After presenting financial awards from the Spiro Takes Awards Fund to our graduating charter members of the youth choir, I began reassessing again what the future will bring.

Did incentives offered to bring busy kids back one more day to 440 Whitehall Rd (competing with after school athletic activities, Greek School, Sunday School, JOY, GOYA, Sons and Maids, homework, moms and dads, etc.,etc.), NO! If music is not high on their list of priorities and singing their church music is not in their hearts, the outside forces win and we lose.

After the first year and a half or so the dwindling interest in rehearsing and singing church hymns was enough to make the job of putting a youth choir together almost impossible. Choir is just not on the top of the list for the kids nowadays. Those that tried to mimic the many graduates from Junior Choir who are singing in the senior choir today, have been up against significant obstacles, even money cannot buy.

Families have changed as our Parish has become a melting pot of many different backgrounds. The family is not always made up of two Greeks or Americans of Greek descent. Children are no longer filling the stages in choral concerts at school. Many are not furthering their interest within the school curriculum. We have moved towards orienting our children to the music of our church through Sunday School. All current and new children interested in singing with the choir before Sunday School are welcome to do so, as long as they are in church by 9:30 a.m.

We have changed the Spiro Takes Award program. All previous qualifiers will now have to re-qualify by singing at least two (2) years in the Senior Choir, prior to High School graduation. They can receive an award up to $1,500 upon graduation by attending rehearsals and singing in the Senior Choir. Also, you will begin noticing some subtle additions of the use of English into the music the choir sings. We are not replacing anything, but will be adding where possible to help coincide with the Priest and Chanter. Money obviously is not the answer, you are.

And finally, Easter is early this year. The choir will be rehearsing throughout the month of January to prepare for the Lenten season. The Triodion begins January 24^th. I need your help! I need young voices, old voices, and more voices!!!!!! Please consider joining the choir and make sure that the youth in your family who have completed Sunday School and are within 2 years of graduating from High School join also. We have a great choir. We need a renewed interest in our community of perpetuating this all volunteer choir. They dedicate themselves every Sunday, and need your help recruiting others to join them. Keep the dream alive