Dear Gregory
Chorus Students and Parents,
It has been a terrific start to the school year in Gregory Chorus. Welcome to our new families, and welcome back to our returning ones! Just a
few reminders about important chorus information and upcoming dates...
·
Parents – if you have not already done so, please take a minute or two to fill
out the following online form by this Friday, September 2 (you will need to
know your child’s chorus class period to complete this):
(click
the highlighted link above)
· Please
bookmark the chorus website in your browser, and check it regularly:
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,
submitting comments or questions on the site is 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, instead of having text message/email alerts, click here to download it.
· If
it has not already been turned in, the Chorus Calendar Acknowledgment Form
is due by FRIDAY, September 2. 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).
· Additionally, if it
has not already been turned in, the Chorus Uniform Contract/Polo Order Form
is also due by FRIDAY, 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). Even if you already own a Gregory music polo
shirt, the form still needs to be turned in. 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); inside this folder,
include some lined paper and at least one pencil. These materials will reside
in a folder cabinet in the chorus room.
- The
folder/paper/pencil will be checked in class on FRIDAY, September 2, and will be worth 10 points. One point will be deducted for each day the folder/paper/pencil are late, so please be sure to have your materials ready by Friday.
· Concert
Choir, Gregory’s honors-level auditioned treble-voice choir, will be holding
auditions this Thursday, September 1 and Friday, September 2, 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 as
soon as possible. 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 Thursday, September 8, 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 Tuesday,
September 13, 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 14, 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 by Friday, September 9. Click here for the audition packet & parent signature
form. For more information about the festival, consult the
information posted below. Each school is limited to nominating only 10 students
from each voice part (soprano, alto, and baritone) for the audition process, so
interested students should turn their permission slips in as soon as possible
prior to September 9 to guarantee their audition place. This is a HIGHLY
recommended event for our 7th and 8th grade students...please consider
auditioning and taking part in this terrific festival!
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 Thursdays 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 Tuesday 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 co-ed 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 Tuesdays 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 5 where students work with a special guest clinician in a
large choir of over 200 of the best singers from the western Chicago 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 1. Rehearsals for ILMEA will begin in early October, one day
per week after school. This is a HIGHLY recommended event for our 7th and 8th
grade students...please consider auditioning and taking part in this terrific
festival!
