The Casper Children’s Chorale, directed by local music educator Erin Zavodny was founded in 1979 by Marcia Patton to provide a positive and challenging choral experience for young singers. Children thrive in this inclusive musical community, immersed in culture and the arts, in a program encouraging performance skills through physical movement, vocal instruction, diverse languages and historical styles. The Chorale is open by audition to eighty boys and girls in fourth through eighth grade. During the past forty-one years, these talented children have toured across Wyoming presenting musical performances for schools, churches, and community audiences.

The Children’s Chorale has been chosen by audition to perform at state, regional, and national MENC (Music Educators National Conference, now NAfME) and ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) conventions, and has received nothing less than superior ratings at Heritage Music Festivals and National Festivals of Gold, all but once receiving the overall top score award. The Chorale is a recipient of the prestigious Wyoming Governor’s Arts Award. Our singing ambassadors have performed in Billings, Boise, Bozeman, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Denver, Los Angeles, Orlando, Portland, Rapid City, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Seattle, Spokane, Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, DC, and Vancouver, BC, sharing their love of music and their pride in Wyoming!

Bel Canto, a primer choir of young singers in 2nd through 5th grade, is conducted by local worship leader and singer, Morgan Dailey.  Several talented singers also assist with Bel Canto.

Previously, the Children’s Chorale sponsored Alla Breve, an upper division choir of forty women, high school age and older. Alla Breve toured China in summer of 2008, and performed for the 2010 All Northwest American Choral Director’s Convention in Seattle, Washington.

Our Chorale season begins in October with the annual “Pumpkin And A Song” at Casper homes, businesses, and assisted living facilities. The Chorale performs their Holiday Concert featuring Children’s Chorale and Bel Canto, in December. Each February the Chorale visits area churches for “Sermon In Song”, in which historical music is presented in its traditional sacred setting.  “School Tour” in April/May includes concerts for five Casper elementary and middle schools, complete with audience participation. The Annual Spring Concert concludes the season in May, followed by auditions for the next season. Selected singers also have an opportunity to participate in the Wyoming ACDA Children’s Honor Choir the first weekend of June. Originating in Casper, the honor choir now travels around the state each year.

Our 2019 Spring Tour was to San Antonio, Texas, where Chorale performed with the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio and competed in a Heritage Music Festival, as they took in tourist attractions of San Antonio including the Alamo, Riverwalk, and Worlds of Fun. The Chorale also worked with Director of Choral Activities at Trinity College, Mr. Gary Seighman. Performing for three choral adjudicators in the competitive part of the festival with other high school and junior high choirs, the Children’s Chorale scored a 98 point average, earning them the Gold Award (90 points or higher), the Adjudicator’s Trophy (95 points or higher), and the singular Outstanding Choir Award (most points in the festival)!

In March of 2020, the Children’s Chorale performed for the NW ACDA Convention, in Spokane, WA, with performances along the way in Buffalo, Billings, and Bozeman.  This was a very special trip, with many hours of group bonding on the bus!  After our performance, the convention was closed down due to COVID.  Sadly, because of the virus, our season ended upon our return.

BUT……!  After listening to our performance recordings from 2018, 2019, and 2020, the National Office of ACDA invited Casper Children’s Chorale to be one of 24 choruses (school, community, adult, student, etc.) to perform at National ACDA in Dallas, March 2021. 

The conductor of the Casper Children’s Chorale is Erin Zavodny, choral teacher at Dean Morgan Middle School, and is accompanied by local musician and director, Emily Quintana. Section leaders include Aubrey Broyles, Anna Burton, Leah Hoblit, Lynn Schaff and Paige Ellbogen, who hold degrees in music education or have sung throughout their college and professional careers. A parent Board of Directors oversees the business of this non-profit arts organization. Children’s Chorale is open by audition to boys and girls in 4th through 8th grades. Normal rehearsals are held every Tuesday from 4:30-6:00 p.m., and one Thursday a month from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Church, 701 S. Wolcott, Casper, WY.  

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