PORT TOWNSEND — Having rehearsed all spring, seven choirs — with singers in kindergarten through high school — will join their voices in the Fort Worden Children’s Choir Festival this Saturday.
The 3 p.m. event in Fort Worden State Park’s largest venue, McCurdy Pavilion, has guest conductor Robyn Reeves Lana of Cincinnati poised to lead choirs from across North America.
Tickets will be available at the door of McCurdy Pavilion, inside Fort Worden at 200 Battery Way, with admission at $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. Parking will be free.
This gathering caps a week of practice and activities for the kids at Fort Worden State Park, and unlike many such events, it’s not a competition.
Music, friends
The festival is given over, organizer Stephanie Charbonneau said, to making music and friends.
“Each year’s festival is a completely different experience, bringing together a different mix,” she added, “which creates a completely different choral instrument.
“I always tell my singers to enjoy and make the most of each of these special choral events. Every choral festival is a onetime life experience. They will never again have the opportunity to sing with the exact same blend of voices.”
Saturday afternoon’s concert will feature these choirs, singing both individually and together:
■ The Crescendo Community Chorus of Spokane.
■ The Northwest Girlchoir of Seattle and Seattle Children’s Chorus.
■ The Spectrum Choral Academy’s children’s chorus and youth chorus from Gig Harbor.
■ The Little Flower Academy choir of Vancouver, B.C.
■ The Lawrence Academy of Music Girlchoir from Appleton, Wis.
“There is something both beautiful and moving about hearing 200 singers together on stage,” said Charbonneau, who’s been helping run the festival since its beginnings in 2000.
For more information, visit www.fortwordenfestival.com or phone 360-271-8086.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
