Funding Priorities for the Choir School
Music and Mentoring After School
The Cathedral Choir School provides a unique after-school experience for 40-50 students – a combination of academic tutoring and mentoring with a rich program of vocal music training and performance. Volunteer mentors and tutors are matched one-on-one with a child. Here genuine, life-transforming relationships are formed with Cathedral Choir School families so that children are nurtured and mentored during their most at risk adolescent years. Last year, student evaluations reported that: 80% of students mentored felt they had improved in reading; and 87% of students felt they had improved in math. Donations support student scholarships so that every child, regardless of family income, can participate.
Bridging the Summer Gap
With approval from the Board, the Cathedral Choir School took "under its wings" management of the Brandywine Village Summer Camp. This five-week camp will "bridge" the summer gap for 70-80 neighborhood children from low-income families by providing valuable music instruction and activities to maintain their reading, writing and math skills, while they enjoy swimming and other summer fun. Children will be assessed at the beginning and at the end of Camp, and the use of skilled educators to coordinate the educational components of camp is expected to provide this outcome for each child. Current Choir School students who attend the after-school program will now get a needed summer boost to prepare for the next academic year. Older students can serve as mentors and junior counselors to the younger students in the Camp. Camper tuition only covers a small fraction of the cost of the Camp.
Year-Round Learning
One of the biggest divides in education between rich and poor students is that wealthy students are exposed to environments of continued learning during after school hours and summer breaks while poor students are not often afforded these opportunities. The Cathedral Choir School exists to provide an environment of continued learning that all students so acutely need. With donor support, the Cathedral Choir School can expand its mission to provide year-round environment of continued learning that all students so acutely need – during after-school hours and summer, and in the future -- school breaks.
Well-Qualified Staff
The Annual Scholarship Fund supports the Music Director, as well as the work of the Mentoring Coordinator, Piano Teachers and Vocal Coaches, and other needed staff.
