Kids Praise Too!

After repeatedly responding to an annual request to provide a children's choir for the Christmas Eve Pageant Mass, in 1993, Kids Praise Too! was formed to give our children an opportunity to sing year-round. Now, in addition to singing on Christmas Eve, Kids Praise Too! now collaborates with the Adult Choir for Palm Sunday and Easter as well as singing once a month, September through May, at the Family Mass on Sundays at 9:00am. While KPT originally always sang on the altar, in recent years, our membership has grown so much that we no longer fit on the altar! However, we still prioritize the opportunity for the children to perform in front of the parish, so they now sing on the altar for 10 minutes prior to Mass before moving up to the choir loft for the remainder of the Mass. Our inspiration for having a choir for children was to contrast the "children should be seen and not heard" adage, and instead, provide them with a way that they can participate in the Mass - be leaders - and feel like valued members of the congregation. However, in the 17 years since KPT's inception, our children have not only fufilled that goal, but raise the bar year after year. We are continually impressed with amount of music they can learn, the speed with which they can learn it, and by how well they retain the songs. Throughout the year with our weekly rehearsals, their sense of pitch improves exponentially--they have an uncanny ability to pull a "sing a 'G' for God" out of thin air! The children who return to the choir year after year (the "back row") not only help lead and teach the younger ones, but allow the choir to handle complex harmonies with ease. In addition to being able to learn multiple parts for our repertoire, the children also sing in several languages. So far, in addition to English, they have mastered songs in Latin, German and French! Kids Praise Too! rehearses every Wednesday evening from 5:15-6:15 in the choir loft in back of the church. KPT is open to any child from Holy Family Parish, grades 1-7, who can commit to the rehearsal and singing schedule.

If you would like more information, please contact the director, Mary Beth Millner.