The Kodaly Children’s Choir, in its seventh year of choir camp at Wichita State University, has added two special performances to its normal schedule on campus, said Kodaly program director Kirk Olson.

The choir has been invited to perform a tribute to Don and Shirley Beggs at a special send-off for the university president and first lady at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 14, at the
Preferred Health Systems Practice Facility next to Charles Koch Arena.

“This is a great privilege for our singers, to be able to honor the Beggses on their special day. The choir will be the first to perform, right after the opening words,” said Olson. “They will sing two pieces that were specifically chosen by Ms. Quilichini to honor Dr. Beggs and his wife.”

Directly after singing for the Beggs, the children will head downtown to perform at 4 p.m. for the employees and electorate of Wichita City Hall, 455 N. Main, in the council chambers on the first floor.

Olson said Mayor Carl Brewer and City Council members hope to attend, and, while not a private performance, the mayor extended an open invitation to parents of the Kodaly choristers.

“We are about the privileges we’ve been afforded this year,” Olson said. “This is going to be a very special year in the lives of our singers.”

The annual culminating concert for the Kodaly Children’s Choir, “Voices in Accord, 2012,” will be at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 15, in Wiedemann Recital Hall.

The Children’s Kodaly Choir Camp brings young singers, ages 11-16, to the WSU campus to improve their vocal skills and work with leaders and teachers in the WSU Kodaly (pronounced “ko-dye”) program.

WSU, in partnership with Kodaly Music Educators of Kansas, began offering the Kodaly camp for kids in summer 2006. The university became an official site in 2002 for training music teachers in the Kodaly method, created by Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly.

Wichita State offers three levels of Kodaly training. Each program is designed to lead toward Kodaly certification requirements. The WSU program is nationally endorsed by the OAKE (Organization of American Kodaly Educators).

For more about the children’s choirs and the Kodaly Music Educators of Kansas, go to www.kmek.org. Elaine Bernstorf, College of Fine Arts associate dean and professor, is the campus liaison for the Kodaly program.