The Dox Apprenticeship Program
The Dox Apprenticeship Program
As part of our continuing effort to provide outreach opportunities in the Central Leatherstocking area, the Catskill Choral Society has created the Dox Apprenticeship Program. This unique initiative offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the Choral Society in its fall and spring concerts, and to receive free private voice lessons from professional voice teachers.
Selection of apprentices is based on their applications, recommendations from music professionals acquainted with their abilities, and an audition before the Society's Auditions Committee.
Auditions are held each spring. High school juniors and seniors may audition to receive free vocal instruction and to sing with the choral society during the fall semester of the year. Information is typically available from school chorus instructors.
Honoring the Choral Society's longtime music director Thurston J. Dox, the Apprenticeship Program recognizes his dedication to enriching the musical experiences of young people. Music students from our area have shown considerable interest in singing masterworks with a seasoned chorus accompanied by a professional orchestra. Since the inception of the program in 1992, over 100 high school students have completed apprenticeships. Students from Andes, Bainbridge/Guilford, Cherry Valley/Springfield, Cobleskill, Cooperstown, Delhi, Franklin, Gilbertsville/Mt Upton, Jefferson, Laurens, Milford, Morris, Norwich, Oneonta, Sidney, South Kortright, Unatego, Walton, and Worcester have participated during the tenure of the program.
The 80-member Choral Society performs an extensive repertoire of choral masterpieces, including classics by Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Dvorak, Beethoven, Brahms, and many others. The society performed the American premier of the "Bonhoeffer Oratorium" by Tom Johnson, and has also performed "Itaipu" by Philip Glass.
Application forms are provided to choral director in schools in the four-county area shortly after the first of the year. Interested students should inquire of their director to obtain a program brochure and application, or contact Peg Twasutyn at 432-6695 or twasutynp@yahoo.com.