Evening star., 1938-11-20
ChildrenFind
Pleasure in
Singing
Junior Choir
Attracts 81
Members
Singing Is fun.

Singing is fun.
That, 1T any rate, is the consid-
cred opinion of the boys and girls
Of the Ninth Street Christian
Church Junior Choir-and they
ought to know, for most of them
have been members of the group for
At least three years and seven OF
them since its organization more
than six years ago.
Take Robbie Virginia Young, for
instance. Robbie, an 1S-year-old
Eastern High School student living
at sol Twelfth street Me-, has been
q member Of the choir since shortly
after she came to Washington from
Memphis, Tenn, about four years
ago. She's one of the choir's eight
altos.
ours Is one of the largest and
best-trained young peoples choirs
in this part of the country" says
Robbie, "and being q member of 1t
calls for real work. Rehearsals are
held every Saturday afternoon, and
attendance is practically compul-
sorry. Any one who misses three
consecutive rehearsals is out-that's
the end Of him or her, 80 far as the
choir Is concerned.
I'm addition we are required to
maintain proper conduct, memorize
the music on time and give week.
ly statements that we've done the
prescribed amount of practice work
at home since the last rehearsal.
Maybe that doesn't sound like
fun-maybe it sounds more like hard
work. And it is hard work, in a
way; but when you get together
with \ crowd of other young people
and start singing you forget the
hours spent studying and rehears-
ing. All you think of is the fun
you're having right then the
grandest fun you've ever had"
That Robbie's views are typical
Of the choir as a whole is indicated
by the fact that its membership has
grown from II at the time of its or
ganization in October, 1882, to "a
at present. and there is still long
waiting list" OF candidates for any
vacancies that may occur.
The choir was established by the
Rev. Clifford H. Jope, pastor of the
church, as a means of providing
entertainment for members of his
children's Bible class. Average age
of the original membership was 10
years. but this figure has since in
creased to is. At present, the young
est member is 10 and the oldest 10.
"The choir sings nearly all num-
bers without accompaniment" says
Mr.. Jope. who is its director, and
manuscript is never used in public.
Every spring 1t gives a concert In the
church, after which awards are
made to those who have shown the
greatest improvement during the
year. The choir has done some
broadcasting. and also has appeared
in concerts given in various sections
of the city, and In Baltimore and
other communities as well. This
week-on Friday-it goes to Rich
mond to give a concert, and it Is
scheduled to broadcast, too, while
there"
Members of the group, besides
Robbie. are:
Melba Cornet, Mary Ellen Ed
monds. Georgia Lee Norris, Helen
Scott. Ruth Young. Betty Ann Jack
son, Patricia Comingore, Dorothy
Cecil. Dorothy jackson. Eleanor
Simmons, Marguerite Blick, Betty
Wray, Josephine Mann. June Cross
field. Sarah Ann Harrison, Alice
Harvey, Nellie Mae Jope, Helen
league, Mary Ruth Scott, Dorothy
Gartner. Kathryn La Place, James
Ellerbrook, Ralph Frame, jr.; Clifford
H. Jope, jr.: Lowell Keagy, Raybern
Keagy, John Gartner. Rowland
Thornton, Howerton Gravatt, Roy
Hill. Ernest Payne, Maurice Petersen
and Wallace Reese. Maurice Hughes
of Eastern is the accompanist.