Truly the "Cherubim" and the "Seraphim" sang on our seminary campus on the Feast of the Holy and Righteous Lazarus, when the St. Vladimir's Seminary's Children's Choirs presented their Spring Concert, with His Grace The Right Rev. Michael, bishop of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, Orthodox Church in America, in attendance. The choirs, which are made up of two groups—the Cherubim (singers ages 5–7) and the Seraphim (ages 7–14)—had separate weekly rehearsals for the academic year and put together their combined literature during their last three rehearsals. The children sang in four languages for their concert: German, French, English, and Swahili, and they were able to execute a 4-part treble piece as a combined choir (see a PDF of the concert program, here).
"We were incredibly honored to have Bishop Michael in attendance at this concert for the second year in a row," said Danielle Miller, director of both choirs. Mrs. Miller is a veteran music teacher, choral conductor, and church musician. She has served in churches nearly continuously since her teens, and has 18 years teaching experience in public and private schools. She currently teaches not only the Children's Choirs at the seminary, but also K–8 music at Blue Rock School in West Nyack, and the choirs for the summer program of Hoff-Barthelson Music School in Scarsdale. She also sings in the Boston Byzantine Choir and the St. Vladimir's Seminary Chorale. She is the wife of seminarian Scott Miller and mother of two budding musicians.
Recently this year, the Children's Choirs received a wondrous gift: a vespers setting specifically arranged for them, by renowned classical composer, Priest Ivan Moody.
"We will now turn our attention to this beautiful work for 3-part treble voices," noted Mrs. Miller. "Starting April 28th, the children will meet in Kunett auditorium (under the seminary chapel) and rehearse this work at 5:45 p.m. before going upstairs and singing in the weekly Saturday vespers service. The children can now apply their singing and musicianship learned as a concert choir towards the service of the worship of God.
"As we saw on Lazarus Saturday under the capable direction of Seminarian Ashley Lear," she continued, "when children help lead worship, it is a formative experience for the singers and for all who hear them." (Seminarian Lear is the director of the campus Church School program, and she regularly leads the church school children in chapel singing.)
Parents interested in having their children join the Children's Choirs may contact Mrs. Miller for a vespers rehearsal CD and to arrange to join the choir on Saturday evenings at the seminary chapel. Returning children's choir members, as well as all children ages 6 and up, boys and girls, are welcome and encouraged to sing! Contact: danielletmiller@aol.com, or call 914-319-0153.
Watch a video of the Spring Concert 2012 by the Children's Choirs of St. Vladimir's Seminary—directed by Danielle Miller, with accompanist Jnanayoga Gross—here!
