Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Choir School 2021
Ashley Wade
CHOIR SCHOOL IS BACK
Today we are kicking off Choir School - an after school singing and music program - this year, in partnership with Dondero Elementary School.
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHOIR SCHOOL:
For four years we operated out of our downtown church space, beginning in 2015, serving students in and around Portsmouth in elementary and middle school. During the winter of 2020, we did our best to maintain our program online, culminating in a “virtual choir” music video. During the academic year of 2020-21, we waited patiently for the world to show us our path forward.
This fall, our fifth year of programs, we are eager to get back to working with students who find joy in singing and making music. A partnership at Dondero emerged for several reasons: our buildings are under construction, and we can’t safely transport students to St. John’s after school from multiple locations. Given the restrictions of the pandemic and access to our physical space, we turned our sights on Dondero because of the consistent support we have received from Principal Callahan and music teacher Abigail Keller. Coming to Dondero allows students to stay in their own space and gives us access to a thoughtfully designed classroom as well as the outdoor space and structures we plan to use daily, weather permitting. A huge goal for us in our planning is making the program as accessible as possible, and the range of dismissal options we can offer from the school is a real benefit to families.
Jennifer McPherson and Ashley Wade are the veteran leaders of the program, while Olin Johannessen officially joins us this year as a full-time St. John’s employee, and we are thrilled for his direction and expertise in the Choir School program. Mr. Johannessen comes to co-direct Choir School with us fresh off a 10-year career as the Grades 6-12 Choral Director in the Portsmouth School District, however he has been a consistent presence in our children’s music programs at St. John’s for years. We are inspired to envision growth in this program in the coming years and look forward to offering our young singers many exciting opportunities as we go.
A little about us:
Jennifer McPherson is the Director of Music and Liturgy at St. John’s, as well as a world-class organist and overall dynamite musician/singer/conductor. Jennifer grew up in Eliot, ME and went on to study organ at Trinity and Oberlin. She has been playing organ at St. John’s since she was twelve years old! She lives in Rye NH with her kitty, Johnny-Mac.
Ashley Wade is the Director of Communications, Youth and Children’s Ministries at St. John’s. Ashley grew up in Harwich MA where she began singing and playing in church at age 6. She went on to study classical voice and continues to perform – mostly at St. John’s these days! She is married to Olin Johannessen and raising two young boys, Easa and Amos in Dover NH.
Olin Johannessen, Portsmouth native, is the newly instated Director of Technology Integration, Associate for Youth and Music at St. John’s. With an extensive background in percussion performance, music composition/arranging, and teaching, Olin brings an amazing skill set to our Choir School team. He is the loving husband of Ashley, father to Easa and Amos, and collector of instruments and collared shirts.
Thank you for taking a moment to learn about our Choir School program this year. We are committed to offering high quality choral education at no cost to students and families. We can only do this through donations and fundraising efforts. Bringing a program back to our community this year means a lot to us, and we are grateful for your support. (To show financial support, click the donate button then select Choir School from the drop-down “fund” selection.)