WELCOME!!!• Hi Everyone!• I am thrilled to continue directing our Honor Choir this year.

When this Choir first started 3 years ago, we were 22 singers strong. The choir has now grown to 42 singers!! In addition to numbers, the ensemble has also grown musically as each year is challenged with more advance choral literature and the number of performances have increased.

• Remember it is a privilege to be a member of this choir. We are dedicated to creating music that would normally not be possible in the other choir classes because this group consist of individuals whom have proven he or she have the skills and the passion for singing.

• The following are updates and new changes we will feature with the Honor Choir 2015-2016. Here we GO!

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Upcoming Events • Saturday September 19th, Honor Choir Retreat-Our traditional choir retreat will continue to be held at Akimel A-

al starting at 10:00 am. This will be our time to bond together even more and rehearse hardcore on music. This will be an awesome opportunity to prep for the DV concert which will be right around the corner at this point. Lunch will be provided (most likely pizza, salad, and fruit).

• Thursday, September 24th, Desert Vista Concert-Many of you may know by now Mr. De Valk is no longer the choir director of Desert Vista. That position now goes to Margaret Foote whom I have been in contact with. Despite the change in position, I am happy to say we can continue our traditional performance at DV’s Fall Choir Concert! This will be the first official Honor Choir performance. Dresses and Tuxedos will need to be ready by then so please prepare black dress shoes and socks in advance of this performance

• Wednesday, October 14th, California Tour Meeting-All of you will have different questions regarding what’s going on with the California Tour this year. In the past, I communicated mainly through emails and sent you forms. However, I have decided to hold a physical meeting in my classroom regarding the trip to answer everything you need to know. For those interested in having their child go, this is will be a required meeting so I can receive a guarantee commitment on payments and so fourth. This year, the tour will consist of Honor Choir, 8th Grade Choir, and Honors Theatre going on the same trip together. Until the meeting please hold your California questions.

• Saturday December 5th, O Holy Night-This is our traditional Holiday performance we sing at Church of Jesus Christ of LDS, across from Desert Vista HS. This will be a semi formal event with polo uniforms and add Holiday fun things (Santa hats, reindeer antlers, etc.. Hot Chocolate and other goodies have been traditionally passed to attendees of this event. Choirs from DV and Alta Dena will also come attend to perform. Brace yourself for a warm, beautiful Holiday evening!

• Saturday, December 12th, Phoenix Coyotes-From the end of last year, you may recall I mentioned there was a possibility of the Honor Choir performing at a Phoenix Coyotes game. I am happily able to confirm this is a GO! This will be a collaboration with other choirs performing various holiday tunes and the national anthem throughout the game. The combined choir will be featured on the jumbo tron for the audience members to see. In addition, discounted tickets will be given to families of the choir students whom participate in this event. Participation forms will be given to me by them to give to you to verify on the tickets. Once these forms are available, I will pass them to the students and send you the forms via email.

Tuxedos and Dresses• The singers will be wearing tuxedos and dresses during formal performances.

• These are ordered through Akimel A-al. No payment is required.

• Tuxedos and dresses will be returned by the end of the year. In the process of returning the attire, please note, they need to be dry cleaned and kept in the plastic wrap provided usually by the company.

• For boys, they will be required to have the cummerbund and bow tie for all performances with tuxedos.

• Black Dress Shoes and Socks are required in addition to the tuxedos and dresses. Heels are acceptable but please be mindful of the girl’s comfort as they will be walking and potentially dancing in uniform. Socks and shoes are to be provided by the parents. Please contact Mr. Lee if assistance is needed.

• Returning students are able to retrieve their previous tux/dresses. However, please keep in consideration of a child’s growth and a possibility to order a new one through the school for the student to adjust to.

• New Honor Choir singers or members in need of a new tuxedo and dress will have the option to look through available attire in the choir classroom. If none of the sizes are optimal, an order form will have to be filled out with information regarding measurements of height, width ,etc. Order forms may be found on Mr. Lee’s website. Look to the left side and click on “Forms”.

Choir Polo Uniforms• Starting this year, we will ask the Honor Choir students to

purchase an Akimel A-al choir polo. The polo would be used for less formal events (assemblies, workshops, etc.) that can represent our school spirit. The polo will be the same one from last year so many families should have these already.

• Each polo would cost $12.00. An order form will be given towards those whom will need to order a new one. Use this order form to indicate the size and how many you wish to order.

• FYI, we will be doing a fundraiser in the end of August. Part of the money raised will be used to obtain new polos for the students. If your child participates in this fundraiser and raise the $12.00 from the event, the polo will be earned at no cost!

Choir Folders &

Practice Tracks• During the third week of school, the students will receive choir folders

to carry their music home to practice.

• Students are expected to practice at home. Practice tracks will be provided online at Mr. Lee’s webpage. Singers, please make full use of these and go through our repertoire repeatedly to be ready for Part Checks and Performances

• Students need to bring their folders with music for ALL rehearsals. Otherwise eligibility with the Honor Choir may be at stake.

• Part Checks throughout the year will assess the student’s practicing at home and preparation for their repertoire. Singers, use your part check grade and read through the director’s comments to identify where you need to improve.

• By the end of the school year, singers will return the folders + all the music (hopefully all in 1 piece) to the choir program.

