Click here for the 2007-2008 performing members of the Brenham Children's Chorus.

Organized, 2003

    The Brenham Children’s Chorus began as a dream in the hearts of many over a period of multiple years. But while some dreamed, one took action. After retiring from a successful career as an attorney in Houston, Paul Pomeroy and his wife, Booty, moved to Brenham. Spending summers in (Ajijic, Mexico), Paul had the unique opportunity of hearing the Houston Children’s Chorus on many occasions as they came to San Miguel each summer on a concert tour. Anxious to see something similar to benefit the children in his newfound home of Brenham, Paul and friend of the arts, Allen Commander, paid a visit to Pam Bennett Young in hopes of persuading her to become the Artistic Director of a proposed children’s chorus. Having just begun a choir program as the Music Specialist at Krause Elementary School, Pam was hesitant to accept such a position knowing that her commitments left little time for additional activities. But Paul Pomeroy was determined. He proceeded to gain tax exempt status as a non-profit organization for Brenham Children’s Chorus, began to acquire financial backing and gathered a group of dedicated child and music advocates to serve on the Board of Trustees for the chorus. Another visit to Pam with this information in hand was all it took to convince her that this was definitely something that would be enthusiastically supported and that the groundwork was in place for strong business ethics that would allow her to focus primarily on artistic issues. And the rest, as they say, is history!

    The chorus began with a concert in the Brenham High School Auditorium on April 12, 2003 in conjunction with the Houston Children’s Chorus. Children from all of the public schools and several private schools in Brenham were auditioned by music teachers and chosen to participate in the Brenham Children’s Chorus Honor Choir. The children rehearsed once a week for several months in preparation for the concert with Pam Bennett Young as their rehearsal director, Martha Haydon as the accompanist and Julie Steen and Mary Jane Zorn as assistant directors. Then Steve Roddy, Artistic Director of the Houston Children’s Chorus, and a group of his chorus members came for a choir clinic with the Brenham Honor Choir on Friday night and all day on Saturday, culminating with a joint concert on Saturday evening. The audience of over 1000 was wowed by the 120 voice honor group and Brenham Children’s Chorus was begun. Office space was provided by Brenham ISD in the Community Education building and Jean Maly became the first Administrative Manager for the chorus . Rehearsals for the first Brenham Children’s Chorus began at Brenham High School in June of 2003 in preparation for a performance for the Brenham ISD Convocation of Teachers in August.

History
 

2003-2004

    During the first year, the chorus of 8 to 13 year olds rehearsed weekly in the Brenham Junior High School Choir Room and performed for over 10,000 people in 5 Texas counties. Those performances included a Fall Concert at Blinn’s O’Donnell Center, Handel’s Children’s Messiah at Christ United Methodist Church in College Station and Brenham High School with the Brazos Valley String Quartet, a sold out first performance at Festival Hill with special guests, Houston Children’s Chorus and Carlos Alberto, an 11 year old tenor prodigy from Mexico, and a number of private concerts. They also performed for the Texas legislature in the rotunda of the state Capitol in Austin, made a concert tour of schools in Brenham ISD, Bellville ISD, Burton ISD and Hempstead ISD, and closed out the season with 5 musical theatre performances of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with the musical theatre department at Blinn College.

2004-2005

    In it’s second year , the chorus moved rehearsals to Brenham Middle School while growing numerically and artistically, moving to a new level of musicianship by learning more difficult and challenging music. This achievement was made possible in part because the first chorus day camp was held in August for a full week at the Blinn O’Donnell Center. Concerts included a Fall Concert at Blinn’s O’ Donnell Center entitled “You Can’t Stop the Beat” with special lighting concepts by technical director Thomas Muhn, and guest, 13 year old violinist Lizzie Furuta thrilled the audience with her technical prowess. In November, our three 8th grade chorus members participated in the televised 2004 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City with America Sings and the chorus participated in “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at Blinn. Several concerts at Christmas, accompanied by the Brazos Valley String Quartet and brass from Blinn College and Prairie View University, and additional private functions including the Christmas Stroll Parade and a trip to Festival Hill for Amahl and the Night Visitors rounded out the holiday season. The Festival Hill Concert 2005 was particularly meaningful to our community in that a chorus of nearly 100 adult choir members from many churches in the area was brought together to become the Brenham Sacred Chorus for the event. The children performed 15 varied and challenging numbers after which they were joined by the adult singers as they processed through the aisles and onto the stage of the beautiful Festival Hill concert hall accompanied by hand bells. A 16 piece orchestra from the Brazos Valley Symphony and Blinn College accompanied the concert, bringing the total of performers on stage to close to 200. Additionally, the first ever Bluebonnet Honor Choir was held in late April at Brenham High School, giving children, grades 4-7, from Bellville, Burton, Navasota and all of the Brenham public schools and many private schools the opportunity to get a taste of the choral experience. BCC hosted the event, sang with the honor choir and ended the program as the featured chorus. As if the year wasn’t busy enough already, the year ended with a performance for America Sings in Houston at the George Ranch Historical Park in Richmond and a June performance of the musical “Working” with the Blinn musical theatre department.
 

