Choral Program

Plans for our Choir Program in Fall 2021 will be announced soon. Please check back!

The Vision of the Choral Program at New School of Music:
  • To create literate musicians and instill artistic excellence through choral music.
  • To provide its members with a broad experience of choral singing through music from different time periods, cultures, and genres.
  • To foster musical independence, leadership, self-confidence, teamwork, discipline, and commitment in all singers.
  • To enrich the lives of singers from all cultural and economic backgrounds.
Training Choir | ages 5-8

Saturdays 9:00-9:50am | Director: Rachael Chagat

Singers will be introduced to the fundamentals of choral singing with focus on building the necessary skills of pitch-matching, listening, and rhythm. *This ensemble does NOT require an audition.

Repertory Chorus | ages 9-17

Saturdays 10:15am-12:00pm | Director: Rachael Chagat

Emphasis in this ensemble will be on proper vocal technique, sight reading skills, aural training, and musicianship. Singers will explore and perform secular, sacred, and popular music as well as music from different cultures and genres. This ensemble will exhibit the highest level of music making and choral singing.

*Membership in this choir is by audition only. Virtual auditions for Repertory Chorus will be held on Saturday, September 11th. More information coming soon.

“I love choir because it feels like a family.” ~Ruby, age 10
“Choir is one place where I can be myself without judgment. The people are fun and everyone loves to sing.” ~ Julia, age 15
“The two things I love most about choir are that we sing really nice songs and everyone is so kind.” ~ Lyanne, age 9
“You get to meet new people and sing new songs!” Maisy, age 10

Repertory Chorus Audition Requirements:

Prepared Song (memorized) – This song can be a folk song, a chorus song from school choir, a hymn, art song, Broadway song, patriotic song, multicultural song, etc. Please bring an extra copy for the pianist.

Happy Birthday (acapella) – The singer will be asked to sing this song without piano accompaniment and will only be given the starting pitch. Click here for a copy of the music.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat (canon) – The singer will be asked to sing this song in canon (a round ) with another person. The singer should be prepared to perform either part of the canon. Click here for a copy of the music.

Additional Audition activities:

Vocalises (warm-ups) to check range.

Tonal Memory and Ear Training – The singer will be asked to sing back, on ‘loo’, a short melody that has been sung to them. The singer will be asked sing back the different notes of a triad that have been played on the piano.

Rhythmic accuracy and Memory – The singer will be asked to echo a short rhythmic pattern that has been clapped to them.

Reading – The singer will be asked to read a short poem.