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FAQS ABOUT WEST CHOIR AND HOW TO JOIN!
Have more questions after reading this page? Reach out to our choir director Ms. Marchione at amarchione@cbsd.org!
WHY SHOULD I TAKE CHOIR CLASS?
Singing in Choir at the high school level has many benefits for students beyond their continued academic growth as singers and musicians. Students who join Choir often find that it becomes one of their most important communities at West throughout their high school experience!
Commitment to a music program is NOT seen as a weakness on a high school transcript. Graduates of the CB West Music Department have gone on to study at the finest institutions across the country, including Ivy League colleges. Colleges are looking for young adults who can positively contribute to the culture of their campus. On numerous occasions, it has been expressed by college admissions office that a student’s dedication, commitment, and willingness to follow through with the study of music throughout high school is seen as a great character strength.
To participate in the West Choir program, students must enroll in a choir course unless they participate in MBIT. MBIT students are welcome to audition for Treble or Tenor-Bass Choir. Email Ms. Marchione at amarchione@cbsd.org for more details!
WHAT CHOIR COURSES ARE AVAILABLE?
There are two levels of Choir classes offered at West. All students who are enrolled in a choir class join together to form the full choir at concerts. Any student who takes a Choir course at West has the opportunity to travel on the annual Spring Music Department trip. Recent destinations have included Disney World, Boston, and Washington D.C.
The Concert Choir course is available to ALL students at West who like to sing! There are no additional requirements to take this class. It is helpful to have taken Choir in middle school, but not required. Students can expect to develop music literacy skills, strong vocal technique, and to sing a variety of genres ranging from classical to pop a cappella. Grading is tailored toward the individual growth of a student. Students in Concert Choir sing in a Winter and Spring Concert every year and will have 3-4 mandatory (graded) evening rehearsals per semester to put the full choir together. Lunch and Learn may also be used occasionally for sectional or full choir rehearsal time. In addition to the concerts, 1-2 extra performances, clinics, or adjudications are typically scheduled each year. These may occur inside or outside of school.
The Chamber Choir course is an honors-level ensemble class designed for the most advanced singers at West. The prerequisite to take Chamber Choir is a successful audition submitted electronically via Canvas in the spring of the preceding school year. Audition information can be found at the bottom of this page. Students who are in the Chamber Choir continue to advance their music literacy and vocal technique at an advanced level. Chamber students are required to participate in Treble or Tenor-Bass Choir, which rehearse after school.
When there are multiple class sections of Chamber, there will be some additional rehearsals for the full group scheduled on Monday afternoons and Lunch and Learn. Students in Chamber learn advanced repertoire in a variety of genres and have multiple additional performances outside of school throughout the year, including holiday caroling in November and December, the January CB Save the Music concert, and performances throughout the year at venues like Princeton Chapel and other local universities and churches.
WHAT ARE THE OTHER CHOIRS AT WEST?
Students who are in an ensemble class (Choir, Band, or Orchestra) can also audition for up to two out of three co-curricular choirs that rehearse exclusively after school and during Lunch and Learn. These groups are Treble Choir, Tenor-Bass Choir, and Chord Street A Cappella. The primary rehearsal time for these groups is Monday afternoons. Auditions take place in September, and audition information will be discussed in choir classes at the beginning of the school year.
Treble Choir and Tenor-Bass Choir perform their own sets in the Winter and Spring Concerts and may have one or two additional performances per year beyond the concerts. Students are in either Treble or Tenor-Bass Choir, not both. These ensembles are great opportunities to continue furthering your vocal skills and learning new repertoire with students who may or may not be in your choir class during the school day. Each group performs a variety of musical genres throughout the year.
Chord Street A Cappella is West's contemporary pop a cappella group with mic-bass and vocal percussion. Out of all the choral groups, this ensemble requires the greatest time commitment outside the school day for rehearsals and performances. Singers must be extremely confident vocalists, comfortable with basic choreography, and willing to take lots of feedback to improve. Members can expect to perform at various local events and attend adjudicated a cappella festivals throughout the year.
HOW DOES CHOIR CLASS WORK IN MY SCHEDULE?
Choir runs every other day ("A/B") all year. There are various A/B offerings to take opposite Choir, including Music Electives, other electives, and some AP courses. All sophomores are highly encouraged to take P.E. and Music Theory, leaving lots of possibilities for your junior and senior year!
HONORS CHAMBER CHOIR AUDITION INFORMATION
Check back in 2025 for information about auditioning for the Honors Chamber Choir course for the 2025-26 school year.
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