The Association of Fine Arts: Benefiting Children, a local not-for-profit association that develops leadership while promoting youth in the arts, is pleased to announce a new high school student choir initiative. Local students interested in new choir opportunities are invited to attend a meeting at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, at Ferris Heights United Methodist Church, 108 Center in Waxahachie. Please enter via the side door located on Dunn Street.

The Association organizers have a special desire to serve and provide a choral outlet for the homeschooling community beginning in January 2015; however, the choir is open to all. There is also the possibility of a choir for ages 8 to 13, depending on interest.

Excellence in performance and attitude will be the goal of this choir, while nurturing the personal musical growth of each choir member. The students will be taught proven methods of proper vocal technique and choral blend, as well as music fundamentals.

The choir will be under the direction of theatre director and vocal instructor Noelle Carmen. Noelle is a founder of and the artistic director for Phoenix Repertory Players, a not-for-profit youth theatre company that has performed at SAGU, Theatre Rocks!, Sims Library, and other locations since 2009. Her extensive vocal training includes opera with the Duxbury Conservatory of Music, as well as performing with all-state choirs and winning many vocal competitions in her youth.

“I am excited about the enthusiasm this opportunity has already brought to the community,” said Noelle. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the Association of Fine Arts: Benefiting Children and to work with these wonderful kids and help impart a love of music and performance.”

Students and parents who attend the Dec. 8 interest meeting will have an opportunity to meet Noelle and other Association members, including founder Sky Holman, and to learn more about the Association, music direction and time and cost commitments for the choir, as well as have the opportunity to offer input as details are finalized.

The Association of Fine Arts: Benefiting Children is now in its fifth year and events already sponsored by AOFABC include an annual music festival, “MusicFest,” benefiting Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. The all-day festival features local talent of all ages, including musicians, singers, dancers, comedians, and visual artists. In addition, the Association does Christmas caroling each year in the Kessler Park area of Dallas and produces a summer musical in association with Waxahachie’s Pit Stop BBQ, which also sponsors a monthly Friday evening performance venue for members of the Association.

For more information about the choir interest meeting, please call 469-383-8007.