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Professional-level choral instruction for young people at Spivey Hall.

Children's Choir

Overview: Professional-level instruction in vocal technique, music theory, sight singing, ear training, and presentation as well as exposure to a variety of choral styles for young people.

Last updated: July 2024
About The Choir

About the Children's Choir

Located on the campus of Clayton State University and dedicated to excellence, the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Program offers professional-level instruction in vocal technique, music theory, sight singing, ear training, and presentation as well as exposure to a variety of choral styles. Involvement also enhances young people’s lives, helping them to develop self-reliance, personal integrity, responsibility, compassion, teamwork, and confidence in their abilities.

The formation of the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Program is another successful endeavor by the Walter and Emilie Spivey Foundation, the Spivey Hall Education Committee, and Clayton State University to provide supplementary music education programs to metro-Atlanta youth from 17 different counties.

Contact The Children's Choir

For more information or to schedule a performance, please contact the Choir Manager at (678) 466-5566

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History

Children's Choir History

The Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Program was established in 1994 by founding director Dr. Martha Shaw.  The program features three choirs, with the Children’s Choir comprising 80 singers aged 10 to 18, who perform with remarkable energy, sophistication, and tonal beauty.  These distinguished young musicians exemplify Spivey Hall’s commitment to music education and artistic excellence.

Founded in 2002, the Spivey Hall Young Artists Choir includes students aged 10 to 13. This preparatory choir equips young singers with the skills needed to join the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir.

The Spivey Hall Tour Choir, a select group within the Children’s Choir, represents Georgia as cultural ambassadors.  This group has produced four professional CDs and has received recognition throughout the United States and internationally, including performances in Canada, Sweden, Norway, England, Austria, the Czech Republic, China, Scotland, and Spain. Notably, in February 2015, they earned standing ovations at the American Choral Directors National Conference in Salt Lake City. Additionally, In June 2016, they performed as a solo ensemble at Carnegie Hall, and in June 2018, they toured Italy, culminating in a performance of Mass at the Vatican. Most recently, in June 2024, the choir performed in Paris, France.

Ensembles

Children's Choir Ensembles

Children’s Choir

Director, Craig Hurley
Asst. Director/Senior Collaborative Pianist, Marcena Kinney

The Spivey Hall Children’s Choir is the original and largest ensemble of the program, featuring approximately 80 singers ages 10 to 18. Their instruction and training includes vocal pedagogy, as well as advanced sight-reading and music theory. This ensemble includes non-touring and Tour Choir members. They perform four concerts each year, two in December and two in May.

Members of the Children’s Choir are encouraged but not required to audition for the Tour Choir.

Tour Choir

Director, Craig Hurley
Asst. Director/Senior Collaborative Pianist, Marcena Kinney

This 35 member select ensemble is a part of the Children’s Choir. Auditioning for this group requires spending at least one year in the Children’s Choir and having a higher level of mastery in the areas of sight-reading, music theory, and vocal technique. Tour Choir demands an increased time and financial commitment due to more extensive rehearsal and performance schedule, which includes an annual summer tour. This ensemble performs four concerts in Spivey Hall with the Children’s Choir as well as locally and regionally.

As cultural ambassadors of the state of Georgia, the Spivey Hall Tour Choir at Clayton State University has performed to acclaim throughout the United States on tour and at national and regional music conferences. They have also traveled internationally to Canada, Sweden, Norway, England, Austria, the Czech Republic, China, Scotland, Spain, Italy, and France.

Young Artists

Interim Director, Joy Ethridge
Interim Collaborative Pianist, Vicorie Brown

Founded in the fall of 2002, the Spivey Hall Young Artists features 35 students ages 10 through 13.
Under the direction of Craig Hurley, this preparatory choir performs a wide range of repertoire and equips singers with the skills they need to participate in the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir. Additionally, the singers grow during the year in both sight-reading and music theory with each student encouraged to reach their own personal best.

Auditioning to move into the Children’s Choir reveals the skills they have acquired while in the Young Artists program. This ensemble performs one concert in December and one concert in May.

Staff

Craig Hurley

Craig Hurley is the Artistic Director of the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Program where he conducts both the Children’s Choir and Tour Choir

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Marcena Kinney

Marcena Kinney is the assistant director and lead collaborative pianist for the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir and Tour Choir and serves as assistant director of the Spivey Hall Summer Music Camp each year.

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Joy Etheridge

Joynita Etheridge is the interim director of the Spivey Hall Young Artists, the preparatory choir of the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir.