2005-2006

    The third year brought the beginning of a new group to the Brenham Children’s Chorus. Brenham Broadway Kids began this year with a group of 16 singers auditioned from the chorus who committed to a Tuesday rehearsal in addition to the regular Monday chorus rehearsals. The Brenham Broadway Kids performed special numbers for the chorus concerts, performed for many private functions including the Daughters of the American Revolution, the board and administration of Brenham ISD and a special serenade for Jennifer Berry, Miss America 2006 at Blue Bell Creameries. BBK also presented Godspell Junior, our first Broadway musical, at Blinn’s O’Donnell Center to two full houses of parents and patrons who were astounded by the professionalism exhibited by such young performers. Brenham Broadway Kids has brought a new and exciting dimension to Brenham Children’s Chorus.


    Moreover, BCC soared to new artistic heights in the third year. The year started off with another week of camp at Blinn, after which the Fall Concert, “Why We Sing”, was an exciting debut , 8 performances of the musical “Pinocchio” were in November. Christmas brought a guest appearance with the Brazos Valley Chorale in the Bryan Civic Auditorium, and a visit from the Chamber Singers of BVC for our Christmas concert at Brenham High School. A first ever overnight rehearsal retreat at Cathedral Oaks in Weimar was a wonderful time for bonding and polishing our performance, not to mention an opportunity for some of our choir members to spend a first night away from home! Festival Hill 2006 brought a return visit from young violinist, Lizzie Furuta and collaboration with the Houston Boychoir under the direction of Carole Nelson and Holly Holt. The year ended with a command performance for a private party with hundreds of guests and a private tour of Unity Theatre which, according to the Artistic Director, brings the inevitable conclusion that Brenham Children’s Chorus kids are the most dedicated, refined, informed and poised children in the state of Texas.

2006-2007

    To prepare for another year of music and song, the chorus began its 4th year with a week of music camp at Blinn College. In October, the auditorium at Blinn’s O’Donnell center was filled to capacity as the chorus performed “The Elephant’s Child and Other Stories”. Audiences were amazed and thrilled as the choristers sang and danced in “Disney’s High School Musical Medley” and “Get America Singing”. In addition, audience and chorus members were privileged to hear Jennifer Wise and Pam Bennett Young perform selections from the Broadway musical “Wicked”. In December, the chorus invited the community to “Be a Child at Christmas!” at their Christmas concert as they performed with orchestra members and adult vocal ensemble. Christmas was in the air and in the hearts of all who attended. Spring brought the 2nd annual retreat at Cathedral Oaks where choristers prepared for their spring concert at Festival Hill. Now seasoned performers, the Brenham Broadway Kids performed “Honk! Jr.” in March for school audiences, local clubs, and the public. Once again, audiences were amazed at the talent and poise of these young performers. By popular demand, the chorus performed with the Brenham Sacred Chorus at Festival Hill on April 22, 2007. Included in this inspirational afternoon of music, David Folchinsky, the winner of the Battle for the Baton conducted the choruses along with our guest orchestra members from the Brazos Valley Symphony and Blinn College in “The Star Spangled Banner”. It was an inspirational afternoon of music! From June 18-24, 31 performing members of the chorus traveled beyond the state of Texas to tour in Wisconsin. During this premier tour, these young singers performed at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Fond du Lac, in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel in Appleton and at Bay View Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay. After participating in a day long clinic, the choristers performed with over 200 children from 3 area school districts in a concert at Southern Door County Auditorium. It was a week long celebration of music, meeting singers from other parts of the country, and sharing the gifts and talents of Brenham with Wisconsin. After returning home to Brenham, the choir delighted audiences as they sang the “Blue Bell Song” as a part of the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Blue Bell Creameries. As the chorus approaches its 5th year, a newly formed choir, “Singenspiel”, will be offered for 7 and 8 year olds. The chorus celebrates 4 years of musical artistry and is approaching this 5th year with excitement, enthusiasm, and singing!


    Brenham Children’s Chorus is eternally grateful to the Brenham Independent School District for providing shuttle bus transportation and rehearsal space for the chorus from it’s inception. We know that our strong beginning was made possible by gifts of this kind.