2010 Crossroads Children's Chorus Festival with Tony Award-Winner Sutton Foster,
Country Legend Ronnie Milsap, Operatic Soprano Kallen Esperian
I founded the West TN Youth Chorus/West TN Children's Chorus in 1996. I established touring as a part of my program from the beginning.
My purpose for providing touring was:
1. To give children the opportunity to learn how to work, to teach the "law of the harvest" --that you reap what you sow, realizing that just a college education is not enough for preparing children for "Life."
2. To provide an optimum musical experience.
3. To teach teamwork, and esprit de corp.
After touring to Europe every other year, and the acceptance for my choir to open the National Pageant of Peace-Presidential Christmas Tree Lighting for President Clinton in 2000 and President Bush in 2004, I discovered that some tours were a huge motivation to the parents and children and community and some sounded better on paper than they really were. I determined that what was more valuable to a child was a tour that sometimes required effort as a group rather than a tour that focused primarily on low cost.
I noticed on the tours that provided an opportunity to share the stage with successful celebrity artists and dignitaries, that the children began to "think bigger" and "walk a little taller" with a confidence like you would not believe.
I wanted to create that same kind of opportunity for more children that my choirs had experienced.
Thus Crossroads was founded.
There is an advantage to this kind of experience being created by someone who has had experience in touring and who is a music educator.
The three-fold mission of Crossroads is:
1. Although adversity is a part of life, to teach that dreams can come true with hard work and focused effort and determination. Crossroads teaches that in so many ways--the association with successful role models and leaders in the music world. Seeing the artists up close and personal is invaluable to realize that they are regular people who have overcome so much to be successful. There's no words that describe sharing the stage and performing with carefully chosen celebrity artists who are also wonderful role models.
2. Provide the premier musical experience and allow the children to participate in a professional production on a historic stage. Through incredible music and orchestrations the children are exposed to music of a very high quality, so much so that the technical manager at the Ryman last summer said this concert was one of the top 3 concerts he worked, and the former producer of the White House Pof P is interested in doing a PBS-type documentary.
Crossroads is that good.
Many of our arrangements have been written for the CCCF by top arrangers such as Mack Wilberg arranger and director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Sam Shoup who has written for top operatic singers such as Placido Domingo (of the Three Tenors) and Kallen Esperian, (of the three sopranos) one of the top operatic sopranos who has embraced Crossroads as a participant and member of our advisory board. David Shipps, a Nashville arranger has also written for Crossroads. In addition, the children perform with some of the top Nashville instrumentalists, including members of the Grammy Award winning Nashville Symphony.
3. Children helping children--we have used Crossroads as an outreach to perform for cancer patients and expect to do much more in this area in the coming years.
I have planned trips for school choirs, my community children's choir of all sizes and prices and know that you can plan a trip for your chorus that is very inexpensive. I have done it many times.
You cannot however provide an experience of this calibur without knowledge and experience. Crossroads has been created with the children in mind.
I am convinced after many years of touring, that it is the best valued festival and tour. You would have to have experienced as much touring as I have done to know that, but if you come, you will be as convinced as other who are.
"To sing at Crossroads is an experience of such a high caliber that it can only be compared with competing in the Olympics. When you sing on a stage like the Ryman and work with artists like Stephen Hatfield, Sutton Foster, Ronnie Milsap, Kallen Esperian, and the instrumentalists, you are working alongside some of the biggest talents and the most professional musicians in the industry. It's that good." David Richie, a degreed musician and attorney, and Dail Richie, director of Berks Classical Children's Chorus who attended this summer:
"The Crossroads Children’s Chorus Festival is a creative stroke of genius! The mix of world class vocal artists, and an exceptional choral composer / conductor, combined with students eager and willing to learn gives everyone an experience that is impossible to ever forget. This is music education at its highest level!" Sylvia Pittman, Voice Dept. Chair at the Flint School of Performing Arts
Crossroads is about so much more than a trip to Music City.
Crossroads is more than a luxury hotel such as the Opryland Hotel or the Nashville Airport Marriott.
It is more than performing with celebrities and some of the best orchestral players in the world and a top conductor and composer, activities such as a dinner cruise and a line dancing party.
The combination of the best of everthing has been created is as one attendee last summer stated "magical" and life-changing.
“Words cannot express my gratitude for this fabulous festival. You have been extremely gracious and I truly feel inspired by your vision, leadership, and musical artistry. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to share in the glorious festival and walk away feeling that our children experienced something extremely magical. Please tell WTYC they were the most delightful hosts!” Sue Falbo and Palatine Children’s Chorus
The artists I choose in addition to being extraordinary musicians, have a story to share. And there's no words that describe performing on the Opry House stage, and to stand in the Opry circle that many artists consider sacred because of those pioneers in American music who have stood there.
One of my chorus parents helped her daughter to fund-raise to attend Crossroads. After the concert, she came to me sobbing "I heard all year how good this was, but I had no idea that it would be this good." Her daughter is coming this year again, as they understand that this experience is worth every penny to work and fund-raise for. How do you put a pricetag on that?
