5th & 6th Grade Choirs

As an introduction to choral music, 5th grade choir begins to develop students’ ability to sing various styles of music in unison and in two-part harmony.  Genres include classical, sacred, jazz, pop, and world music, and lessons center on proper diction, singing technique, and breathe support.  These lessons provide authentic opportunities for students to gain appreciation for music and its history, understanding of theory and sight-reading and how music relates to our constant ministry in our school, in our communities, and throughout our world.  The 5th grade choir will perform for several events throughout the year including the Christmas Concert, Grandparents Day and a spring Ministerium. In addition to the two class periods per week students will meet before school for supplementary instruction with the teacher.

As a continuation of choral music study, 6th grade choir develops students’ ability to sing various styles of music in two and three-part harmony, to sight read music with ease, and to sing with dynamics and expression in preparation for higher level choirs in the Schools of Logic and Rhetoric. Genres include classical, sacred, jazz, pop, world music, and more, and lessons center around proper diction, singing technique, and breath support. These lessons provide authentic opportunities for students to gain appreciation for music and its history, understanding of theory and sight-reading and how music relates to our constant ministry in our school, in our communities, and throughout our world. The 6th grade choir will perform for several events throughout the year including the Christmas Concert, Grandparents Day and the Sound Waves Music Festival at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in the spring. In addition to the two class periods students will meet before school for supplementary instruction with the teacher.

School of Logic Mixed Choir (7th-8th)

Students have the opportunity to rehearse and perform music from varied genres of choral repertoire including classical, early music, traditional and modern works including pop, jazz, and familiar tunes from Broadway and film.  Students work on developing sight-reading and musicianship skills, singing in three-part harmony with or without piano accompaniment, and singing foreign language pieces. Required performances include fall and spring concerts, some chapels and a competition in May such as the Schlitterbahn Sound Waves Music Festival in New Braunfels.

School of Rhetoric Madrigal Singers (9th-12th)

Students explore fundamentals of vocal technique with the goal of developing the necessary skills to participate in a more advanced choral group. Students develop not only their core musical skills, but also develop the personal maturity necessary to good choir membership. Emphasis is placed on learning how to create a proper choral and vocal sound, in addition to basic sight-reading and music theory. Students prepare music for a minimal number of required performances throughout the year. Prior singing experience is recommended but not required.

School of Rhetoric Honor Choir (9th-12th)

Singers in this group continue their development as musicians, gaining greater proficiency in music theory, music reading and writing, and sight-reading, in addition to honing their vocal technique. Performing a more advanced repertoire also develops their skill in group performance, as they rehearse pieces with more parts and more difficult and beautiful harmonies. A high degree of musicianship, poise, leadership, maturity, and responsibility is expected of each member. The group performs outside of school each year at civic, cultural, religious, and educational events, in addition to requires concerts and competitions.