Choir

Fall 2023 auditions

Auditions must be completed by Monday, Sept. 18, 2023 after school. Look for more information in class. 

2023-24 required dates

• Required sectional: Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, 4:30-6 p.m. at Columbine High School
• Required sectional-group rehearsal: Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, 4:30-8 p.m. at Standley Lake High School
• Required all-day rehearsal and concert: Friday, Nov. 17, 2023; all-day field trip and 7:30 p.m. concert at Bear Creek High School. $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors.

2022-23 rehearsal files

Rehearsal Files

To download MP3 files below, click on the file to open. Once open, click the “download button” to save to your computer.

The Chatfield Area Choir Festival showcases all of the choral talent in the Chatfield area. This will give the audience an opportunity to see how the choral art progresses throughout their K-12 experience.

• Dress rehearsal: Monday, Nov. 13, 2022, 3:45-5 p.m. at Falcon Bluffs Middle School

• Concert: Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, 5:45 dropoff, 7 p.m. concert at CSH main gym

2023-24 Area Festival tracks and resources

Any student may get involved with Choir Council. Congratulations to the below executive officers for the 2023-24 school year.

• President: Abi Matens
• Vice President: Hudson Valladolid
• Secretary: Ella “Steve” Stephens
• Publicist: Nevaeh Weddel

We will hold elections for class representatives in the first few weeks of school and anyone can join as a member at large.

Agendas and Meeting Minutes

• Rubrics Folder
• Alternate Participation Form
• Choir Make-Up Sheet
• Request Excused Absence from Required Performance
• Vocal Concert Critique

2023-24 Lettering Application (due April 10, 2024)

Students who wish to letter in choir must meet the lettering requirements. All students who participate in the vocal program have the opportunity to earn a choir letter and pin or bar. Students must do more than just the class requirements in order to earn a letter or a bar. The specific details are outlined below.

• Students must be in choir for a total of two years or four semesters before they are eligible to earn a letter. (A minimum of two of those semesters must be in a CSH choir. Up to two semesters may count from choir in seventh grade or higher from another vocal music school program.)
• Students must “perform” in all required concerts, festivals, and any extra required rehearsals.
• A student must receive an “A” or a “B” for each grading period and the semester grade in each choir during the entire year. If you should receive lower than a “B” during any grading period, you are no longer eligible to letter during that year.
• A student or family member of the student must participate in at least one fundraising project for the choir.
• Each student must work a minimum of one “sign up committee” such as stage clean up, stage set up, publicity, etc. per semester.
• Attendance of at least one CSH Performing Arts Department performance as an audience member that is not a choir event.
• Students must complete and turn in the choir letter application by the due date listed on the choir calendar and have all of the appropriate signatures.
• Students must earn 25 lettering points during the school year in which they are trying to earn the letter and pin or a bar. (These points do not carry over from year to year.) Points can be earned by doing a variety of extra activities.
• If a student is in more than one choir, they may try to earn a letter in each individual choir, but the points earned in each choir will not be combined.

After the designated points have been earned and a letter has been received, the student will receive a bar for every year in which they earn a letter thereafter. The lettering requirements for third- and fourth-year letters (bars) are the same as listed above.

Students must be responsible to keep track of their own lettering points and getting those points verified with a signature by Mrs. Hubbard, Mr. Jackson or the adult in charge of that activity.

Please note: If a student volunteers for a committee or a job or makes a commitment to an extra performing activity which can earn them lettering points and fails to follow through with that task or performance, that student will receive a deduction of lettering points for how many points would have been earned if the task or performance were completed.

Why sing with Solfege?

• It teaches function. Sol to Do is a very important relationship in any key, major or minor. Without solfege or numbers, I cannot be sure you understand what you see. It is a window to your brain.
• It makes sight reading easier for those who know the system well. Perhaps we will never learn the system well, just as adults we will never learn a foreign language without an accent, but we should still teach children a foreign language.
• It is a very efficient method to teach music, e.g. to correct mistakes at a rehearsal or lesson.
• It is a practical skill. It may land you a job or a T.A. (teaching assistantship) in college.
• Solfege works better than numbers when accidentals appear.

• Mr. Jackson’s Sight Reading Book (Vol. 6)
• Sight reading warmups (by key)
• Warmups

Auditions for the 24-2025 school year will take place virtually March 8-14, 2024. Students who are not currently enrolled in a CSH choir but wish to audition should e-mail Mr. Jackson or Mrs. Hubbard during the first week of March.

Here are the areas of the audition:

1. Written proficiency (20 points): Note name recognition, music notation identification, and solfege identification.
2. Vocalization: Determines your vocal range (not scored, for informational purposes only).
3. Prepared music excerpt (50 points): “Sing We and Chant It” You should memorize this excerpt for your audition and practice with the following accompaniment track that will be used in your audition.
4. Aural recall (30 points): Sing back a melody played for you, each example increases in difficulty.
5. Major scale (10 points ): Sing a major scale from a given pitch on any syllable or with numbers (solfege suggested, but not required).
6. Harmonic minor scale (10 points): Sing a harmonic minor scale from a given pitch on any syllable or with numbers (solfege suggested, but not required).
7. Melodic minor scale (10 points): Sing a melodic minor scale from a given pitch on any syllable or with numbers (solfege suggested, but not required).
8. Sight reading (50 points): Sight read a five-measure melody in either treble or bass clef. Students will be evaluated on key identification, correct starting and ending note, correct rhythm, correct melodic direction, correct intervals, overall pitch accuracy and keeping a steady beat while sight reading. See below for a previous year’s example. The sight reading will look similar to this example.
9. Rhythmic sight reading (50 points): Sight read a five-measure rhythmic line. Students may demonstrate rhythm in a variety of ways but they must speak or sing the rhythm. Although students may tap or clap, they will be scored only on what they say or sing. See below for a previous year’s example. The rhythmic sight reading will look similar to this example.
10. Attitude and professionalism (10 points ): Students will be evaluated on their overall attitude and professionalism. Their previous director may be contacted for this information, and information will be gathered during the audition.
11. Letter of intent (10 points ): Students intending to audition for Chantons or Charisma need to write a letter and present it to Mr. Jackson during their audition. This letter should address why they want to join an advanced choral group at Chatfield.
12. See below for specifics that will be evaluated in this letter.

What is your singing background? Previous choral experience?
What is your level of commitment to an advanced choral group?
Why do want to be a member of an advanced choral group?
What do believe you can contribute to the group?

Auditions are evaluated on a point system. Students and parents may always schedule an appointment with Mr. Jackson to view the results of their audition and receive feedback at any time. Students must complete all areas of the audition to be considered for Chantons or Charisma.

Sample Audition Card