Councilmember Ledbetter introduced the Southwest Children Chorus and provided some background information on their organization.
The Southwest Children’s Chorus is a 501c3 non-profit organization with auditioned singers in multiple choirs, each representing different levels of vocal ability. Members of the Southwest Children’s Chorus range in age from 7 to 14. The Chorus is a musical performance and education program for children and youth, emphasizing the development of musical skills and understanding. The mission of the organization is to provide quality music instruction with the goal of attaining the highest level of artistic excellence in choral music performance. The choir endeavors to enrich the lives of children from all religious, racial, cultural and economic backgrounds. Through its music activities, the choir helps to foster the personal and social growth of its members and promotes their sense of self-esteem, accomplishment and pride. The Tour Choir has performed across the world in 30 states in addition to Austria, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Switzerland. The choir has crossed the nation, singing concerts from Kennebunkport, Maine to San Diego, California; from Orlando, Florida to West Yellowstone, Montana. In addition, the choir has performed in every major venue in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and across the state of Texas. The Choir was formed in Lancaster in 1999 and has been based in DeSoto, since 2004, with children from 18 different cities represented in the group.
Locally in the Dallas area, the choir has performed for Bethlehem Revisited in Waxahachie, “Candlelight” at Dallas Heritage Village, “Holiday in the Park” at Six Flags over Texas, NorthPark Center, the Majestic Theatre, Bass Hall and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The Chorus recently performed for a benefit gala for Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) at the Hilton Anatole in addition to Children’s Medical Center’s “Distinguished Service to Children Award Gala” at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. National anthems have been performed by the group for games of the Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers and the choir has performed on several morning news shows, including Good Morning Texas and Good Day Dallas. As a guest of the Moscow Ballet, the choir has performed for the group’s production of the Nutcracker at Dallas’ Majestic Theatre.
The Chorus is led by Michael King, Artistic Director and Founder, along with Staff Accompanist Sheree Bayless.
