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originally published: 10/29/2021

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton Girlchoir’s (PGC) 14th annual Children Making a Difference benefit concert video will stream on Saturday, November 13 at 7:00pm and Sunday, November 14 at 3:00pm. Tickets, which are $15, and streaming information can be found on the Westrick Music Academy (WMA) website.

The Children Making a Difference benefit concert empowers singers that they can make a difference by using their time and talents to help others. Each year, the benefit concert raises money for a different charitable organization in our community, and educates audiences about services the non-profit provides. This year's charity is Princeton Mobile Food Pantry, whose mission is to provide food and other support to underserved members of the Princeton, NJ community. Donations to purchase non-perishable holiday baking goods can be made to Princeton Mobile Food Pantry.

This special concert, led by PGC Artist Director Dr. Lynnel Joy Jenkins, will include all seven choirs of Princeton Girlchoir. The concert will feature the song Sing Out, My Soul, by Marques L.A. Garret, which calls out to our souls to sing. PGC will perform music in which joy comes from deep within our hearts, minds, and soul.

The girls of PGC range in age from 8 to 18. Selected by audition, they come from numerous schools in central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania and attend weekly rehearsals where they find their voices, build confidence, and build a life-long love of singing together.

Princeton Girlchoir is a program of Westrick Music Academy, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. You can find more information on Princeton Girl Choir’s Children Making a Difference benefit concert onWestrick Music Academy’s website.

 

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Westrick Music Academy provides opportunities to grow in a supportive, inclusive, and joyous environment through the experience of musical excellence. Formerly known as Princeton Girlchoir, Westrick Music Academy (WMA) is the umbrella organization that houses: Princeton Girlchoir, Princeton Boychoir, and Music Education Programs.

The Music Education Programs offered by WMA are designed to serve both members of the organization’s flagship choirs and those in the broader community.

Fueled by the power of a girl's voice, Princeton Girlchoir presents extraordinary performances at home and throughout the world, while educating the musician, building confidence, and fostering a life-long love of singing together. Founded in 1989 as an after-school activity for girls interested in choral music, Princeton Girlchoir has grown into the area’s premier training and performance choir for girls, with over 300 choristers participating each year.  The organization has seven choirs, comprising girls in 3rd through 12th grade. These choirs present music from a wide array of genres, conductors and composers.  While honing their musicianship, choristers begin life-long friendships, enjoy professional performance opportunities, and travel the world. 

Princeton Girlchoir has been honored to perform in a wide array of venues for audiences both nationally and internationally. Notable performances include the North American premiere of Tan Dun’s Symphony 1997 with Yo-Yo Ma at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center; multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall; performances for Hillary Rodham Clinton, Jeb Bush, Rush Holt, and Sandra Day O’Connor; performing the national anthem at several professional sporting events; and appearances at conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, Organization of American Kodály Educators, and NJ Music Educators Association.

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Princeton Boychoir develops boys into confident young men of character through inspired training in singing, music education, and leadership, who share their musical excellence within the community and beyond. Launched in Fall 2017, PBC has become the premier extracurricular vocal program for boys in the region. The choir is composed of boys from third through twelfth grade, who are placed by audition in one of our three ensembles: Apprentice Choir, Treble Choir, and the Young Men’s Ensemble. Singers are placed by ability, matching each boy with the choir that best suits his vocal, artistic, and musicianship level. In addition to striving for musical excellence, choristers in Princeton Boychoir grow in maturity, self-discipline, focus, and leadership.

Although the Boychoir grew from its sister organization, Princeton Girlchoir, and the two choirs share many traits, there is a unique spirit when “boys’ night” starts every Thursday. Led by Fred Meads, each chorister in Princeton Boychoir strives to be an outstanding musician while developing a sense of poise and self-confidence through education and performance, challenging him to tap into the best part of who he is and what he can accomplish. Now in its third season, the Boychoir regularly appears on concert stages throughout the Princeton area and beyond. They have appeared at the Baltimore Boychoir Festival, the International Boy’s and Men’s Choral Festival in Arizona, and will make their Carnegie Hall debut in 2021.