Ragazzi Hosts Free Online September Mini-Camp For Boys Who Love To Sing

Acclaimed Ragazzi Boys Chorus invites young boys who enjoy singing to attend a digital incarnation of its popular SingFest.

While in-person gatherings are not possible, Ragazzi instead opts for a free online event that allows young singers to have fun, play games, and get to know Ragazzi's world-class chorus from the comfort of home. This free hour-long mini-camp for boys ages 7 to 10 offers singing and musical games and a chance to experience Ragazzi's faculty. Boys who love to sing and want to "test-drive" Ragazzi's virtual choral experience are invited to participate in this casual and entertaining event, which seamlessly integrates zero-stress choral auditions for the Fall 2020 semester.

SingFest runs from 10-11am PT Saturday, September 19, 2020. No singing experience is necessary, but those interested must pre-register online at ragazzi.org or by emailing ragazzi@ragazzi.org.

If a child is unable to attend SingFest, but is interested in joining Ragazzi, the chorus is hosting online auditions for potential new choristers to learn about joining the group. Boys aged 5-18 years old and their parents can get introduced to Ragazzi, digitally meeting one-on-one with a Ragazzi chorus director for some short, fun singing games appropriate to their age level. These appointments also give young singers and their parents a chance to ask specific questions. No prior experience is required for interested boys aged 5-11 years old-it is recommended that potential choristers aged 12 and older have some music experience before joining the group. Sign-ups are also open for Ragazzi's Music & Movement class, offered for boys 5 to 7-no audition is required for this fun, interactive class. For more information, to schedule an appointment, or register for Music & Movement, the public may visit https://ragazzi.org/join-us.

Ragazzi's enhanced online rehearsals help foster individual vocal development with specialized feedback provided by Ragazzi directors, and classes designed to help singers hone skills like composing, arranging, sight-reading, and music theory. Ragazzi choristers will also have a chance to collaborate and sing remotely with friends in ensembles, working toward a group performance at the end of the semester. To enable these virtual rehearsals, Ragazzi will employ advanced technology that allows choristers to learn and record their parts. Ragazzi is also implementing a remote rehearsal console that improves audio quality and reduces the latency (delay time) inherent in live video streaming platforms, utilizing a groundbreaking program called Virtual Studio created by the JackTrip Foundation. In addition to digital music rehearsals, Ragazzi choristers will speak with accomplished music professionals-special guest conversations include composers, publishers, record engineers, singers, and arts advocates.

Peninsula-based Ragazzi Boys Chorus is one of the San Francisco Bay Area's premiere music and performance organizations for boys. Last year, more than 250 boys from over 100 schools in 30+ Bay Area communities participated in the program. Ragazzi means "boys" in Italian and is the term used in opera to refer to children's voices. Ragazzi has performed with the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, Opera San Jose, West Bay Opera, Symphony Silicon Valley, Masterworks Chorale, and the Stanford University Symphonic Chorus among others. The group has toured throughout the United States and internationally. In 2000, Ragazzi was honored for its contribution to the San Francisco Symphony's triple Grammy Award-winning recording of Stravinsky's Perséphone, and has five CDs available: A Holiday Collection, Canciones de Alabanza, Magnificat: My Spirit Rejoices, Splendors of the Italian Baroque, and I Dream A World.

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