The Mountain Empire Children’s Choral Academy singers have been busy this summer with singing engagements in Chattanooga and as far away as Greece.
“Our singers have had many wonderful opportunities in our 27-year history, but this summer they knocked it out of the park!” said Artistic Director Jane DeLoach Morison. “The East Tennessee Children’s Choir performed a fantastic concert in Chattanooga for the American Choral Directors Association, and the Highlands Youth Ensemble performed in three concerts in Greece!”
Local singers are invited to audition for the East Tennessee Children’s Choir as MECCA celebrates its 28th season. Auditions for membership in the East Tennessee Children’s Choir will be held Monday, Aug. 18, between 4 and 5:30 p.m. at Central Baptist Church, 300 N. Roan St., Johnson City. Children who are in fourth through eighth grades can audition for the East Tennessee Children’s Choir. Children are auditioned in small groups and no preparation is necessary. Auditions take about 25 minutes and are conducted on a first-come, first-served basis on the half hour. Singers in grades 7-8 who have been accepted into ETCC may audition for the Da Capo ensemble from 5:30 to 6 p.m.
This Christmas the choir will once again travel to Asheville, to sing for the Biltmore Estate’s “Christmas Candlelight Tours.” This fall they will collaborate with the Johnson City Symphony singing works of Gustav Holst as well as a piece from the popular movie, “Frozen.” They will also join forces with the Symphony of the Mountains in their annual Christmas concerts in Kingsport and Abingdon.
There’s something new this year, too.
“This year we are very excited to announce a choir for younger singers,” says Morison. Children in grades 1 to 3 may register for this non-auditioned choir during the ETCC auditions Aug. 18.
MECCA Singers come from 30-plus different schools (public and private) and home schools encompassing a geographic range from Greene County to Smyth County, Va.
For more information about the Mountain Empire Children’s Choral Academy, to read bios of the directors, or to audition for one of its choirs, contact Morison at 276-645-5785 or director@meccacademy.org, or visit our website at: www.meccacademy.org.