Children in harmony

By John Hilliard/ News Correspondent
Friday, November 28, 2003
(Staff photos by Lauren McFalls)

Westborough resident helps build the Boston Children's Chorus

Sipping coffee at Christina's Cafi on South Street, Westborough's Darren Dailey thought about the impact music has made on his life.

While growing up in Cranford, N.J., he fell into the wrong crowd. His grades weren't fantastic, and he had no spirit for sports. Trouble, he said, was easy to find.

But when he joined a chorus program at Cranford High School, Dailey discovered a release for all the frustration he was feeling. His chorus took trips to see the Metropolitan Opera and performed in concert halls from Montreal to Germany. Above all else, however, that chorus gave Dailey an education and opportunities he'd never imagined.

"Art changes you...that's the purpose," he said.

Now, Dailey hopes to give that opportunity to the next generation.

"I want kids... to be in an environment for them to be comfortable and to express themselves," he said.

As the musical director of the Boston Children's Chorus, Dailey is in a good position to do just that. The Chorus brings children ages 7 to 14 together in hopes of creating a professional singing troupe to represent the greater Boston area through song.

Now 100-children strong, Boston Children's Chorus members prepare for a series of shows that begin next January. The chorus is directed by Westborough resident Darren Dailey.

Founded in 2001, the Chorus performs about 10 concerts every spring. Their first performance will be on Jan. 19, with the Chicago Children's Chorus, at the New England Conservatory of Music's Jordan Hall.

The Chorus includes representatives of many different traditions; so plans call for some diverse music selections: Hebrew spirituals, Spanish lullabies and Latin prayers only begin the list.

"We do want to be stylistically diverse," he said.

Not only will the young performers learn the music, they will learn the languages of the songs they sing. Dailey gave an example of a Hebrew language piece called "Al Shlosha D'varim," a song which says the world is sustained by three things: truth, justice and peace. The singers would learn how to interpret the text they are singing, said Dailey.

Nearly 100 children from eastern Massachusetts make up the Chorus' ranks, including many from MetroWest communities. Each child pays a flexible fee to join the chorus; the amount of which is determined by the child's economic situation.

The Chorus does require children to audition, said Dailey, but the audition simply determines whether a child should perform with the concert choir or enter the Chorus's training program.

He credits parents for working together to make sure children attend rehearsals and encouraging kids to practice on their own time.

Dailey is proud of the way the children have come together as a group, as they come from a range of backgrounds and traditions. They're without preconceptions about each other, he said, and "they don't care that so-and-so's dad makes this amount of money."

What's more, the kids actually shape how the Chorus will function.

Westborough's Darren Dailey leads the Boston Children's Chorus during a recent rehearsal. The chorus includes several children from MetroWest, including possibly two from Westborough.

"They are serious little musicians," said Dailey, and they bring a commitment to the organization that can have Dailey scrambling - happily - to keep up with the progress of his groups of choirs.

In fact, children are sometimes the best teachers, said Dailey. He often has children perform for each other to demonstrate a certain note or pitch. Dailey believes that when kids see other kids perform difficult tasks, the demonstration makes the work more approachable for the less experienced.

Working with children is nothing new for Dailey. Before moving north last September to his job with the Boston Children's Chorus, Dailey was the director of music at Saint Patrick Church and Choir School in Fayetteville, N.C. for 12 years.

He enjoyed teaching the children and took satisfaction from building that music program. He enjoyed that job so much, that when he heard the Boston Children's Chorus was looking for a musical director, he didn't bother to apply.

At first.

"I was too happy...life was too good," laughed Dailey.

But as he thought about the task of helping to build a music program, Dailey compared it to what he was doing in life. Boston would be building something from scratch, while Fayetteville offered an established, comfortable program. Dailey conceded to himself that he is a builder; and staying in North Carolina wouldn't be too exciting.

He discovered how right he was. Dailey's work is "never 9-to-5," as he is choosing between possible rehearsal songs, deciding on a slogan or evaluating a logo design for the Chorus's stationary. Then, there are the twice-weekly rehearsals at the First and Second Church on Marlborough Street in Boston.

He balances the work with a wife and two daughters, ages 6 and 4. While he'd like them to sing, he wants them to learn more about reading and language before they join a organized choral group.

On the side, Dailey is working on a doctorate in sacred music through the Graduate Theological Foundation.

As a conductor, he tries to find a balance of music that appeals to himself, his singers, and their audience. He said it's impossible to create a performance which every person in the audience will enjoy every musical piece, but he hopes everyone responds to something.

"I hope one piece touches them...then it's a successful event," he said.

While local music programs are Dailey's love, he was attracted to Westborough because of its great reputation for music programs. He wants the Boston Children's Chorus to complement area school and religious music organizations by encouraging members of the Chorus to join their community music programs.

Fostering community spirit is really what Dailey wants the Boston Children's Chorus to do. He's looking to expand the numbers of children from 100 to 300 members over the course of his three-year contract, but concedes "that won't happen overnight."

Instead, Dailey sees the Chorus's success ultimately in how lives are affected many years down the road. He hopes that graduates of the Chorus use their experience to be more civic- minded and take the time to appreciate the arts and the differences among cultures.

So the goal of the Chorus is to let people "hear children singing profound texts about how we want the world to be (and) to look like," he said.

