Fifteen years ago the Celebration Children's Choir gave its first performance. The children participating in today's concert weren't even born then. The children from that first choir are now college graduates, some are teachers, one a doctor, several are in the service, some are now singing in the Celebration Singers adult choir, most of them are still involved in music in one way or another.

Over 300 young people have benefited from the Celebration Children's Choir in the last fifteen years. They have been the leads in their school musicals, the ones that have been chosen for All State, All Eastern and National Honor Choirs and the top students in their schools in academics. Several of these members were with us for six years...that means that they joined in fourth grade and continued even while in high school. Those members are Stephanie Bagniewski, Peter Collier, Emily Egan, Jake Forrestal, Katie Gordon, James Kulinski, Bridget McCoy, Beth Pindili, Nick Poulios, Francisco Queenan, and Angela Sandoukas.

We would not be able to do all that we do without the support of some special people. For several years now Kathy Sandoukas has done so much to keep this choir going. Other parents that have been a big help through the years were Lorraine DaSilva, Patti Carino, Mary Beth Collier and our first parent coordinator Camille Widdows. I thank these parents on behalf of the Children's choir as I do the board of directors of Celebration Singers and Heather Crawford for adding choreography to our songs.

In January of 2006 I started the Young Men's Ensemble to accommodate the older boys in the treble choir whose voices changed. The group of "Hams" has since become quite a crowd pleaser. As usual, tonight's program has a variety of music in it. We start with "O Music" telling of the power of music to move us in so many ways. We hope you will be moved by some very serious and some fun songs tonight.