Welcome to PVPHS Choir! Please see the sub-tabs under Choir for additional info!
Choir Department Overview
Peninsula high school is proud to offer a comprehensive Choir program that can meet the needs of most students from the beginning singer to the most advanced vocal soloist. Our multiple ensembles offer the opportunity to learn the basics of singing or to hone already learned skills. Our Choir program includes the following year round classes (with some variance each year depending on enrollment) which all require an audition with the instructor to ensure proper placement:
Women’s Choir - an advanced All Woman's Choir that meets 5 days a week during regular class time
Varsity Voices - A mixed ensemble that meets 5 days a week during regular class time.
All of our classes are year round and are UC Fine Arts approved. As such, they require daily practice at home as well as during classroom instruction time. They meet 5 days a week during the regular school day and are performance based requiring attendance at multiple performances during the year. All groups compete at high levels locally and some nationally. Our Choir Director also offers the following opportunities to sing that are not for course credit:
Chamber Choir - a mixed ensemble that meets after school Men’s do wop- (student directed) meets during lunch on days agreed on by the members
Women’s a cappella- (student directed) meets during lunch on days agreed on by the members
Our choirs have a minimum of three mandatory concerts (two days each) in which the entire program participates. Each choir also has 1-3 mandatory Festivals per year.
WOMEN’S TREBLE CHOIR Women’s treble choir is a non-auditioned choir composed of female voices from grades 9-12. While it is an introduction to choral techniques such as diction, blend, voicing, intonation, and vowel production, advanced choral skills, such as multipart singing, stylistic tonal modification, and vibrato are addressed. It covers a variety of musical styles from the Renaissance to the 20th century, as well as some contemporary a cappellaand Broadway music. Sight-singing ability is not a prerequisite, but it is helpful. Women’s Treble choir performs for our annual fall concert, our “Sounds of the Season” winter concert, and our spring concert. The group also participates in approximately three festivals throughout the year (one in the fall and two in the spring). Extra rehearsals and work outside the classroom, while minimal, are required.
WOMEN’S ENSEMBLE
This advanced/auditioned performance ensemble is designed for choral singers with some previous choral experience, although music-reading skills are not required. This ensemble, comprised entirely of young women, encourages equally intermediate and more advanced singers. The repertoire is varied and includes a cappella, classical, jazz, and contemporary a cappella music. Women’s Ensemble performs for our annual fall concert, our “Sounds of the Season” winter concert, and our spring concert. The group also participates in approximately three festivals throughout the year (one in the fall and two in the spring). Extra rehearsals and work outside the classroom is required.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
VARSITY VOICES
Varsity Voices is a highly selective soprano/alto/tenor/bass ensemble drawn from yearly auditions. Its membership is based upon vocal talent, sight-reading, and musicianship skills. Because of its quick pace, sophisticated rehearsal requirements, and additional performing opportunities, Varsity Voices demands a larger amount of outside work than the other choral classes. The advanced repertoire is taken from the full spectrum of the choral art. Varsity Voices performs for our annual fall concert, our “Sounds of the Season” winter concert, and our spring concert. The group also participates in approximately three festivals throughout the year (one in the fall and two in the spring). Extra rehearsals and work outside the classroom is required.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
MORE ABOUT OUR CHOIR PROGRAM Students in the advanced choral groups (Women’s Ensemble and Varsity Voices) have the opportunity to travel each spring to compete in an annual spring festival. Past trips have included Boston, Chicago, and New York. The choir is offering an international concert tour every three years. All students in the choir program will be invited on our international trips. Our first international tour to Italy was completed in the summer of 2013. Our choirs are also highly sought out by local businesses as entertainment. The Chamber choir frequently performs for local tree lighting ceremonies and holiday parties around Christmas time.
The Choirs have an active Parent Booster Organization which helps out the program financially and with Volunteer support. Please consider joining your child’s Booster group. Tax deductible donations to the Boosters support assistants and specialized instructors several days a week, new music selections, purchases, festival fees and more.
In addition the District requests that you consider a participation donation for all sports and activities to pay for transportation and stipends.
Parents with questions, contact Dan Doctor at doctord@pvpusd.net