Hometown Choir

Building Bonds Through Music

 

The Front Porch partners with the YMCA afterschool programs at all six Charlottesville City Elementary Schools to bring free, weekly music enrichment to 285+ students across the city. All students learn the same set of songs and join together as a large children’s choir – the “Hometown Choir” – to perform at community events and concerts.

Our goal is to create a “core memory” for students, building excitement to accomplish an exciting performance while making friends from across the city. We continually see student confidence grow, evidenced by post-concert surveys. Parents are grateful that their children have the opportunity to participate in an extracurricular activity like Hometown Choir. And families from across the community have the opportunity to connect at performances. 

Hometown Choir

The Hometown Choir joins with peers across the City for two performances at the end of each semester, which are a highlight of our year. Students work hard to prepare, learning classic songs or writing original songs with friends. The Choir’s performance at 2024’s Grand Illumination at the Ting Pavilion was captured in this heartwarming video.

 

Our Partners

We work with the students from Burnley-Moran Elementary, Summit Elementary, Greenbrier Elementary, Jackson-Via Elementary, Johnson Elementary, and Trailblazer Elementary through a partnership with the YMCA.

The Chorus America Study recently shared findings from a national survey of children in choruses. We’re so glad to share these benefits with the young music-makers in our Hometown Choir:

 

  • Children who sing in choruses get significantly better grades
  • They have better memory, practice, and homework habits
  • They feel confident sharing creativity
  • They work better in a team environment
  • They have more advanced social skills
  • Parents of choir members also reported a significant increase in qualities conducive to learning and development

“The Hometown choir was such a wonderful and dynamic experience for my kiddos—not just the singing, but the different musicians that made guest appearances and often with different instruments. The exposure to those musicians and their instruments in addition to the fun my kids had made for such a wonderful experience for them! We can’t wait till next year!”

– Jenny (parent)

“The diverse group of kids, the choice of songs, and the ability for the students to collaborate with other schools provided a unique and fun way for my daughter to experience choir for the first time! I can’t say enough about the experience overall, and I’m so grateful to have had y’all with my daughter. Please come back next year!”

-Jamie (parent)

“The Front Porch Community Choir program has enabled my daughter to have powerful enrichment activities as part of her after care program, deepen her love for music, and gain confidence in her stage presence.”

– Parent

 “The partnership has greatly enhanced enrichment programming in YMCA after school programs by adding a music and movement curriculum, which we would not have otherwise. The students love it. The teachers love it. The parents love it. It is a win-win-win for all.”

– Jessica Taylor, CEO of Piedmont Family YMCA

“We love all that you’re doing right now for the community and your involvement in afterschool! The winter concert is always one of our favorite events of the year and you’ve help push our son out of his shell and overcoming nerves performing for a large crowd. We’re impressed every time with our far he’s come and his love of music continues to grow!”

– Parent

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