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Vicorie Brown

Vicorie Brown is currently serving as interim collaborative pianist for the Spivey Hall Young Artists.

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Registration

How to Join the Children's Choir

Auditions for the 2024-2025 season will be held on Saturday, April 27.  No previous choral experience is required.  Auditioning singers will receive a link to Auditions Don’t Have to be Scary; Spivey Hall’s online tutorial to our audition expectations.  You’ll know exactly what to expect!

  • Singers must be between the ages of 10 and 13 on September 1, 2024 in order to audition.
  • Membership into this treble choir program is contingent upon one audition and,
  • Two teacher recommendations (not required for Spivey Hall Elementary Honor Choir or Summer Music Camp participants).  Recommendation form links are provided upon the completion of the application.
  • Dr. Craig Hurley and Ms. Marcena Kinney will be present during the audition. Choir placement will be based on the results. Most students are placed in the Young Artists Choir their first year.
  • A $15 Audition Processing Fee is due with the audition request form.  A link for online payment will be provided upon completion of this application.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN UP FOR AN AUDITION

Alumni & Sponsors

Children's Choir Alumni & Sponsors

Logo Spivey Hall Children's Choir Alimni

Children’s Choir Alumni Logo

“You will always have a home at Spivey Hall.” – Dr. Martha Shaw

Register as a SHCCP Alumni to stay connected to the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Family. By signing up today you will receive information about our upcoming concerts, news and the achievements of our exceptional students, staff and alumni.

Become a Sponsor!

The Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Program serves 17 counties in the metro-Atlanta area with most of the 160 students coming from the Southern Crescent.  Due to a generous, one-time donation many years ago, we were able to set up two scholarship funds.  The first is the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Tuition Scholarship Fund which provides need-based financial assistance to all SHCC members.  The second is the Rock Dunlap Scholarship Fund that provides financial assistance for our Tour Choir members.  

Your support is important as the economy, while recovering, is doing so very slowly.  We want young singers to have the opportunity to participate in music at the highest level possible.  Participation in this program changes the lives of students in many ways.  We hope you will support us in our efforts to generate much-needed funds for talented young artists.

The Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Program gratefully acknowledges the support of Clayton State University, the Spivey Hall Education Committee, The Walter and Emilie Spivey Foundation and the surrounding arts community. 
 
For the 2020-2021 season, we distributed over $5,000 in assistance. We need your help to sustain this level of support. 

Giving Levels

  • Donor’s Club (Up to $99)
  • Century Club ($100 – $249)
  • Dean’s Club ($250 – $499)
  • Campus Club ($500 – $999)
  • President’s Club ($1,000 – $2,499)
  • Heritage Club ($2,500 – $4,999)
  • University Partners ($5,000 – $9,999)
  • Trustee Level ($10,000 – $24,000)
  • Major Gift ($25,000+)
Media

Children's Choir Media

Albums and videos from the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir.

Cover of the Christmas CD from Spivey Hall Children's Choir

Christmas with the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir

Cover of the Circle of Motion CD from Spivey Hall Children's Choir

Circle of Motion CD from Spivey Hall Children’s Choir

Cover of the Homeland CD from Spivey Hall Children's Choir

Homeland CD from Spivey Hall Children’s Choir

Cover of the I'll be Seeing You CD from Spivey Hall Children's Choir

I’ll be Seeing You CD from Spivey Hall Children’s Choir

Children's Choir on iTunes

Find the Spivey Hall Children's Choir on iTunes.

Christmas Album

Full Christmas album from the Children's Choir on iTunes.

Christmas Album

Full Christmas album from the Children's Choir on Amazon.

Circle of Motion Album

Circle of Motion CD on iTunes

Circle of Motion Album

Circle of Motion CD on Amazon.

Homeland Album

Homeland Album CD on iTunes

Homeland Album

Homeland Album CD on Amazon

I’ll Be Seeing You Album

I’ll Be Seeing You CD on iTunes

I’ll Be Seeing You Album

I’ll Be Seeing You CD on Amazon

Children's Choir YouTube Channel

Watch featured videos from the Spivey Hall Children's Choir.

Spivey Hall, located on the campus of Clayton State University, is a 400-seat, acoustically-superior performing arts venue that has presented the best in jazz and classical music to the metro Atlanta area since 1991.

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2000 Clayton State Boulevard,
Morrow, GA 30260 (678) 466-4200 [email protected]

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Thank you to our sponsors

We appreciate the ongoing support of our sponsors.
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