Cantate Children's and Youth Choir

Cantate Children's and Youth Choir is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the live rendering of quality choral music to the children and youth of Central Virginia.  Actively taking part in the cultural life of the region, the choir of thirty-plus boys and girls from second grade through high school is headquartered at St. John's Episcopal Church, Lynchburg, with Peggy Haas Howell as the Music Director and Conductor and Elizabeth Wilkinson as Assistant Director and Accompanist. 

The primary source of funding is a tuition charge of $175 per chorister per semester.   A grant from The Greater Lynchburg Community Foundation has made it possible to offer scholarships.  Joining the choir is contingent on an audition, which provides an informal but at the same time vital opportunity for both the Director and the singer to discover how the new voice can be "kneaded" into the group.  Experience confirms that while some children jump at the chance to sing in the choir, others can be more reticent at first.  With hindsight, it often turns out that individuals who haven't previously thought of themselves as singers do eventually become cherished choir members.  From time to time, and by arrangement with the Director, new singers can come to a few rehearsals and mainly just listen, before making a commitment.  Each chorister receives training in proper vocal production, note reading and singing in parts.   

Called a “play-anything virtuoso” by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ms. Howell is a consummate organist who has given recitals throughout America and Europe.   She has recorded for the BBC, Sender Freies Berlin, the Finnish Broadcasting Company and Raven Recordings.  In addition to serving as Organist and Choirmaster at St. John’s Episcopal Church, she is also the National Vice President and Councillor for Competitions and New Music for the American Guild of Organists. Ms. Howell received a BA in Church Music from Susquehanna University and a Master of Sacred Music from Union Theological Seminary.  Ms. Howell founded and directed the Jefferson Youth Chorale from 2003-2012 and was the Director of Chorale, the Concert Choir of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College from 1996-2000. 

Rehearsals mostly occur on Mondays during the school year from 4:15-6:15pm (younger children end a bit earlier).

To schedule an audition, please contact our Music Director, Peggy Haas Howell, at (434) 473-7526 or email howellph@cantatechoir.org

Additional information, including upcoming concert publicity, is available at: cantatechoir.org