Announcing the 2016 Gregory Musical...

Auditions – March 14 & 16
Callbacks – March 18
Rehearsals – March 21-May 4
Show dates – May 5 & 6

More information will be distributed at a later date!

Triptych Concerts Reminder

Dear Gregory Chorus Families,

Our annual Triptych Concerts are on the horizon. Here is a reminder of our schedule (extra-curricular performances in BLUE; curricular performances in YELLOW):

Wednesday, December 9 – Concert Choir performs at the Honors Triptych Concert; report to Gregory at 6:30pm, concert at 7:00pm. (Any Musicians of Distinction (MOD) students interested in helping with set-up should arrive at 4:30pm.)

Monday, December 14 – Triptych Concerts SET-UP (no concerts this day), 7:00-8:00pm. Any interested MODs may assist with set-up.

Tuesday, December 15 – Grade-level Triptych Concerts
6th Grade Triptych Concerts:  6th Grade Chorus – 12:45pm (for families with last name A-L) and 2:00pm (for families with last name M-Z);
7th Grade Triptych Concert:  7th Grade Chorus & Mixed Vocal Ensemble – 6:30pm (report time – 5:45pm);
8th Grade Triptych Concert:  8th Grade Chorus & Men's Ensemble – 8:00pm (report time – 7:15pm).

Attire for all December performances is NICE, DRESS CLOTHING (no jeans, gym shoes, etc.). Bright, festive colors are encouraged.

Looking forward to celebrating the season with you all!

Neuqua Valley High School Open Rehearsal Night

Attention 8th Grade Chorus Students and Families,

A cool event is happening at the Neuqua Freshman building next Tuesday night, November 3, from 5:50-7:50...an open rehearsal with the Neuqua WildScats and World Voices. This is a tremendous opportunity for current 8th graders to observe and participate in a rehearsal of two Neuqua vocal ensembles, both of which are options for students entering their 9th grade year next year. Free pizza and beverages will be served between the two groups' rehearsals for any 8th grade student who chooses to attend! :)

If you would like to participate in this HIGHLY RECOMMENDED event, please click on the following link and enter your name by Friday, October 30:

http://goo.gl/forms/WIAuWvfD9Z

This is a night not to be missed...hope you can make it!

Awesome Concerts!

To all Gregory singers… congratulations on a great set of performances last night at the Fall Choral Concerts. There were many comments that came from the audience afterwards about how great you sounded and how well you handled yourselves during the performance. Way to go!

Fall Choral Concerts - Monday, October 26!

Our Fall Choral Concerts are just around the corner! Here is all the pertinent information:

Monday, October 26, 2015 in the Gregory East Gym

6:30pm concert (all groups report to the West Gym at 5:30pm):

6th Grade Chorus

Men's Ensemble

Mixed Vocal Ensemble

Concert Choir

8:00pm concert (all groups report to the West Gym at 7:15pm; Men’s/Mixed/Concert Choir students not in 7th or 8th Grade Chorus should report to the chorus room between concerts):

7th Grade Chorus

8th Grade Chorus

Men's Ensemble

Mixed Vocal Ensemble

Concert Choir

Attire is the gray "Gregory Music" polo shirt, black dress pants (no jeans, leggings, capris, shorts, or skirts), black dress shoes (no gym shoes), and black socks.

Students are required to stay for the duration of their assigned concert (6:30pm concert will be approximately 40 minutes; 8:00pm concert will be approximately 50 minutes).

8th Grade Musicians of Distinction (MODs)…if you are able to help with setup, we will be beginning at 5:00pm in the East Gym.

Parents…we are also in need of some pre-concert supervision in the west gym warm-up area and chorus room. If you are interested in being an extra set of eyes while the groups warm up prior to each concert, please email Mr. Pfenninger to let him know for which concert you would like to assist. Thank you!

Looking forward to seeing you at our first concert of the year!

Concert Choir 2015-16

Thank you to everyone who auditioned…your preparation and talent were fantastic and very much appreciated!

Congratulations to the following students:

Gregory Middle School Concert Choir

The first Concert Choir rehearsal will be this Monday, September 14, from 6:55-7:45am.  Please be on time, and bring an empty folder (separate from your chorus folder), pencil and your Assignment Notebook!!

