Reader comments
Learning harmony: Madeleine Choir School has unique 'school spirit'

I would have picked the International Children Choir as the Choir that toured and sang in St. Peters Basilica (twice)... how do I know, I was in it when it did so. They have also performed in Carnegie Hall in 1993, at St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Canterbury Cathedral, throughout Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and Hungary, throughout Israel and Jordan, with the Czech National Orchestra in Smetana Hall, Prague, Czech Republic and the Radio Symphony Orchestra in St. Petersburg, and at the 2002 World Conference of the International Society for Music Education in Bergen, Norway, and in China.

Kathy Sorensen has done an excellent job with ICCS since it was founded by her and her husband in the early 1990's.

You don't have to put down one to also acknowledge the other. I'm sure ICCS is a wonderful school and the Madeleine Choir School is also a wonderful school as so marvelously described in the article.

where is the put down? I seemed to have missed it.

David, the point is that you were rude in trying to "top" the Madeleine Choir School. The article is about them, not the ICCS. It's not a competition.

I have to say it was interesting to be in St Peters when the Madeleine Choristers sang there - they were invited to sing the mass, without the Basilica choir - we were told it was a very rare occurrence. One of the choristers was the soloist/cantor for the mass - it was amazing. Because the choristers learn and sing the Catholic liturgical music, they have a truly unique repertoire and skills that are much advanced for their years.

Thats GREAT, David.i'm afraid your on the wrong article? :D
I attended the Madeleine Choir School from my fourth to eighth grade years. It was truly a life changing experience. I waxed into a thriving musician because of it, and it showed me the ways of peaceful learning and understanding. I love it and the people there. Especially the music teachers and vocal instructors like Mr. Gregory Glenn and Mrs. Melanie Malinka. They not only taught me music, but life lessons, and how to become an outstanding individual through virtues. it's unlike anything you would ever dream. I sang in St. Peters and many other famous beautiful Cathedrals. I feel priveleged to be part of their community. Being a Latter Day Saint myself, I felt extremely welcomed and learned things from perspectives that cannot be taught anywhere else. I am forever in their debt.

I also attended the Madeleine Choir School. Not only did I attend MCS, I also sang in the ICCS. I will agree with David in the fact that ICCS has done some incredible things, but MCS has too. ICCS has their fair share of recognition, let Madeleine have some of theirs. As a person who is interested and studying journalism, I don't think this article was meant to put down ICCS, but only to acknowledge that even people other than Kathy Sorenson can produce a successful touring choir. I loved and still love the Madeleine Choir School, I loved the ICCS too when I was in it. Sure, I had different parts I liked about it, but I do not think one is better than the other. They both have their strengths and weaknesses and we should accept that and get over it, because that's how everything is in live.