Arts and Culture

Discovering Music with Honors Choirs

Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota offers these twice-weekly classes at the Rochester Boys & Girls Club.  Music Education Specialist Korrie Johnson welcomes participants to fun experiences with music!   Using a variety of materials including Orff percussion instruments and recorders, young people get vocal training, opportunities for performance (vocal and instrumental), learn music history and theory, and get an overview of world music. Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota is a non-profit based in Rochester that includes four youth choirs for singers in grades 3 through 12.  Its 230+ singers come from all over the region and rehearse on Sunday afternoons/evenings throughout the school year. For more information visit www.HonorsChoirs.org or call (507) 252-0505.

Digital Arts Suite and Festivals
The Digital Arts Suite teaches members ages 6 to 18 how to create computer-generated art. In each of five programs (Web Tech, Design Tech, Photo Tech, Music Tech and Movie Tech), members advance through three levels of animated lessons online (delivered in English or Spanish) and participate in instructor-led group activities. Club members ages 10 to 18 are invited to submit their artwork to the annual Digital Arts Festivals, which celebrate Club members’ creativity in Web design, graphic design, photo illustration, music composition and movie making/screenplay writing. Digital Arts Suite and Festivals are a part of Club Tech, which is a partnership between Boys & Girls Clubs of America, founding partner Microsoft and Best Buy Children’s Foundation.

MusicMakers
This year-round program, developed in collaboration with NAMM, the International Music Products Association, encourages Club members ages 6 to 18 to have fun exploring music making and learning to play drums and guitar. Clubs provide step-by-step activities for drums and guitar in beginner, intermediate and advanced skill levels.

National Fine Arts Exhibit
This competition, which encourages creativity through a variety of media, is made up of local, regional and national exhibits. Young people are encouraged to create artwork in any of the following categories: monochromatic drawing, multicolored drawing, pastels, water color, oil or acrylic, print making, mixed media, collage and sculpture.

ImageMakers: National Photography Program
This comprehensive photography program encourages girls and boys to learn and practice photography, expressing themselves in creative and innovative ways. The national initiative delivers a state-of-the-art photography curriculum, provides photographic resources and opportunities for Club members to compete on a national level. ImageMakers provides local, regional and national recognition through an annual photography contest.