Performance Policy• All performances/events require participation from all the singers. Singers of

course may be excused from a performance granted the parents communicates to the director at least 1 day in advance. Otherwise performance grade will be dropped and the singer’s continued participation with the Honor Choir will need to be considered.

• Should an emergency situation occur on the day of a performance, please contact the director at the earliest convenient time for the student to be excused

• Performance Grade will be based on the following• Dress Code-Arrived with established performance attire(s).• Attendance-Arrived on time or notified the director otherwise.• Performance Effort-Did the singer participate fully during the performance?• Professional Attitude-Did the singer demonstrate positive behavior to

others.• Professional Singers-Did the singer demonstrate following guidance and

instruction from chaperones and the director

Voice Divisions• The following slides will feature what part the students sing. This

year, the repertoire consists of different ranges and voice types, hence several of the students will be switching parts depending on the song. Students with these lists, please mark what part you will be singing for a particular song and be prepared for a assigned placements to accommodate these positions. These lists will be on viewable on Mr. Lee’s website for reference.

• Each division will specify at least one song the divisions will be used for. Note the songs listed are not all the songs the students will be singing this year.

• The lists are subject to change due to young voices that can undergo voice changes during the year. If this occurs, the singer and Mr. Lee will identify the indicated change and place the singer in a part more suitable for the student’s changed voice.

Two Part DivisionSA

Let Me Fly, Charlie Brown Medley, Counting Stars

SopranosPhoebe Andrews

Cassidy BlockHailey DawsonJoey Deignan

Allison EstradaVictoria Garcia

Madeline GoodmanLara Gomez

Natalie LewkowitzLaney LohmanSariah MartinezSavanna MurphyAmeila Palechek

Liliom PatakiNatalie SanchezHope SwattonAlex Vanlare

AltosArywn Antinoro

Salma AvinaJayanti Bunton

Isabella CampbellClaire CunninhamSavannah DowellEmerald Heath

Macyn HelmsingJessica LesterAubrie RaposaAniyah Riles

Charlotte SandersNaa-ilah SmithRylie Sheperd

Zoe SutherlandChloe Spackman

Aubree Whitteman

Basses + SopranosPeter JeongElijah RiveraJackson TylerTyler Welch

Basses+AltosParker ChinnJames HarrisLucas Rooney

Andrew Stone-AwongSebastian Williams

Three Part DivisionSAB

Bella FinalsSopranos

Phoebe AndrewsCassidy BlockHailey DawsonJoey Deignan

Allison EstradaVictoria Garcia

Madeline GoodmanLara Gomez

Natalie LewkowitzLaney LohmanSariah MartinezSavanna MurphyAmeila Palechek

Liliom PatakiNatalie SanchezHope SwattonAlex Vanlare

AltosArywn Antinoro

Salma AvinaJayanti Bunton

Isabella CampbellClaire CunninhamSavannah DowellEmerald Heath

Macyn HelmsingJessica LesterAubrie RaposaAniyah Riles

Charlotte SandersNaa-ilah SmithRylie Sheperd

Zoe SutherlandChloe Spackman

Aubree Whitteman

BassesParker ChinnJames HarrisPeter JeongElijah Rivera

Lucas RooneyAndrew Stone-Awong

Jackson TylerTyler Welch

Sebastian Williams

Three Part DivisionSSA

Hymn to Freedom, Oh Santa, DarksideSopranos (1st

Sopranos)Cassidy BlockHailey DawsonAllison EstradaVictoria Garcia

Madeline GoodmanNatalie Lewkowitz

Laney LohmanSariah MartinezAmeila Palechek

Liliom PatakiNatalie Sanchez

Alex Vanlare

Mezzos (2nd Sopranos)Phoebe AndrewsIsabella Campbell

Joey DeignanSavannah Dowell

Lara GomezMacyn HelmsingSavanna Murphy

Rylie SheperdHope Swatton

Aubree Whitteman

AltosArywn Antinoro

Salma AvinaJayanti Bunton

Claire CunninhamEmerald HeathJessica LesterAubrie RaposaAniyah Riles

Charlotte SandersNaa-ilah SmithZoe Sutherland

Chloe Spackman

Basses (Double with Altos)Parker ChinnJames HarrisPeter JeongElijah Rivera

Lucas RooneyAndrew Stone-Awong

Jackson TylerTyler Welch

Sebastian Williams

Four Part DivisionSSAA

Prayer of the Children, RadioactiveSopranos (1st

Sopranos)Cassidy BlockHailey DawsonAllison Estrada

Madeline GoodmanNatalie LewkowitzSariah MartinezAmeila Palechek

Liliom PatakiAlex Vanlare

Mezzos (2nd Sopranos)Phoebe Andrews

Joey DeignanSavannah Dowell

Victoria GarciaLara Gomez

Laney LohmanSavanna MurphyNatalie SanchezRylie Sheperd

Aubree Whitteman

Altos (1st Altos)Arywn Antinoro

Salma AvinaIsabella Campbell

Emerald HeathMacyn Helmsing

Peter JeongJessica LesterElijah Rivera

Charlotte SandersChloe Spackman

Hope SwattonJackson Tyler

Contralto (2nd Altos)Jayanti BuntonParker Chinn

Claire CunninghamJames Harris

Aubrie RaposaAniyah Riles

Lucas RooneyNaa-ilah SmithZoe Sutherland

Andrew Stone-AwongTyler Welch

Sebastian Williams