About the Choral Program at Hingham high school
The Choral program at Hingham High School seeks to reach as many students as possible. Through several for-credit chorus classes and extra curricular groups, students are encouraged to get involved. The classes and groups, led by Mr. Abrams are designed to improve each individual student's musicianship through solfeggi and sight singing. Using this approach makes for stronger groups with better sound quality because the singers feel, and are treated like musicians, not simply 'singers'.
The Concert Chorale is the first chorus a student may enroll in at Hingham High School for credit (students earn five credits). Students lean basic skills and techniques of singing, reading music, and performing alone and with others. Students learn the cultural context of concert repertoire and reflect on its relevance to their own lives. There are four required major concerts each year, and students may eventually have the opportunity to perform nationally or internationally on tour. This chorus is designed to prepare students for Mixed Chorus.
concert_chorale_syllabus_2014-15.pdf | |
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The Mixed Chorus is the next step in the choral program (students earn five credits). Usually, the term mixed implies both male and female voices, though for the 2014-2015 academic year, this group is made up entirely of female voices. It'll be fall of 2015 before this group will actually be a true mixed chorus. Until then, we are lovingly referring to this group as the Women's Ensemble. Students learn intermediate skills and techniques of singing, reading music, and performing alone and with others. Students learn the cultural context of concert repertoire and reflect on its relevance to their own lives. There are four required major concerts each year, and students may have the opportunity to perform nationally or internationally on tour. One year of membership in the Concert Chorale (or the equivalent from another High School) and recommendation from the director is a prerequisite for enrollment in Mixed Chorus.
womens_ensemble_mixed_chorus_syllabus_2014-15.pdf | |
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The Chamber Chorus is a group made up of singers selected by audition exclusively from the Concert Chorale (students earn 1.25 credits). Repertoire is very eclectic ranging in style from baroque and classical to doo-wap and pop. Skills learned in Concert Chorale are honed even further in this group and though membership in more advanced groups can never be guaranteed, membership in this group is certainly something the director considers when making recommendations in the spring for the following year.
The Choral Spectrum is a group made up of singers selected by audition exclusively from the Mixed Chorus (students earn 1.25 credits). This ensemble represents the most advanced vocal students in grades 10-12. Students learn advanced skills and techniques of singing, reading music, and performing alone and with others. Repertoire is eclectic ranging from classical and operetta to jazz and pop.
The Men's Chorus is an extra curricular group (for no credit) made up of any male singer at Hingham High School who would like to join. The audition process is very loose- the director is more interested in participation than exclusivity in this group and therefore, the tone of this group (if you'll pardon the pun) is far more relaxed. Members of this group feel a strong sense of belonging and camaraderie, while also focusing on basic skills and techniques of singing. Many of our members choose this group because they are otherwise enrolled in either the band or orchestra program at H.H.S. and therefore do not have room in their schedule to enroll in a formal chorus class. (Many ensemble classes at the school meet simultaneously and therefore students have to choose one or the other - this group provides an outlet for other musicians at Hingham High School who also wish to sing alone and with others.)