Christina Fackler MUSE 356: Choral Methods I Chapter 4: Planning and Building the Choral Program Kenneth H.

Phillips 2004 What types of choral ensembles are appropriate at the high school level? There are many ensemble options at the high school level. Concert choir is a mixed ensemble that could be for the more advanced singers and upperclassmen. Chamber singers or madrigal singers would be a select group of about 16-24 of the top singers. This ensembles smaller size allows for chamber and madrigal literature to be introduced. Mixed chorus and choral union can be open to all students. Men and womens ensembles, show choir, small groups (trios, quartets, octets), treble choirs and ninth-grade mixed choruses are other options for high school ensembles. Its great to know the various options for high school ensembles. Every school is different in terms of staffing, students, and scheduling. All of those things can change within one school from year to year. But knowing what to do with the students and resources that I have is incredibly important. I especially like the ninth-grade mixed chorus. My high school had a ninth-grade mixed chorus that worked very well because, at the time, students were not really learning how to read music in middle school. This ninth-grade choir got everyone calibrated and on the same page with the new teacher and new concepts.