Milwaukee Children's Choir Hires New Artistic Director from Within

Milwaukee Children's Choir has promoted Carol Storck to artistic director, beginning with the 2009-2010 season. Ms. Storck, who was selected from a pool of exceptionally qualified candidates, takes the reins as the choir celebrates its 15th anniversary.

"It's a testament to Carol's talent and leadership that the search committee eventually selected an internal condidate from a pool of candidates from around the world," said Christine Burgener, board president. "Her experience with our organization and the communities we serve coupled with her incredible music skills, focus on education and energy will solidify our reputation as the premiere chidlren's choir in Milwaukee,"

Ms. Storck was first hired as director of prelude choir in 2000. under her leadership, the then-fledgling program quickly grew from 20 to 120 singers. Ms. Storck left Milwaukee Children's Choir in 2002 to pursue her graduate degree in music from Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, and raise a family.

Ms. Storck returned to Milwakee Children's Chor in the summer of 2008 after reconnecting with the organization to coordinate the Singing for Hope benefit concert at Grafton High School. She currently oversses Milwaukee Children's Choir first through third grade members. She has also been teaching at St. Francis Borgia School in Cedarburg, where she directed sixth through eighth grade students, preparing students to sing for church and community performances, honors choirs, solo and ensemble performances as well as a Fine Arts Festival each year.

"Since rejoining the MCC staff one year ago," said Milwaukee Children's Choir founder and outgoing artistic director Emily Crocker, "Carol has demosntrated her eagerness to take on a leadershp role with the organization. I offer my congratulations and wish her good luck as she accepts the many challenges of the artistic director position."

"I am very grateful for what Emily has accomplished," said Ms. Storck. "She founded Milwaukee Children's Choir and built it to what it is today. i am proud to carry forward her legacy to the Milwaukee music and arts community. My goal is to continue to work she has begun, emphasizing the value of both music education and performance experiences."

The Milwaukee Children's Choir board of directors initiated its search for a full-time artistic director in october 2008. Ms. Sotrck was selected after all candidates were subjected to several rounds of interviews, onsite visits and rehearsal observation sessions. 

Milwaukee Children's Choir has grown from 35 singers in 1994 to more than 350 singers in five choirs that today participate in upwards of 50 performances each season. The Organization celebrated its fifteenth anniversary on may 31 in a special concert at Uihlein Hall.