Overview:

Choir is open to all 5th-8th grade students who love to sing and want to challenge and strengthen their musical skills.

During a typical choir year we participate in a number of exciting events.  Last year the choir was a part of the Catholic Schools Arts Celebration (CSAC) at Dominican High School. CSAC is an event targeted at middle school choirs from around the greater Milwaukee area and includes group singing, sectional work, choral sight singing and experimenting with paperless singing. All participating Catholic schools rehearse the same repertoire during the day and the event ends with an evening concert at Dominican High School.

In December we learn a selection of pieces which are performed at our school's annual Christmas Concert.  This is a terrific opportunity to share our Christmas spirit with our families and school community.

In April, the choir participates in our school’s annual Fine Arts Night. This event showcases the talents of choir, band, Spanish and the incredible variety of art mediums taught to the students by Mrs. Drees. There are also opportunities for individual students and small ensembles to perform.

Finally, the choir shares their singing with the community by enjoying Christmas Caroling and/or Easter Caroling at local assisted living facilities. As I have heard from various activity directors, choral singing is welcome any time of the year and this  is a wonderful opportunity to share our musical talents with those in need.

Choir Expectations:

• Arrive on time (we have a short amount of time to do great work together!)
• Be respectful of all choir members (we all have different vocal talents.)
• Take care of your assigned binder of sheet music (this is school property.)
• Be open to singing all styles of music.

Chicago Choral Festival & Mass Highlights:

Our choir has attended the Chicago Choral Festival and Mass which is led by the American Federation Pueri Cantores (a National Catholic Choral Organization). This event brings choirs from the greater Midwestern region together to sing liturgical music spanning 1500 years – from Gregorian chant to music of the twenty-first century. The festival was held at Holy Name Cathedral.

Click here to view the YouTube video of St. Mary Choir singing Dona Nobis at the Chicago Choral Festival and Mass at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.  It includes the two preludes the Choir sang for the mass: "Create in Me a Clean Heart O God" and "Dona Nobis Pacem."

Beautiful photos from the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago:

Watch the video below to see St. Mary Choir practicing at The Holy Name Cathedral.... Wow!!!

The choir will once again be participating in our school’s Fine Arts Night. This event allows our students to showcase their talents in choir, band, and the incredible variety of art mediums taught to the students.

Goal of the Program:

• To develop skills to read parted music
• To learn effective vocal skills and techniques
• To Christmas carol at local nursing homes and assisted living houses
• To learn repertoire for the school’s Christmas program and Fine Arts Night

Larger goals for the future include:

• To compete at state choral competitions
• To represent our school by singing the national anthem at a Brewers game
• To become a member of the American Federation Pueri Cantores (a National Catholic Choral Organization)