Copyright by townonline.com and Herald Interactive Advertising Systems, Inc.



	Children in harmony By John Hilliard/ News Correspondent Friday, November 28, 2003 (Staff photos by Lauren McFalls) Westborough resident helps build the Boston Children's Chorus Sipping coffee at Christina's Cafi on South Street, Westborough's Darren Dailey thought about the impact music has made on his life. While growing up in Cranford, N.J., he fell into the wrong crowd. His grades weren't fantastic, and he had no spirit for sports. Trouble, he said, was easy to find. But when he joined a chorus program at Cranford High School, Dailey discovered a release for all the frustration he was feeling. His chorus took trips to see the Metropolitan Opera and performed in concert halls from Montreal to Germany. Above all else, however, that chorus gave Dailey an education and opportunities he'd never imagined. "Art changes you...that's the purpose," he said. Now, Dailey hopes to give that opportunity to the next generation. "I want kids... to be in an environment for them to be comfortable and to express themselves," he said. As the musical director of the Boston Children's Chorus, Dailey is in a good position to do just that. The Chorus brings children ages 7 to 14 together in hopes of creating a professional singing troupe to represent the greater Boston area through song. Now 100-children strong, Boston Children's Chorus members prepare for a series of shows that begin next January. The chorus is directed by Westborough resident Darren Dailey. Founded in 2001, the Chorus performs about 10 concerts every spring. Their first performance will be on Jan. 19, with the Chicago Children's Chorus, at the New England Conservatory of Music's Jordan Hall. The Chorus includes representatives of many different traditions; so plans call for some diverse music selections: Hebrew spirituals, Spanish lullabies and Latin prayers only begin the list. "We do want to be stylistically diverse," he said. Not only will the young performers learn the music, they will learn the languages of the songs they sing. Dailey gave an example of a Hebrew language piece called "Al Shlosha D'varim," a song which says the world is sustained by three things: truth, justice and peace. The singers would learn how to interpret the text they are singing, said Dailey. Nearly 100 children from eastern Massachusetts make up the Chorus' ranks, including many from MetroWest communities. Each child pays a flexible fee to join the chorus; the amount of which is determined by the child's economic situation. The Chorus does require children to audition, said Dailey, but the audition simply determines whether a child should perform with the concert choir or enter the Chorus's training program. He credits parents for working together to make sure children attend rehearsals and encouraging kids to practice on their own time. Dailey is proud of the way the children have come together as a group, as they come from a range of backgrounds and traditions. They're without preconceptions about each other, he said, and "they don't care that so-and-so's dad makes this amount of money." What's more, the kids actually shape how the Chorus will function. Westborough's Darren Dailey leads the Boston Children's Chorus during a recent rehearsal. The chorus includes several children from MetroWest, including possibly two from Westborough. "They are serious little musicians," said Dailey, and they bring a commitment to the organization that can have Dailey scrambling - happily - to keep up with the progress of his groups of choirs. In fact, children are sometimes the best teachers, said Dailey. He often has children perform for each other to demonstrate a certain note or pitch. Dailey believes that when kids see other kids perform difficult tasks, the demonstration makes the work more approachable for the less experienced. Working with children is nothing new for Dailey. Before moving north last September to his job with the Boston Children's Chorus, Dailey was the director of music at Saint Patrick Church and Choir School in Fayetteville, N.C. for 12 years. He enjoyed teaching the children and took satisfaction from building that music program. He enjoyed that job so much, that when he heard the Boston Children's Chorus was looking for a musical director, he didn't bother to apply. At first. "I was too happy...life was too good," laughed Dailey. But as he thought about the task of helping to build a music program, Dailey compared it to what he was doing in life. Boston would be building something from scratch, while Fayetteville offered an established, comfortable program. Dailey conceded to himself that he is a builder; and staying in North Carolina wouldn't be too exciting. He discovered how right he was. Dailey's work is "never 9-to-5," as he is choosing between possible rehearsal songs, deciding on a slogan or evaluating a logo design for the Chorus's stationary. Then, there are the twice-weekly rehearsals at the First and Second Church on Marlborough Street in Boston. He balances the work with a wife and two daughters, ages 6 and 4. While he'd like them to sing, he wants them to learn more about reading and language before they join a organized choral group. On the side, Dailey is working on a doctorate in sacred music through the Graduate Theological Foundation. As a conductor, he tries to find a balance of music that appeals to himself, his singers, and their audience. He said it's impossible to create a performance which every person in the audience will enjoy every musical piece, but he hopes everyone responds to something. "I hope one piece touches them...then it's a successful event," he said. While local music programs are Dailey's love, he was attracted to Westborough because of its great reputation for music programs. He wants the Boston Children's Chorus to complement area school and religious music organizations by encouraging members of the Chorus to join their community music programs. Fostering community spirit is really what Dailey wants the Boston Children's Chorus to do. He's looking to expand the numbers of children from 100 to 300 members over the course of his three-year contract, but concedes "that won't happen overnight." Instead, Dailey sees the Chorus's success ultimately in how lives are affected many years down the road. He hopes that graduates of the Chorus use their experience to be more civic- minded and take the time to appreciate the arts and the differences among cultures. So the goal of the Chorus is to let people "hear children singing profound texts about how we want the world to be (and) to look like," he said. Copyright by townonline.com and Herald Interactive Advertising Systems, Inc. back to top