MORE Choir Activities
Performance Opportunities
Typical performances for all choirs include:
• Fall Concert (October)
• Winter Concert (December)
• “Music in our Schools Month” Concert (March)
• ISSMA Organizational Festival (April)
• Choral Awards Concert (May)
The Advanced Choir also normally performs in:
• Holiday Concerts at either (or both) Pierre Moran or North Side MS
• ECHS graduation ceremonies
There are other choir-related activities and
benefits in which students are encouraged, but
not required, to participate, such as:
• Trips to Chicago to attend musicals (in 201314 we saw Phantom of the Opera); we hope
to go to New York in 2016-17!
• Solo/Ensemble Festival - get feedback on your
singing and musicianship from someone
other than your own teacher(s)
• ICDA All-State Honor Choir - audition, meet,
and sing with other choir students from
around Indiana
• Fundraisers in the fall and winter which help
raise money for the choral program and for
student expenses (robe fee, trips, etc.)
• Voice Lessons during the school day (extra
charges apply) from an outside voice coach
• School Musicals - choir students often get
lead roles!
• Earning a School Letter for a letter jacket, just
like athletics
Choral Music
at Elkhart
Central High
School
For concerts, any choir student can audition for a
“feature” performance to show off their talents!
The “Shades of Blue” jazz/pop ensemble has
additional scheduled performances throughout
the year for school events or other public
performances.
How do I get into a Choir?
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Talk with your guidance counselor.
If you wish to audition for a mixed choir
(incoming grades 10-12), pick up information
in February and sign up for a 10-minute
audition in March.
If you want to sing but you’re not ready to
audition, talk to an ECHS choral director and
they’ll find you a place in the choirs! The
choir room is in the Performing Arts hallways
near the auditorium.
Email Mr. Niederer, Choral Director/Music
Department Chair, at wniederer@elkhart.
k12.in.us for information.
1 Blazer Boulevard
Elkhart, Indiana 46516
574/295-4743
www.blueblazers.org
Choral Music at Elkhart Central
The mission of Elkhart Central High School is to teach all students to think critically,
to adapt to change, and to work cooperatively as responsible citizens.
The choirs at Elkhart Central High School have
a long and important history in the education
of students. Students are able to participate
in school, community, and state performances
of choral music through their membership in
the choirs.
Our mission is to provide students with an
opportunity to explore their natural talents
in the field of choral music and to express
themselves through performance and in
learning about music.
The Choirs at Elkhart Central...
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Meet during the regular school day and
earn academic (arts/elective) credit
Involve 240+ students from the ECHS
student body - all grades, backgrounds,
and experience levels
Involve performances outside of school
Help you to be the best singer you can be!
Choir students can be as active in co-curricular
and extra-curricular activities as they wish.
What Choirs are Open to Me?
Advanced Choir
There are choirs available for students of any ability
and experience level. The various options are:
The Advanced (Concert) Choir is a mixed choir
available by audition to students in grades 10-12.
This choir develops students’ musicianship and
specific performance skills through ensemble
and solo singing. Repertoire is more advanced
than that of the other choirs, with a greater
emphasis on a cappella singing, sight reading,
and critical listening. This choir also has public
performance opportunities throughout the year.
Auditions occur in the spring for the following
academic year.
Beginning ChoirS
The two Beginning Choirs (Ninth Grade Women’s
Choir and Men’s Choir) are designed to help students
to learn to use their still-developing voices in new
ways. Even if students have been in choir before,
this class will help them to recognize and use their
developing voice.
Through performances, sight
singing work, and other work in class, these choirs
will prepare students for advancement to other
choirs. These choirs are the only ones available to
ninth graders.
Intermediate Choirs
The Intermediate Choirs (Blazer Chorale and Blazer
Boulevard Singers), are for students in grades 1012 and expand upon the learning from Beginning
Choir while working with more advanced repertoire.
The non-auditioned Blazer Chorale (all female) can
provide a starting point for those who may have
missed Beginning Choir. Blazer Boulevard Singers
is a smaller, auditioned group and is mixed. Work
in an Intermediate Choir will provide students with
skills needed for placement into the Advanced Choir.
“Shades of Blue”
The “Shades of Blue” ensemble is a mixed,
select group of students chosen from Concert
Choir. This smaller choir (12-20 students)
focuses on popular and jazz music. Membership
involves extra out-of-school rehearsals during
the second semester (usually twice a month)
as well as public performances. Auditions for
“Shades” occur at the same time as Concert
Choir auditions. Members are expected to
show a high level of maturity and dedication to
the group.