Important Information and Announcements

Dear Gregory Students and Parents,

Welcome to Gregory Chorus 2015-16!  Please review the following important chorus announcements and reminders:

· Parents – please take a minute or two to fill out the following online form by Friday, September 4 (you will need to know your child’s chorus class period to complete this):

Chorus Student/Parent Information Form

· Please bookmark this website in your browser, and check it regularly:

http://www.GregoryChorus.org

It will be the main portal for posting all important information regarding the Gregory Chorus program throughout the year. Also, since it is in 'blog' format, comments are allowed and encouraged!

· Gregory Chorus will also be using the Remind messaging service to send out reminders and other important announcements as they approach. It is recommended that all parents subscribe to this service on their cellphones, especially parents of students in our extracurricular ensembles. The service is free and private – no phone numbers are exchanged when receiving messages.  To use the service utilizing your cell number or email address, subscribe here. If you would instead like to use the Remind app on your smartphone, click here to download it.

· The Chorus Uniform Contract/Polo Order Form is due by Wednesday, September 2.  Families new to the Gregory music program, or students who are looking to purchase a new shirt, will need to enclose their payment of $12 with this form as well.  Forms have been distributed to students in all chorus/band/orchestra classes (combo students can order their shirt through band/orchestra class, and do not need to order a separate chorus shirt).  Extra forms are available for students here.

· Every chorus student will need to provide the following materials for chorus class:

- Assignment notebook – to be brought daily

- A two-pocket folder (separate from other subject folders); included inside are lined paper and pencil. These materials will reside in a folder cabinet in the chorus room.

- The folder/paper/pencil will be checked in class on Wednesday, September 2.

· The Chorus Calendar Acknowledgment Form is due by Thursday, September 3. If you need a copy to print and sign, click here. Many thanks for putting our performance dates on your family calendar and for recognizing the importance of our concerts.  As an added convenience, if you would like to automatically subscribe to the Gregory Chorus calendar on your smartphone, tablet, or computer, click here (iCalendar format).

· Concert Choir, Gregory’s honors-level auditioned treble-voice choir, will be holding auditions on Wednesday, September 9 and Thursday, September 10, after school. All treble-voiced students (girls and unchanged boys) are encouraged to try out! Sign-ups for a 4-minute audition timeslot are posted in the chorus room, but will fill up quickly, so interested students are encouraged to find a time soon. Students will also need to bring in a signed permission slip/participation contract (click here if you need a copy) prior to their audition – students will NOT be allowed to audition without the form signed by a parent/guardian. The first rehearsal will be on Monday, September 14, from 6:55-7:45am. For more information about Concert Choir, see the information posted below.

· Men’s Ensemble, Gregory’s premier all-male vocal group, will begin rehearsals on Thursday, September 17, from 6:55-7:30am. No audition is required, and all boys at Gregory (including those not in chorus) are encouraged to check it out! Interested students should sign up in the Chorus Room and return a permission slip/participation contract. For more information about Men’s Ensemble, see the information posted below.

· Mixed Vocal Ensemble, Gregory's pop ensemble, will begin rehearsals on Wednesday, September 16, from 3:10-4:00pm. For more information about Mixed Vocal Ensemble, see the information posted below.

· 7th and 8th grade chorus students interested in auditioning for the ILMEA Music Festival should turn in their form for that by Friday, September 11. Click here for the parent signature form. For more information about the festival, consult the information posted below.

Extra- and co-curricular vocal opportunities at Gregory:

Concert Choir is Gregory’s auditioned honors chorus, and is open to any chorus student at Gregory with a treble voice (i.e. girls or unchanged boys). Repertoire consists of advanced middle school and high school level music from a wide variety of genres and cultures. The group rehearses on Mondays and Fridays before the school day, and performs at various additional events throughout the school year (see the Gregory Chorus calendar for the additional Concert Choir performance dates).

Men’s Ensemble is a non-auditioned group open to male singers (changed and unchanged voices) at Gregory. The ensemble’s one weekly rehearsal alternates on a week-to-week basis between Thursday mornings before school and Wednesdays after school. Rehearsals focus on the special needs of the changing male voice, and students have fun performing a challenging but entertaining repertoire of music from a wide variety of genres.

