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Children's Choir Sings With One Voice

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By LAURA FRAZIER

lfrazier@tampatrib.com

Published: October 15, 2008

BRANDON - For years, Lisa Purton ferried daughter Samantha to Tampa to the only local children's choir group she could find. When Purton heard about a new choir forming in Brandon, it was music to her ears.

A Brandon-centric group would save time and money, and she was familiar with the group's director, Carol Abbott, who teaches private voice lessons and vocal performance at Hillsborough Community College.

"Carol has so much talent and wisdom, I knew this would be a great program," Purton said.

Abbott sent out a casting call this summer for children in grades six through 12 with the pipes and passion for show-choir style performance. By September, 20 students had signed up. She opened a studio in Oak Park Plaza on Lumsden Road and dubbed the group One Voice to illustrate its team-spirit philosophy.

A choir, she said, requires a group effort in the same manner as a sports team.

"There are always opportunities for solos, but the majority of choral singing is about the team rather than the star player," Abbott said.

The choir is intended to be an extension of, not a replacement for, music programs offered in schools.

"It gives children from different schools an opportunity to perform together out in the community they share," Abbott said.

The troupe will take its song-and-dance act on the road this winter to The Children's Home of Tampa, Celebration Church in Valrico and at the annual tree lighting ceremony at Center Place Fine Art and Civic Association. A Broadway revue and tribute to international music also are in the works.

At a recent rehearsal, singers gathered on risers in the studio auditorium and - prompted by their director - kicked things off by shouting in unison, "I'm smart! I'm talented!"

Their first number, "The Reindeer Prom" - a jaunty '50s-rock-'n'-roll-style tune accompanied by playful hand motions and choreography - hit a high note with the kids.

The gleeful group sang, "We're gonna twist, baby, twist. Don't say you can't-ler, come on and shake your antlers!"

Some students were reserved at first, but Abbott encouraged them to relax and have fun.

"You look so serious," she said. "Where are my goofs? Do it like you mean it!"

The group welcomes more singers to join in rehearsals for its upcoming holiday road show. Abbott has fielded so many inquiries about a class for younger kids that she plans to start a group in January for students in grades three through five.

"Brandon is so ready for its own youth choir," she said. "We have the resources and the audiences for this kind of artistic program, and we certainly have the talent."

Reporter Laura Frazier can be reached at (813) 657-4523.

ONE VOICE CHILDREN'S CHOIR

WHAT: Youth choir open to children in grades six to 12, with a new group starting in January open to grades three to five

WHERE: 733-B Lumsden Road, Oak Park Plaza, Brandon

WHEN: Rehearsals are 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays

COST: $35 per month

INFO: Contact Carol Abbott at (813) 610-7064 or cma.sings@gmail.com

To view video of the choir rehearsing, go to Brandon.tbo.com, Keyword: Brandon Choir. To view video of the choir rehearsing, go to Brandon.tbo.com, Keyword: Brandon Choir.

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