"My son worked diligently to prepare for this amazing event. When the opportunity first presented itself he had no reference to place its significance. It was only as the concert approached did he recognize its magnitude. As a result of this experience my son is further inspired to reach for life's offerings. We, his parents, will continue to support his aspirations in all endeavors of his life. I wish I had the literary skills to express my thoughts about this experience but what I do know is that during every concert for the past 12 seasons I become emotional and shed a tear of pride and joy when I see and hear him sing."Anonymous Parent
"We thank you kindly for all the work that went into the Crossroads Children's Choir Festival! There was much anticipation in NJ as the CCCC spent the year preparing. The final Nashville experience that the singers had waited for was worth the work and wait. ..The singers didn't stop singing when practices were over...(and they're still singing!) The experience for these students was one they will remember for a lifetime. What an awesome way for the singers to see the tremendous amount of work that goes into a professional production! They were blessed to learn new skills from the energetic Stephen Hatfield and to work with such kid-loving artists. The singers in my room reminisced well into the night about the encouraging words spoken to them by Ronnie Milsap, they were truly in awe over Kallen Esperian's voice and every one of our singers found Lawrence Hamilton's heart to be huge and his excitement to be contagious! The talent of Russell Davis and the orchestra made the experience truly come alive. We sure hope the CCCC gets to visit again...we've got lots of little ones who's ears have been perked from the past year's buzz about Nashville !" Kelly Lloyd-parent and chaperone
PS: "About those songs...Cullen and his older brother are singing an opera version of "What a Difference You Made in My Life" as they do the dishes with the girls. too funny! "
Put plainly, children need this experience more than ever these days, and I feel passionate about that--and preparing for Crossroads is a great way to teach children to work.
"I just wanted to write and tell you what a wonderful experience we had at the festival. I have arranged many trips for the choir and other groups I have been active with. This by far was the most well prepared and well run festival we have attended. I think your efforts to make this a "kid friendly" event were successful. From the selection of the artists, director and music, food and added trips – great! It was well worth the cost and the work it took to participate. Feel free to use me as a reference with any prospective choirs. I would be happy to recommend this festival. This was truly a trip and an opportunity of a lifetime. What an experience for the singers and what an emotional experience for the parents to see and hear their children on stage at the Grand Ole Opry House with artist like Ronnie Milsap, Lawrence Hamilton, and Kallen Esperian. Awesome!" Thank-you, Lee Weitz Community Christian Choir NJ
Crossroads will be a life-changing experience and positive experience for children and their families!
"I was so moved by Stephen's (Hatfield) energy, enthusiasm and above all, the way in which he was able to communicate with the children musically. I immediately felt so joyful that my daughter was having the privilege to work with such talent. Then came the night of performance... I, along with many others, was so moved and felt our souls when Lawrence Hamilton sang along with the children. When Kallen Esperian sang 'Over the Rainbow' with the children, the presence of magical rainbow on the stage was palpable, thanks to the lighting and the acoustic resonance of the stage. And Ronnie Milsap brought all of us back down to earth to Nashville with 'What a Difference You Made in My Life'. It was truly an unforgettable experience. When I spoke to my daughter about my thoughts, she said that the three professionals were truly wonderful people and that they had shared so generously and given them so much of their own insight musically and beyond. She had a blast. She is gaining so much confidence and esteem since the trip." Parent--Contra Costa Children's Chorus
Dear Martha, I thought I would let things get back to normal before I wrote to you. I have no words to tell you what the Crossroads Children's Festival meant to me. I am honored to have had the opportunity to meet with so much talent. To be in the company of people who appreciate a children's choir the way that I do was an experience I shall want again and again. My son is fortunate to have worked with the great conductor Stephen Hatfield and so many talented singers from all over. You will have my assistance with anything you need for the next Crossroads Children's Festival. You and your daughter are very pleasant people...Thank you so very much.
Floored and hungry for more,
Kimberlee Edwards
The Meaning of Crossroads
"When the glory days of summer had finally arrived near the end of May, I was not looking forward to venturing late out with friends at the movies nor was I looking forward to gallivanting in Europe or tanning at a sprawling beachside somewhere in the Caribbean. Instead, I was looking forward to choir practice. But not just any school show choir or ordinary glee club. This summer would be the second in which I would be a participant of the Crossroads Children’s Chorus Festival, a choir festival consisting of several choral students around the world to perform several scores with renowned composer and conductor, Stephen Hatfield and three outstanding vocalists each representing a different genre: Lawrence Hamilton, the lead star of Ragtime, Kallen Esperian, an eminent, local figure of the opera world, and Ronnie Milsap, a true legendary in country music. On Saturday, July 11, choirs from Canada, New Jersey, Alaska, Nashville, and Memphis gathered together to stay at the luxurious Gaylord Opryland Hotel to practice and perfect 22 pieces of music through the course of a week with Hatfield in order to perform what was expected to be an “unforgettable” show on the illustrious Grand Ole Opry Stage. Through just one week, we practiced 6 hours a day blending together harmoniously and tirelessly. What resulted? Only the sound of 100 angels singing from the golden rings of heaven. Together, several talented students from around the world connect through one of the most riveting experiences on Earth: music. Together, we make an art that is heavenly yet untouchable similar to a sculpture in that each of us, the choir directors, the conductor, the orchestra, the vocalists, and the students make up the hands of the sculptor while the actual sculpture is the music. Through our music, just like any painting or sculpture, we leave behind something special and but yet untouchable. By adding the voices of Hamilton, Esperian, and Milsap, one not only gets a sense of the choral world but also a sense of the several genres that make up all music today. By combining the unique styles together, we truly defined a concert so unique in that we were not known as 100 different singers but rather, we were one voice: perfectly blended and balanced like a timeless work of art. Together, we defined the meaning of Crossroads." Issa Basco-Student of Host Choir-West TN Youth Chorus