Catchy Choir names???

Date: July 10, 2010

This may be a strange request, but I'm considering changing the name of my church youth choir, now simply called "Chapel Choir." I'm looking for something that the kids would really buy into. I know that there are some neat Latin names, but I don't know how those appeal to youth these days, especially without a Latin background. It's a Methodist church.

Any ideas??

Thanks a lot!

Catherine Bartoli

St. Luke's UMC

Midland, TX

Reply >>

Replies (8): Threaded | Chronological

Robert Reck on July 10, 2010 8:32pm

Our youth choir is also the "Chapel Choir". We had our largest group ever this year (this is not my group, I am just a proud Dad.) I would say you should think about new activities, new performance venues or even travel, clinicians, a special t-shirt, or even a new slogan or mission statement. Anything but the name. Some times changing the name of something at a church is about as popular as cutting down a tree. Anyone who has ever been at a United Methodist church board meeting where a tree was discussed will understand.

I do think that your idea of getting the students to buy into the mission of the choir is on the right track. Hmmm. Maybe you should ask them for ideas.

Susan Raccoli on July 11, 2010 12:50pm

I'm one who doesn't care for fancy names. I'd rather the "fancy" be in good singing. I worked in a church with cutesy names for the children's choirs and people were confused: which age group is which choir?

I call my adult choir the "Parish Adult Choir" and my children's choir the "Parish Children's Choir." We must use "parish" so as not to confuse it with our school children's choir.

This seems to work and everyone knows which choir is which.

I have a dislike for euphemisms that church's are famous for. The church I belong to changed the name of the "nominating committee" to the "leadership fulfillment committee." But in reality, the function is the same: finding people to serve on committees. I think we need clarity of language, and that will help us fulfill our mission, if any of us can remember what our mission is, since mission statements seem to be rewritten a lot these days.

Sometimes I think people don't have enough to do so they create busy work such as rewriting the mission and changing names of things.

I'd rather spend my time finding interesting repertoire.

Susan Rccoli

Duane Toole on July 11, 2010 4:06am

Why not let the youth name the group?

Don't be surprized that the name might be better than you can imagine...

melissa stephens on July 11, 2010 4:54am

Hi Catherine:

Let the singers have a chance to name it. This way they will take ownership. Give them a few examples in the direction you want to go.. with translations if required. When they submit a name ask for a translation and the reason they like the name. You also may want to brainstorm as group.

Melissa Stephens,

Haliburton,Ontario

William R. Adams on July 11, 2010 5:28am

I used 'Sonshine Singers' for my Methodist youth choir - the kids thought it up and all voted on it. Let them have ownership in the process I think. Good luck!

Bill Adams

Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas

wra(a)fbbctx.org

www.fbbctx.org

Sig Rosen on July 11, 2010 6:37am

I recall singing lawyers at Fordham Universiy called themselves the" Habeus Chorus". Equally groan producing was our occasional performing arm of the Friday Night Sightsinging Group collaborative which I overdubbed: "Aurora Chorealis". [ I recalled as a child many such "Auroras"- but few these days have seen them]

SIR

www.renaissancechorus.org

Catherine Bartoli on July 11, 2010 8:07pm

Thanks for the various ideas, folks. I do plan on getting student input and was already leaning toward keeping the name into the fall and then having the group discuss any changes. This is not a name change just for the sake of change. The reason for a possible name change is that the nature of the group will be changing to involve instruments as well as singing, due to the graduation of my strongest singers. Hence a desire to have a more appropriate name. Love the Habeas Chorus and Aurora Chorealis! I just know that there are some great names out there that might spark my slow-moving imagination.

Catherine Bartoli

David Smith on July 26, 2010 8:27am

I let my youth create names and they voted on them. They came up with the name "Worzzhip"

David Smith

Sydenstricker UMC

Springfield, VA

Reply >>