The Alexandria Kinderchoir at La Bella Strada Festival
The Alexandria Kinderchoir, founded in 2015 as The Del Ray Kinderchoir, is Alexandria’s only children’s community choir, with choristers now heralding from across the city. The non-profit is celebrating its growth with a name change, coinciding with a move to Convergence for its larger rehearsal and performance space.
With growing interest in an inclusive, non-competitive community singing group for young children, The Alexandria Kinderchoir was started in the Del Ray living room of resident Kay Sidahmed. With the belief that every child can sing and a mission of nurturing this joy in children, the Kinderchoir strives to build fundamental lifelong musicianship skills.
After enrollment grew quickly for Grades 1-4, the Kinderchoir moved to Del Ray United Methodist Church for three years. In 2018, the Board of Directors underwent an Executive Search to hire Managing Artistic Director, Dr. Benjamin Hutchens, who has a doctorate in choral conducting, more than 20 years leading children’s choirs and strong ties to Alexandria through his position as Director of Music Ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Dr. Hutchens was recently recognized with the Community Builders Award by a local chapter of the Masonic Lodges.
This year, the Kinderchoir doubled enrollment and expanded its age offerings, supporting Grades K-6 in three different rehearsal groups. A musicianship teacher was added to complement the children’s repertoire under Dr. Hutchens, with dedicated weekly time to reading and composing music.
In addition to free concerts twice a year at Convergence, The Alexandria Kinderchoir will continue to perform at community events. To see and hear the Kinderchoir this spring:
· Saturday, April 6, 10 am & 10:30 am, Del Ray Farmer’s Market (2311 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301)
· Saturday, May 11, 12 pm, La Bella Strada Festival (100 E. Windsor Avenue)
· Saturday, May 18, 3:30pm, The Alexandria Kindechoir’s Spring Concert, Convergence
