The NHMS Concert Choir is a group for students who want to be part of a choral ensemble made of all 3 grade levels (instead of our separate 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choruses) who enjoy singing and can attend rehearsals after school one day per week for 1 hour from 3:00-4:00.  This is also the group for students in band, orchestra, general music, or music appreciation to be able to sing since students can only be in one music class in their regular schedule. 
 
Concert Choir typically learns 2 or 3 songs of their own that they perform at our chorus concerts, and last year they traveled with the band and orchestra to HersheyPark to sing in the Music in the Parks festival.  This year we will go to Kennywood after performing for judges at Duquesne University who will give us feedback on our performance, ratings, and scores.

All practices will take place after school one day per week for one hour.  There will be an attendance check in form to verify attendance each rehearsal.  If a student misses more than 3 rehearsals that are not excused (absent from school, conflict with a mandatory game discussed ahead of time), they will be asked not to continue or perform with the group.
 
The following dates and times are when Concert Choir meets this fall.  A separate schedule will be put together when the group starts up again in the second semester after the winter musical.  Please confirm you can attend these before committing to joining Concert Choir:
 
Voice Part Placement

• Thursday or Friday, September 12 or 13 from 3:00-4:30 – sign up for one of the 2 days

 
Regular 3:00-4:00 weekly practices

• Tuesday, September 17
• Tuesday, September 24
• Tuesday, October 1
• Tuesday, October 8
• NO Rehearsal October 15 (due to HS Choir conflict)
• Tuesday, October 22
• Tuesday, October 29
• Thursday, November 7
• Thursday, November 14
• Thursday, November 21
• NO Rehearsal November 28 (Thanksgiving Break)
• NO Rehearsal December 3 (due to HS Choir conflict)
• Tuesday, December 10
• Wednesday, December 11

 
Concert Week Rehearsals

• Monday, December 16: Practice on risers during period 3 in the auditorium
• Tuesday, December 17: Concert at 7:00PM in the auditorium (if not in one of the other choruses already singing, report to the front, center section of seats at 6:45PM)​

Voice Part Placements
Anyone interested in joining Concert Choir will need to sing for Mr. Cloonan for voice part placement either Thursday, September 12 or Friday, September 13 from 3:00-4:00PM.  We will meet in Room A011 (the 6th grade chorus room downstairs) as a group to do a warm-up and talk through what everyone needs to do.  Then, you and a partner will come up to the piano where you will be asked to sing some patterns to test your high notes and your low notes, then sing the melody to “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”  This will allow Mr. Cloonan to decide which part you should sing when we divide up into 2 or 3 parts for our songs.

To sign up for a voice part placement, click the button below.  Sheet music and YouTube videos for "My Country 'Tis of Thee" can be found below.

Here's a video with a children's choir singing the melody:

This is a video of the music on the screen with just the piano playing in the background for you to practice singing alone:

All students who signed up to audition were invited to a meeting on Tuesday, September 26 during homeroom, where Mr. Cloonan invited them all to a Google Classroom and to complete an information form.  Students will be broken up into sections and those sections will meet one day per week in Music Room A011.  Every 2 weeks, the full group will meet in the auditorium.  A list of who is in each section and a rehearsal calendar will be posted in the Google Classroom by the beginning of next week.

THANK YOU to everyone who auditioned!!!  There were so many fantastic singers and I was blown away by your talent and preparation!  I am very sorry that we could not take everyone - please keep singing and working hard for future opportunities!!
If you are part of Concert Choir this year, please stop by to see Mrs. Triscila to get the Google Classroom code to obtain a contract, rehearsal info, etc.   Congratulations!

Any student in 7th or 8th Grade may audition to be a part of Concert Choir. You must prepare the two song excerpts provided here for your audition. You will be required to sing by yourself for Mrs. Triscila. Students will be evaluated on pitch, tone, rhythm, control, and preparedness.  Please use the music, youtube videos, and practice tracks to prepare for your audition.  Auditions will begin on Tuesday, September 3rd. The LAST day to audition will be Tuesday September 10th.  Please sign up for an audition time by seeing Mrs. Triscila in the Chorus Room A100. 

Please note.... the youtube video for Bells are Ringing is in a LOWER key than Mrs. T's practice tracks! Youtube video is for reference but please use the other tracks to practice!

THANK YOU to EVERYONE who took the time to audition for Concert Choir!!!  We had almost 100 students audition and I am SO proud of all of you for your effort, dedication, and bravery!  Please do not be discouraged if it did not work out this time - keep working hard toward your goals!!!