NESHAMINY HIGH SCHOOL VOCAL MUSIC
Mrs. Kristin Nichols Neshaminy High School
2001 Old Lincoln Highway
e-mail: Langhorne, PA. 19047
VOCAL MUSIC CALENDAR
These are the important dates for the school year. All choir members need to be present for the rehearsals, dress rehearsals and concerts that are in bold type. If you have a conflict, please e-mail one of the directors.
Please note that Select Choir meets most Mondays after school from 2:30-5
Important Dates
10/16 – Musical Auditions for Guys 2:30-5
10/17 – Musical Auditions for Girls 2:30-5
10/18 – Select Choir to Hershey, Pa
10/20 – Musical Call Backs 2:30-5
10/30 - Freshman Choir 2:30-4
11/4 – Select sings at Voices of Bucks
11/8 – Concert Choir Classes 2:30-4
11/9 – Collabaret Auditions 2:30-5
11/14 – BCMEA County Choir Auditions
11/15 – Choir Dress Rehearsal 2:30-5
11/18 – PMEA District Chorus Auditions
11/20 – NHS Choral Concert 7:00
11/30-12/2 – Thespian Conference
12/4-1/26 – Musical Rehearsal Every Day After School
12/8 – In School Concert periods 2 and 3
12/15 – In School Concert periods 2 and 3
12/21 – Choir Polyanna ($5 Limit)
1/24-1/26 – PMEA District Choir
1/29-1/31 – Musical Dress Rehearsals
2/1-2/4 – NHS Presents “Sweeney Todd”
2/28 – Choir Rehearsal 2:30-4
3/1-3/3 – PMEA Region Chorus
3/7 – Choir Dress Rehearsal 2:30-5
3/13 – NHS Choral Concert 7:00
3/14 – Vocal Concert 7:00
3/15-3/16 – BCMEA Music Festival
3/22-3/23 – Collabaret
4/7 – A Cappella at the Rock
4/10 – Trip Rehearsal 2:30-4
4/12-17 – Tentative Trip Dates
4/18-4/21 – PMEA All-State
5/1 – Select sings at Service Awards (Maple Point 6:00)
5/2 – Concert Choir 2:30-4 (tentative due to Keystone Testing)
5/3 – Select performs at Neshaminy Retirees luncheon
5/9 – Concert Choir 2:30-4 (tentative due to Keystone Testing)
5/16 – Concert Choir Dress Rehearsal 2:30-5 (tentative due to Keystone Testing)
5/22 – Concert Choir Dress Rehearsal 2:30-5 (tentative due to Keystone Testing)
5/23 – Select Spring Concert
5/24 – Concert Choir Spring Concert
5/30 – Vocal Music Banquet
6/1 – Neshaminy Classics
CONCERT UNIFORM
In order to perform in our concerts, choir members need to have ALL of the following:
Men will be fitted for their tuxedo shirt during choir class.
IN-SCHOOL CONCERT UNIFORM
In order to perform in our concerts, choir members need to have ALL of the following:
NESHAMINY HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT CHOIR
REHEARSAL MAKE-UPS
If a student misses an after-school rehearsal, Homecoming performance, In-School Concert or Concert they are required to make-up the missed rehearsal or performance by the last day of the marking period. Only those who were absent or had the missed rehearsal/performance approved by the director are eligible for the make-up assignment.
Please choose one of the following for your rehearsal make-up:
- Attend other choir classes: Come to two other choral classes and participate in the rehearsal and your make-up is complete. Choir periods are 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 & 8. Please note that 4th period is Select Choir and 2ndand 7th periods are Freshman Choir.
- Program Notes: Research two pieces of music that we are currently singing on-line and type up a paragraph for each piece. Each paragraph should be at least 150 words long and should incorporate at least five new pieces of information that you discovered on-line and were not learned in class.
- Composer Bio: Research one composer of a piece that we are currently singing and type a one-page biography on their life. The biography should be at least 250 words long and should include at least a couple sentences on the composer’s life specifically during the time period of the piece that we are singing.
NESHAMINY HIGH SCHOOL VOCAL PROGRAM
Vocal Activity Descriptions
CONCERT CHOIR
The Neshaminy High School Concert Choir consists of around 200 students and includes all members of the Concert Choir, Freshman Choir and Select Choir classes. Students do not need to audition to be a member of the Concert Choir; however, students must enroll in the Concert Choir or Select Choir during the school day. The Concert Choir rehearses somedays after school. The students sing at Homecoming and perform multiple concerts throughout the school year. Concert Choir members are expected to attend ALL rehearsals and performances. If a student has a conflict with a scheduled rehearsal or performance they are advised to speak to their director immediately. Missing these rehearsals will affect your student’s grade. If a rehearsal or performance is missed to due an absence, family emergency or for a reason previously cleared by the director, make-ups are allowed. Students choose how they would like to make up the missed rehearsal. Some common ways students choose to make up a missed rehearsal or performance are: attending other choral classes during the school day; staying after school for a voice lesson; staying after school to help with vocal secretarial duties; program notes; composer short essay; two in-class warm-ups, etc.
SELECT CHOIR
The Neshaminy High School Select Choir is the most advanced vocal ensemble in the school. Students in grades 9-11 may audition at the end of this year for enrollment into the 2017-2018 Select Choir. The Select Choir meets every day and the members are expected to learn a large amount of music at a high musical level. Students must have music theory background, good sight-singing and vocal skills, and demonstrate a mature level of musicianship. It is highly recommended that students in the Select Choir have private vocal lessons.
FRESHMAN CHOIR
The Neshaminy High School Freshman Choir consists of almost 60 students and includes all members from both Freshman Choir sections. The Freshman Choir will rehearse occasionally after school and basically has the same commitments as the members of the Concert Choir.
MUSICAL
Neshaminy High School presents, “Sweeney Todd,” February 1 to 4th. All students in Concert Choir are welcome to join the cast and company of the musical. All students wishing to be a part of either the cast OR the company MUST audition!
NESHAMINY CLASSICS
Neshaminy Classics is a formal recital that showcases the talents of our classically trained vocal and instrumental students. This recital was founded in order to raise money for a grand piano and now it continues as an annual event where alumni return to perform along with our high school students.
VOICE TEACHERS
It is encouraged that students who really love to sing take private voice lessons. This includes students who are interested in joining the select choirs, obtaining a lead in the musical, auditioning for counties and districts, and those who will want to continue singing past high school. Learning how to sing properly is a lifelong skill that is well worth the money.
Voice - Susan Rheingans – (215) 547-9438
Voice & Music Theory - Charles Smith – (215) 945-6264
Voice & Piano – Carole Smith – (215) 945-6264
Voice – Wendy Hellyer – (215) 757-7775
Voice – SettlementMusicSchool – (215) 320-2620
Voice – Terry Greenland – (215) 493-9464
Voice – Richard Loatman (609) 695-3228
Please feel free to contact me if additional names are needed.