Chamber Choir
Course Description:
Chamber Choir is the advanced mixed choir at San Marino High School. The Chamber Choir performs regularly in the community of San Marino and Southern California throughout the school year. All choirs at SMHS perform three annual choral concerts (Winter, Spring & Pops) and two Coffee Houses (October & February). Additionally, Chamber Choir participates in 2-3 college choral invitationals each fall, and an adjudicated choral/sight-singing festival each spring. Chamber Choir regularly receives unanimous superior ratings at festivals and performs at the highest level of choral music. Chamber members also attend a weekend mountain retreat in the fall and travel (domestic in even years, international in odd years) during spring break. In recent years, the San Marino Choirs have traveled to: Ireland, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland.
Grade Level(s): 10, 11, 12
Prerequisites: Audition and Instructor Approval
UC/CSU Approved - Yes
Course Content:
Singers are challenged to prepare and perform music from the Medieval period through 21st Century. Music is chosen from a wide variety of classical choral pieces, contemporary pop music and world folk music. Repertoire is completely new each year and is chosen to best represent the members of that year's ensemble. Students sing in a variety of languages, tone colors and styles to best convey the intentions of the composers of their music. Chamber Choir regularly commissions new choral works which they premiere at one of the home concerts or at festival.
Chamber Singers have weekly student-lead sectionals (small group rehearsals) and are given opportunities to be student-conductor of the ensemble and apply for other leadership positions as well.