Boys and girls in grades 5 through 8 are invited to join the Statesboro Youth Chorale Friday and Saturday for a festival of music.
    The festival is under the direction of Sarah Hancock, director of the Statesboro Youth Chorale.
    “This weekend is designed for the child who likes to sing,” Hancock said. “All the songs are in English and most are from our popular culture — Beatles, Disney etc. Many kids have never experienced the joy and exhilaration of singing with a big group of kids — and it's thrilling.”
    Hancock said the music is now available on the Averitt Center website.
    Choir Festival Weekend begins Friday at 4 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. The next morning, kids meet at 9:30 a.m. and work until 4 p.m. when they will present a concert in the Emma Kelly Theater.
    The fee is $25 for Averitt Center members and $30 for nonmembers. The price includes Friday dinner and Saturday lunch.
    The Saturday concert is free and open to the public.
    No auditions are necessary to participate and any child who enjoys singing is encouraged to attend.
    “I think that many people think their children have to be really good singers to participate in choral activities, and that's not entirely true,” Hancock said. “It helps if the child can match pitch and can keep a steady beat, which most kids can do, but choir is a great place to learn to sing, and singing is an activity that can be enjoyed throughout one's lifetime."
    For more information or to register, contact Tony Phillips at the Averitt Center at (912) 212-2787.