PORT TOWNSEND — Most libraries encourage children to read.
What about libraries encouraging children to read not just books but music?
Starting Monday, the Port Townsend Library Children’s Choir will rehearse for 10 weeks, culminating in a concert May 13.
“We are so excited that the Port Townsend Public Library Children’s Choir is back,” said Youth Services Director Kit Ward-Crixell. Children ages 7 to 12 will gather each week to sing favorite songs, from folk and classical to rock, pop and baroque.
There are still a few spaces left for young singers and no prior experience is necessary.
Rehearsals will be held from 4 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. Mondays next door to the library at First Baptist Church, 1202 Lawrence St.
A 10-week commitment is required for participation.
To secure a child’s spot, parents can visit ptpublic library.org, click on the “Calendar” tab, click on the choir event on Feb. 27 and hit “Register.”
Sponsored by the Port Townsend Library, the choir is a free music program for local youngsters directed by Phina Pipia.
“Rice University tells us that singing encourages children’s language development, teaching skills like phrasing, patterning, rhyme, rhythm and vocabulary. And it’s free, fun and available to everyone. I hope that many Port Townsend families will join the choir and enjoy their children’s beautiful music,” Ward-Crixell said in a news release.
Participants will discover a wide range of music by artists as diverse as Harry Nilsson and Georges Bizet, and sing beloved numbers by Jonathan Richman, Miriam Makeba, Bobby Darin and Meghan Trainor.
The Port Townsend Library Children’s Choir was founded and led for more than 10 years by children’s librarian Dahti Blanchard and revived in 2015 by Pipia.
The choir has served as an indispensable arts resource, giving kids the opportunity to make music in a supportive group setting, explore diverse musical genres and perform annual concerts shared with the community.
Pipia sang with the choir as a youngster and said she is thrilled to be its current director.
“It is an absolute joy to bring this opportunity to local youth,” said Pipia. “Music was a truly integral part of my childhood, and I’m delighted to give back to the community through this wonderful program.”
Pipia is the director of a local theater company, Generation Goat Rocket, which produces theater intensives for Port Townsend youths.
She teaches musical theater classes at The Chameleon Theater; performs with a duo, The Pipia Sisters; plays tuba with Unexpected Brass Band; and her original musical plays have been performed both nationally and internationally.
For information, call 360-379-2980.