Mixed Vocal Ensemble is Gregory's co-ed extracurricular ensemble. The goal of the group is to provide an outlet to students in Concert Choir or Men’s Ensemble who want an additional, more pop-oriented performance opportunity. Repertoire will consist of contemporary and classic pop tunes, Broadway medleys, show choir selections, jazz standards, and holiday carols, amongst others. The ensemble will rehearse once a week on an alternating schedule with Men’s Ensemble – Wednesdays after school, then Thursdays before school. Interested students must be members of either Concert Choir or Men’s Ensemble in order to participate.

The ILMEA (Illinois Music Educators Association) Music Festival is an additional opportunity for seventh and eighth grade students. The festival is a single daylong activity on Saturday, November 21 where students work with a special guest clinician in a large choir of over 200 of the best singers from the western suburbs. At the end of the day, a concert is performed for parents, friends, and teachers. Auditions will be held at Yorkville Middle School in Yorkville on Saturday, October 3. Rehearsals for ILMEA will begin in early October, one day per week after school.

In February, IGSMA (Illinois Grade School Music Association) sponsors a Solo and Ensemble Contest. The event is an opportunity for interested students in Concert Choir, 7th Grade Chorus, or 8th Grade Chorus to perform a solo or small ensemble (duet, trio, etc.) in front of an audience and judge. The judge then works with students on a one-on-one basis, providing feedback about their performance. Students who have participated in the past have enjoyed the experience improved their skills greatly through the process. Rehearsals will be one day per week after school throughout January and February.

Many students in the Gregory music department use the summer months to attend a performance camp. These summer music camps provide students further enrichment through intensive instruction in music for anywhere from five days to two weeks, depending upon the camp. In addition to our own District 204 Summer Chorus program, others that are highly recommended are ISYM (Illinois Summer Youth Music) at the University of Illinois, and Blue Lake Camp in Michigan. Students who attend a camp are also eligible for a music department scholarship of up to $100 to help defray the costs of camp tuition. More information about scholarship auditions will be conveyed to home as it becomes available.

Welcome to the 2015-16 School Year!

Welcome to Gregory Chorus 2015-16!  Please check back here on Monday, August 24 for important startup and calendar information.

Choruses Lead The Way!

Fine Arts Festival - Saturday, May 16

The annual District 204 Fine Arts Festival will take place on Saturday, May 16 at Neuqua Valley HS. The following choral groups are scheduled to perform:

     6th Grade Chorus (performing with Crone & Scullen 6th Grade Choruses & Neuqua Treble Chorus) - 1:20-1:40pm; students are to report to the Neuqua orchestra room no later than 12:20pm for warmup and rehearsal. 

     7th Grade Chorus (performing with Crone & Scullen 7th Grade Choruses & Neuqua Varsity Singers) - 3:40-4:00pm; students are to report to the Neuqua orchestra room no later than 2:40pm for warmup and rehearsal. 

     8th Grade Chorus (performing with Crone & Scullen 8th Grade Choruses & Neuqua World Voices) - 9:00-9:20am; students are to report to the Neuqua orchestra room no later than 8:00am for warmup and rehearsal. 

Gregory's extracurricular vocal groups will not be performing at the festival. Attire for the day is nice dress clothing (no jeans, gym shoes, etc.).

Choral performances will take place in the auditorium at the Neuqua Valley HS main campus, and are open to the public…all are invited to attend!

Announcing the cast of Into The Woods Jr.

Thank you to everyone who auditioned...everyone was great, and made our job very difficult. Congratulations to the following members of this year's Gregory Middle School musical, Into The Woods Jr.:

Into The Woods Jr. Cast List

Our first cast rehearsal is on Monday, March 16, 3:10-5:00pm in the Chorus Room. Please bring an assignment notebook, pencil, and highlighter.

Winter Choral Concert Info

The Winter Choral Concerts will take place on Wednesday, March 4, in the Gregory East Gym. The following is the schedule for the evening:

• 6:30pm concert – 6th Grade Chorus, Men’s Ensemble, Mixed Ensemble, Concert Choir; all groups need to report to the West Gym by 5:30pm.
• 8:00pm concert – 7th Grade Chorus, 8th Grade Chorus, Men’s Ensemble, Mixed Ensemble, Concert Choir; all groups need to report to the West Gym by 7:15pm (students performing in the first concert will report at the conclusion of the performance).
• Attire for performers is the gray Gregory Music polo shirt, black dress pants (no capris, leggings, skirts, jeans, etc.), black socks, and black dress shoes.  Points will be deducted for students not wearing the correct concert attire, so please be sure to be dressed appropriately.

See you on the 4th!