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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - After brainstorming about creating a youth chorus for years, Trinity Lutheran Church of White Plains was inspired to create a Glee-like teen choir while putting on a joint concert with the Long Island Lutheran High School chorus, which infuses its repertoire with pop songs.
Norine Castine, Trinity's music director and Long Island Lutheran High School's vocal coach and choral accompanist, says she can't wait to begin directing the Westchester Glee Chorus.
"I have so much music already. I have enough for two years," Castine, a Washington Heights resident said of tunes by Jason Mraz, Natasha Bedingfield, the Jackson 5 and Coldplay that she's chosen. "I'm really excited it's one of those things where you wake up in the middle of the night with new ideas."
Middle schoolers and high school students from across Westchester are welcome to join the chorus, which Castine expects to pep up many teens.
"I know from working with the kids in Long Island how much of a difference this can make in a day. I've heard, 'I have a test today and I'm stressed out, can I pop in and sing my song?' said Castine, a jazz pianist, conductor, and BMI Jazz Composers Workshop member. "The song they're singing in their car becomes a whole new thing when they're singing it with a whole chorus."
The Westchester Glee Chorus will hold informational meetings and auditions at 6 p.m. on Jan. 30 and 31. No chorus experience is necessary. Prospective singers will be asked to sing a song of their choice from any genre and take tonal and rhythm tests.
"I'm a little bit from the camp that think everybody can sing," Castine said of the auditions, which are not designed to weed out signers. "Ideally I would love a 40-person chorus. To really get started we'll need 15 to 20 people."
Once started, the Westchester Glee Chorus will practice from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays beginning Feb. 6. After a 15-week session, the chorus will put on a final show with a band accompaniment.
For more information about the chorus contact Nivia Viera (914) 261-0815, Lascelles Bond (914) 946-9398, or Norine Castine (646) 236-3446.
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