“I am a small part of the world.” the children sing in perfect key, “Together we can be so strong and bold!” So True! The Lehigh Children’s Choir is growing in its numbers as well as in its sound.

In August it was a vision, today is a remarkable reality, said Director Candace Sundby.

“We are on track for becoming everything we hoped we could be. We never thought that we would be performing 10 plus venues in our first season.” These well received children are warming hearts and inspiring others throughout the community and thus the choir is growing stronger week by week.

With their well rounded musical repertoire including classical, folkloric, patriotic and multicultural music, the children began their performances in December participating in Christmas Events throughout Lee County including a performance for the Southwest Florida Music Foundation at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater, the Lehigh Town Center Christmas Tree Lighting Party, at the Borough’s Home in Downtown Fort Myers and at the Lehigh Regional Medical Center Holiday Ceremony .

February saw performances at the Firehouse Cultural Theater in Labelle and the Gospel Choir Event held at East Lee High School where they performed by invitation among 20 plus Lee County Choirs singing “Aamani Utupe,” a Kenyan song of hope, strength and courage. “Its important for children to have an understanding of other cultures and heritages” Sundby said. “Singing in a foreign language is a wonderful way to expose children to other cultures.”

The children will be busy very throughout the month of March performing in five events including the Lehigh Spring Festival, The Lehigh Festival parade, and the First Annual Spring Concert held at Buckingham Presbyterian Church where the children will performed with the Julian Sundby Jazz Trio, The Edison State College Choir, and the Lehigh Senior High School for The Performing Arts Dance Troup.

With more than 30 years experience as a music educator, Sundby said that there is no question that the children fortunate enough to participate in music programs obtain higher academic achievements.

Sundby also directs the Lehigh Singers and the Edison State College Choir and knows the value and importance of music education.

“The Lehigh Children’s Choir is a beacon of enthusiastic hope to the East Lee County Community . It is reassuring to know that our legacy will be secured by these students of the future,” siad Jim Kreger, a member of the Lehigh Singers which was established in 1967.

The Lehigh Children’s Choir is fortunate to have a community driven board of directors securing donations and funding for the organization, said Lehigh resident Candace Sundby. Her son Julian Sundby and Candace’s mother, Zena Baronowski, have worked together to establish the Lehigh children’s choir as a non profit program . Candace Julian and Zena bring more than 100 years if music training to the organization.

Candace owns the Cayuga Music Studio in Lehigh where she teaches music privately than 40 children. She has a bachelors and masters degree in music education and performance from the Eastman School of Music of University of Rochester in New York. Candace was a Fulbright Scholar and studied opera in Germany and won several international voice competitions and performed throughout Europe.

Zena was the first chair clarinetist for the Montreal Symphony and taught public school instrumental music for 30 years, and owned a private music studio in New York. She has taught at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester where she received a bachelor and masters degree in music. Zena currently teaches music at Cayuga Music Studio in Lehigh.

Julian Sundby , co-director and founder of the Lehigh Children’s Choir, studied music at Indiana and Cornell universities and is the director of the children’s choir at Buckingham Presbyterian Church.

He was the member of the Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys in Indianapolis and was a soprano for the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. Julian said that the Lehigh Children’s Choir is a great way for children to make friends, sing together and perform outside of school.

“A lot of parents never get to see their children perform because they are doing so during school hours and they can’t fit it into their schedule, ” he said, “This way parents can be much more involved and have the opportunity to support and encourage their children by attending their performances.”

The Lehigh Children’s Choir is open to children in 4th through 8th grades with children in grades 1st -3rd participating in the preparatory program which performs as well.

To contact the Lehigh Children’s Choir regarding auditions, performances venues or sponsorship call the LCC office at 239-368-2488.

Visit www.lehigh-childrens-choir.com for upcoming events of the spring season as well as LCC’s Summer Music Program sessions open to current students as well as new students who audition and register for the 2009-2010 season.