Canton Public Library welcomes the Junior Choir of Chorus Angelicus on Thursday, March 27 at 5:30 PM for a mini-concert sure to be a family treat. The half-hour choral performance will be followed by an opportunity to meet the choir and the director and to hear about the educational and musical benefits of choir membership.

The Junior Choir of Chorus Angelicus is composed of twenty boys and girls, ages nine through twelve. The choir meets twice a week from September to June, and performs several times each year, both independently and in conjunction with the Training Choir and Senior Choir of Chorus Angelicus. During their rehearsals, the children in the Junior Choir learn a varied selection of sacred and secular repertoire. In addition to singing, the choristers spend their rehearsal time strengthening their musicianship skills and developing friendships.

The children's choir, Chorus Angelicus (the Angelic Choir) and the adult vocal ensemble, Gaudeamus (Let Us Rejoice), along with two training choirs, make up Joyful Noise, a unique and inspiring choral organization that administers the activities of the separate choral groups. Members of the choirs, drawn from more than 15 towns in northwest Connecticut and the Berkshires, develop a passionate commitment to excellence through singing. Chorus Angelicus, ages 8-15; the Training Choir, ages 5-10; and the 40-member adult Gaudeamus become accomplished musicians as they learn to blend their voices to create the unique sound that is Chorus Angelicus.

The mission of Joyful Noise is to promote beauty and human enrichment for people of all ages through instruction in and performance of choral music. Joyful Noise makes its home in Trinity Episcopal Church in Torrington, CT.

Junior Choir Director Julie Bickford became a member of Chorus Angelicus in its founding year. Before graduating from the chorus in 1996, Julie and two of her fellow choristers were given the honor of becoming the first choral scholars. She furthered her musical studies at Ithaca College, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in music in 2002. Currently, Julie sings with Gaudeamus and is pursuing her master's degree in music education at The Hartt School, University of Hartford.