Conductor: Andrew Brown
Concert Choir, the Performing Division’s entry-level group, is a chorus of girls and treble-voiced boys who have demonstrated proficiency in Performing Division auditions and are under the age of 16. Most students sing with CC for two to three seasons as they build the skills needed to successfully audition for admission to Ensemble. Many children, however, prefer to remain in Concert Choir until they turn sixteen (or, for boys, until their voices change), at which time they may sing with Ecco.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00-6:00pm, Piedmont High School, Piedmont
Concert Choir begins its season with mandatory summer camp in August, rehearses twice weekly throughout the school year, performs approximately ten to twelve times per season at various events, and takes a domestic tour of 5-7 days in the spring or early summer.
Concert Choir members sing two-, three-, and occasionally four-part music in various languages. They perform repertoire that has some rhythmic and harmonic complexity, and are expected to make regular progress in the study of music theory.
Conductor: Robert Geary
Ensemble is a chorus of girls and treble-voiced boys who have demonstrated superior proficiency in Performing Division auditions and are under the age of 16. In order to audition, a singer must be 14 years old or younger as of July 15th in the summer preceding entry. All members of Ensemble must commit themselves to singing at least two complete seasons. At that point, singers may choose to remain with Ensemble, or move on to Ecco and/or Ancora.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00-6:00pm, Piedmont High School, Piedmont
Ensemble begins its choir season with mandatory summer camp in August, rehearses twice weekly throughout the school year, performs as many as twenty or more times per season including performances with local symphonies and other arts organizations, often makes recordings, and ends its season with a 10-14 day international summer tour.
Ensemble members sing in three, four, and more parts in various languages. They perform rhythmically complex music with advanced harmonic content, including chromaticism and atonality. Much of Ensemble repertoire is sung a capella. Ensemble members are expected to be achieving at an advanced level in their music theory studies.
Conductor: Clifton Massey
Ecco features young men with changed voices, plus young women who have completed tenth grade or above. No audition is required for Ensemble, Ecco, Cantoria, or Ancora members in good standing (i.e. with excellent attendance and behavior).
Ecco singers may audition for Ancora and Cantoria, if accepted, sing in two or three groups. Current Ensemble members in 9th grade or higher may also request to sing in Ecco while continuing in Ensemble.
Monday evenings (men 6:00-8:00, women 7:00-9:15, tentative) plus one Sunday per month by arrangement, Piedmont High School, Piedmont.
Ecco begins each season in September, rehearses once a week on Mondays plus one Sunday each month, participates in occasional retreats as well as the Volti Choral Institute (October), performs four or more times each season, and may tour when opportunities arise.
Ecco sings a wide variety of choral literature, ranging from classical to popular/jazz, including pieces for women’s voices, men’s voices, mixed voices – whatever is suggested by each season’s enrollment configuration and the talents/interests of the participants.
Cantoria is a specially-auditioned chamber group within Ecco; singers may not sing in Cantoria alone. Cantoria personnel are selected by audition from the general Ecco membership.
Conductor: Robert Geary
Ancora is a choir of young women in grades 9-12 who succeed in a rigorous vocal audition for the Artistic Director. 12th graders generally are not admitted as first-year Ancora members.
Ancora singers in grades 9-11 must also sing in Ecco (which may or may not include Cantoria participation – singers may not participate in Ancora and Cantoria only) or Ensemble. Ancora singers in grade 12 may opt to sing only in Ancora. Ensemble girls in grade 9 or above may audition for Ancora and, if accepted, sing in both groups (Ancora and Ensemble).
Thursday evenings 7:00-9:15pm (and a few Monday evenings by special arrangement), Piedmont High School, Piedmont
Ancora rehearses on Thursday evenings, plus a select number of Monday evenings throughout the year, collaborates with composers and other arts organizations in the presentation of new music, makes recordings, performs for public events, and tours occasionally.
All members of Ancora are expected to be studying voice privately. Ancora sings almost exclusively a cappella music, with members singing up to eight-part literature of the most challenging nature.
Training Department: | Performing Department PD Overview |