MECCA offers The Highlands Youth Ensemble as a musical oppotunity for youth.

MECCA provides opportunities for children as young as first grade

If children in the first through third grades want to join Mountain Empire Children’s Choral Academy’s Choristers, they should go to registration at Central Baptist Church, Johnson City, Tennessee, Aug. 20 from 4-5:30 p.m. A new Choristers group is also being formed in Emory, Virginia.

Children learn basic musicianship skills and vocal technique and are exposed to many genres of music, cultures, languages and composers. “Most importantly, we wish to instill a love and passion for singing and musical excellence,” Potterton says.

MECCA believes that music is vital to the development of young minds, their imaginations and freedom to emote their feelings. Music gives youngsters another way to understand poetry, stories and history. It touches their hearts as they sense the song’s melody and rhythms, developing a deeper understanding of how they feel themselves and how others may feel.

The Choristers perform Dec. 1 and 2 with the Symphony of the Mountains and other MECCA choirs. They perform Dec. 6 at First Presbyterian Church in Bristol, Va., and Dec. 8 at First Presbyterian in Johnson City, Tennessee.

For more information about MECCA, visit www.meccacademy.org.

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>> Matthew Potterton leads music department