Music teacher aims to spread positivity through children’s choir

A local music teacher is gearing up for another exciting year of Bethel’s Children’s Choir.

Choir coordinator Christine Horst is searching for kids who would be interested in learning, practicing, and performing music through the power of voice at Bethel Bible Chapel.

Horst has many fond memories of participating in choir during her elementary and high school years, headlined by the direction she received from her grade school teacher Jill McPhee.

“She made a huge impact on all of us,” Horst says. “She brought music into our school and did choirs and musicals with us.”

That type of upbringing pushed Horst to study music professionally, and she eventually earned a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance at Western University.

Since then, Horst has worked with children’s choirs for the better part of a decade at Bethel, and she has also provided musical instruction both privately and in the public school system.

“It’s lovely to use what I’ve been taught over the years and to pass that on to the next generation,” she says. “It’s such a gift.”

For the last several years, Horst’s choir has been unable to perform in-person due to COVID. While she remains hopeful that changes this year, the music teacher is just happy to see the younger ones making memories.

“Their faces light up,” she says. “They’re enjoying singing, and it’s so good for everybody. The songs you learn when you’re a kid stay with you for the rest of your life. You’re building that memory bank of things that will stick with you forever. It’s important in helping shape who they become.”

Because the choir is community-focused, Horst explains their efforts are about more than just the performances themselves.

“It’s teaching them how to perform, but incorporating that into our community as well,” she says. “Through Bethel, it gives us a chance to be an actual community choir and reach out to kids who don’t have music teachers at their school.”

Practices will begin on Wed. Sept. 21 at Bethel Bible Chapel at 686 Black Road. 

Children in Kindergarten to grade 2 will meet from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., and grades 3 to 8 will meet from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. Groups will prepare for a Christmas performance and a Spring performance. 

For $10, parents can register their child by emailing [email protected]. The registration fee will go towards a choir t-shirt.

“I truly believe this choir is essential,” she says. “It’s essential to our well-being, and it’s crucial to the development of our society to have music built into the lives of our kids.”