About us
Glorystar Children’s Chorus Washington D.C.
The Glorystar Children’s Chorus is a multi-cultural and multi-racial children’s chorus based in Potomac, Maryland. The Glorystar Children’s Chorus was founded in 1996 by Enchin Chen and the music director Cherie Jeng, with initially 25 children. Currently, Glorystar has more than 130 choristers aged 5 to 18, in four singing groups: Beginner choir, Training choir, Concert choir and Chamber choir. The training and activities of Glorystar not only give children the experience and joy of singing together but also foster harmony, a sense of pride and self-confidence through teamwork, discipline, and responsibility. Our music training includes vocal techniques, music theory, sight-reading, ear training, music appreciation, and chorus harmony.
Glorystar carries on its tradition and upholds high standards and expectations from its members. Its accomplishments are extraordinary. In May 1996, Glorystar was featured by the Concept Video Company in an educational program "How To Sing" for the TV Public Broadcast System. In addition to the annual winter and spring concerts, Glorystar has performed at the National Institutes of Health, the National Lutheran Home, the Brighton Gardens Assisted Living Home, Kai Zen Nursing Home, Asbury Methodist Village, the Seven Lock Baptist Church, the Faith United Methodist Church (joint concert with the Maryland State Boychoir and the Frederick Children's Chorus), Barnes & Noble, the Carmina Burana Concert, the Overseas Chinese Cul ture and Art Festival, the Taiwan Culture Concert, the Twin Oak Garden Festival, and the Asian Pacific Night Concert.
In its short history, Glorystar has been recognized for its high standards and excellence. Some highlights include:
1996 – Featured in Concept Video Company PBS program “How to Sing”
1997 – Performance at East Room of White House
1998 – First place Building Hope with Songs of Hope Choral Competition
2000 – Pacific International Children’s Choir Festival in Eugene, Oregon
2003 – Tucany International Children’s Chorus Festival in Florence, Italy; National No Child Left Behind Summit, Washington, DC
2004 – Vermont International Choir Festival
2005 – Pacific International Children’s Choir Festival in Eugene, Oregon 2006 – Glorystar Children’s Chorus Festival Gala at the Music Center at Strathmore, MD
2007 – Pacific Rim Children’s Chorus Festival in Hawaii and tour to Taiwan, ROC
2008 – Performance of Vaughn-Williams’ Hodie with Mercersburg Area Community Chorus at Mercersburg, PA.
2009— Performance at McDaniel College with the McDaniel College Madrigal Singers and the Masterworks Chorale of Carroll County Glorystar’s music director and founder, Mrs. Cherie Jeng, invites children of all backgrounds to participate in a joyful environment, to strive for excellence, to cultivate caring for one another, and to promote community harmony and world peace.
Cherie Jeng
Artistic Director
Mrs. Jeng is one of the founders and takes on the leading responsibility in teaching music for Glorystar Children's Chorus. Born in Taiwan, Mrs. Jeng attended the Shih-Chien College as a piano major. After graduating, she became an accompanist and instructor of musicianship of the Taipei Rong-Shing Children's Chorus. There she studied music education and choral training with Professor Chuang-Shien Lu. Professor Lu helped Mrs. Jeng develop strategies for inspiring children and developing their music potential. Mrs. Jeng received her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Since she moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 1987, she has been active in the music community. She was the choir director of Our Lady of China Pastoral Mission for ten years and conducted the Hai-Tien Chorus for many seasons. Recently, she studied choral conducting with Dr. Jerry Blackstone and Rod Eichenberger, and was a guest conductor at the McDaniel College, Westminster, Maryland. Recently, Mrs. Jeng was nominated for the 2009 County Executive's Awards for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities. Mrs. Jeng is an active member of both the American Choral Directors Association and the Music Teachers National Association.
