New Ensembles for a New Year

Welcome back to another year of making music together!

With the start of a new year, we embark on a new adventure in learning how to make our voices unite in beautiful song.  This year, we're adding 2 new groups to make that happen.  This afternoon, the list for our newly established auditioned women's ensemble -- The Dreamcatchers -- will be posted.  This 28-member group will showcase 3-part women's voices with more challenging literature.

Next week, our new men's ensemble -- Arrow -- will begin as well.  This group will be a mix of barbershop, doo wop, pop, and contemporary a cappella.  The guys were already singing together on their own, now we've just given it an official time/place to rehearse and a name!

Both of these ensemble will begin to perform at various events such as Cabaret Night, Arts Alive, School Board meetings, at the beginning of athletic events, and more.

And this fall, collaboration is the name of the game.  We're joining forces with the wind symphony, wind ensemble, and chamber orchestra on a fall concert in October at the middle school.  This represents a great opportunity to explore literature that we may not otherwise be able to study due to its complexity of having many instrumental parts.  We're looking forward to showcasing our high school performing ensembles in a "collage" concert, which also includes special performances by the Allegheny Brass Band.

As we move into the semester, our students will have festival opportunities.  I'm co-hosting the PMEA Honors Choir festival with the director at Upper St. Clair (who happens to also be my former high school director at Woodland Hills -- and my neighbor!).  We should have strong representation at the men's and women's honors choirs at the end of October.

Our freshmen will get to be a part of the ACDA-PA festivals: Sweet Harmony and Mucho Macho Music.  And right before Thanksgiving, those who choose to may audition for PMEA District Chorus.

I look forward to the challenges and opportunities this year will present us.  Hope to see you at an upcoming performance!