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Hernando Today

Children's Chorale Launched

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By LINNEA BROWN

Published: June 22, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - As budget cuts continue to crunch arts programs at local schools, several area music teachers are creating a new outlet for students who want to sing.

David Pletincks, director of band and choral activities at Powell Middle School, is spearheading an effort to form The Nature Coast Children's Chorale, a community children's choir for Pasco, Hernando and Citrus countries.

It will be a non-profit, tuition-based choir for children in grades 3-8, with added participation from several high school students.

Pletincks said he and his wife initially came up with the idea of forming a local children's chorale in March, after noticing that the Tampa area has two large children's chorales.

"There's nothing for the kids who live in Pasco County or north (of there)," he said.

Pletincks began researching other chorales across the country and brought the idea up with other local music teachers, including Becky Ickstadt and Nancy Kraus of Chocachatti Elementary School and Morgan Burburan of West Hernando Middle School.

They loved the idea and volunteered to join the group's board of directors, who will govern the group.

Another board member — Kathy Hackemer, who is the accompanist for the Nature Coast Festival Singers, the adult community choir in Hernando — will be the group's accompanist, and a choral "mom" from Powell Middle is the group's secretary and treasurer.

Pletincks said the program's goal is to create an "honor choir" type of choral group that will allow young area singers to join forces and perform music that most of the group's students would not be able to do in their public school choral programs.

"This is going to be a place for the kids who love to sing, but don't feel they can do all they want to do in the classroom," he said. "Some don't even have choral program at their schools."

The group will focus on becoming a signature group for the entire tri-county area, featuring students with "pure, childlike voices," Pletincks said.

"We're not looking for Broadway theater," he said. "Previous vocal training is not necessary. In fact, we're really trying to create a good tone quality for our choir, and we'd rather kids not 'push it' at an early age."

Pletincks hopes to draw interest from children who attend local private schools and those who are homeschooled, as well as participation from the Hernando Symphony Orchestra or Nature Coast Festival Singers, the area's community adult choir.

The group will always perform to live accompaniment, with participation from local strings groups, wind ensembles and rhythm sections. The musical selections will consist of reputable American folk songs, spirituals and international music in different languages, Pletincks said.

Auditions will begin Friday for the 32 students who have already expressed interest, with other audition dates already set throughout the summer.

"They won't be anything strenuous," Pletincks said. "We just need to make sure they can carry a tune and sing a harmony part. We'll also test their range and tonal quality."

In the chorale's first year, the board members hope to garner participation from 50 members, with growth expected over the next several years and the potential of splitting off into several choirs.

A Spring Hill resident, Pletincks has been teaching music in schools for the past 11 years, and has been involved in church choral music for more than 20 years.

The group — which has filed paperwork to obtain official nonprofit status with the Internal Revenue Service — will run on a semester basis, with one group set for the fall and another for the spring.

Rehearsals will take place once a week at Powell Middle School. The fall semester will cost $200 for 16 weeks, while the spring will be $250 for 20 weeks, with fees covering all practices and concerts.

And the sky is the limit, Pletincks said.

"It's very common from good choirs like this to travel internationally," he said. "I know of groups going to China, Europe and South Africa, and that's something that we'd very much like to see our kids do (someday)."

For more information, call 352-442-7060 or email naturecoastcc@tampabay.rr.com.

Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

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