCC's staff.
July 1, 2009. "MCC has become a prestigious, stable organization and a go-to group for the likes of the Milwaukee Symphony and Present Music." Tom Strini, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Music Critic. Read more.
June 24, 2009. Milwaukee Children's Choir Hires New Artistic Director from Within -- A new artistic era is marked at its 15th anniversary. Milwaukee Children's Choir has promoted Carol Storck to artistic director, beginning with the 2009-2010 season. Ms. Storck, who was selected from a pool of exceptionally qualified candidates, takes the reins as the choir celebrates its 15th anniversary. Read press release. Carol Storck Bio.
June 12, 2009. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Critic Tom Strini calls Mahler's Symphony No. 8 "an astonishing experience of perception" and "a great redemptive drama, with all the attendant Romantic stresses and strains." The June 12 performance of the Symphony of a Thousand "was emotionally charged....Lee Erickson's Milwaukee Symphony Chorus, supplemented by the Master Singers of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Children's Choir, commanded its difficult and lengthy part. Everyone in the enormous cast, from Delfs down to the last kid in the choir, seemed intent on wringing every last drop of meaning out of every note, whether blazing or hushed.... More than 400 performers merged in common purpose under [Maestro Andreas Delf's] baton Friday, and their unity and unwavering intensity were palpable and a big part of a transcendent evening of music."
Tom Strini, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Music Critic (June 12, 2009)..
December 2008. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Critic Tom Strini declares the Milwaukee Children's Choir a "highly skilled and essential musical resource" in Milwaukee, and a concert featuring MCC (Present Music's Thanksgiving Concert) is chosen as one of Strini's "top 10" for the third year in a row.
I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude for all your efforts with making the "Singing for Hope" Concert Festival an amazing experience and success!!
Sandy Destrampe, Executive Director, Children's Hope Network, Inc. (October 7, 2008). For complete text, click here.
Thank you so much for collaborating with The Skylight on LA BOHEME. I could not be happier with the results of our first joint venture. I spoke with many of the young singers today and they seemed very happy with the experience of this production. I cannot tell you how many audience members commented on Act II and gave special mention to the children. You should all feel very proud of the work that was done and what an important part of the production the young singers were. We truly could not have done it without you. Gratefully,
Bill Theisen, Skylight Artistic Director (October 5, 2008)
Milwaukee Children's Choir will begin a nationwide search for a new, full-time artistic director to continue the growth of this pre-eminent organization for musical instruction and performance in southeastern Wisconsin. Emily Crocker, founder and current artistic director, will remain in her role through the end of the 2008-2009 season, when the new artistic director is expected to take the helm. Ms. Crocker will continue as Artistic Advisor for the Choir. "Milwaukee Children's Choir is a child of Emily's vision and perserverance," said Chris Burgener, president of the board of Milwaukee Children's Choir. "The new artistic director will continue fulfilling her vision of seeing Milwaukee's youth grow in the fullest sense of the word."
September 26 Milwaukee Children's Press Release. For the complete Release, click here. For October 13 Journal Sentinel article, click here.
The Milwaukee Children's Choir and soloist Mikaela Schneider sang the Latin text [ of Ryan Carter's Quando Consurgam? ] innocently and bluntly. Their voices were beacons amid pleading chants." Tom Strini, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (November 19, 2007 review of Present Music's Thanksgiving Concert). Critic Strini later ranked Present Music's Thanksgiving Concert first on his list of top 10 performances from 2007.
The United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) announced today that it will add the Milwaukee Children's Choir (MCC) as a Member Group, effective immediately. The UPAF Board of Directors elected to add the group as a Member on Monday, November 5. The Milwaukee Children's Choir was admitted as a UPAF Member based on the criteria that the organization adds to UPAF's Membership roster an art form currently unrepresented, its compelling collaborative work in the community, its ethnic and economic diversity and its strong artistic and organizational history. United Performing Arts Fund (November 6, 2007)
The Children's Choir sounded just wonderful on Saturday night. I can't tell you how many people have mentioned to me how good they sounded, and they looked so professional. Thanks to you and to them for your superb contribution to the Gathering on the Green program.
Andrews Sill, Conductor, Gathering on the Green Orchestra
(July 16, 2007)
I wanted to write and thank you and the MILWAUKEE'S CHILDREN'S CHOIR. Our WKLH CHRISTMAS SHOW at the Riverside Theater would not have been as successful without your participation. The Choir's professionalism and the program tailored to our needs were so much more than I expected when I made the call. Thanks for providing our community with talented, committed kids from all neighborhoods and all backgrounds who show us what hard work can produce. Talent, Diversity, Commitment, this is the mantra Milwaukee Children's Choir can be proud to chant. It was such a pleasure to work with you. I promise this will happen again. Please keep in touch.
John McGivern, producer and star of the WKLH Christmas Show
(March 14, 2007)
The Milwaukee Children's Choir was the star of [Present Music's Thanksgiving] concert, confident and expressive in two difficult and lengthy premieres for children's voices and chamber orchestra.
Rick Walters, Shepard Express (November 23-29, 2006)
The Milwaukee Children's Choir has grown in size, reach and prestige each of the 12 years since Emily Crocker founded the organization. The group has become the children's choir of choice of the Milwaukee Symphony, Present Music and other major performing arts organizations.
Tom Strini, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (July 5, 2006)
