This is an invitation for your child to audition for the St. James-Assiniboia Divisional Junior Concert Choir. The Junior Choir is open to students who will be in Grades 6, 7 & 8 in the 2023-2024 school year.
The choir program was inaugurated in our school division in 1982 as a choral enrichment experience for talented grade five students. Over the years the program has grown to include a Junior Concert Choir and a Senior Concert Choir.
The Junior Concert Choir provides approximately 70 students in Grades 6-8 the opportunity to develop excellent choral skills and to get to know other students from across the school division. Weekly rehearsals will be held on Wednesdays from 4:15 until 5:45PM at Westwood Collegiate. The first rehearsal will be on September 6th, 2023. We will also be attending a choir camp from September at Camp Assiniboia.
In order to support our pursuit of musical excellence, it is expected that all choristers will make a year-long commitment to the choir. Singers and parents are asked to support this policy. Regular attendance at all practices and performances is required to develop a unified sound and a feeling of belonging to the group. Our music is challenging, our practices are only once a week, and our singers are from different schools. Choristers missing a practice must have a valid reason, provided in writing (email) by a parent or guardian. Being a member of the Divisional Choir is a privilege. If for any reason students are not meeting expectations, in terms of attendance, behaviour, work ethic, or musicianship, either in the Divisional Choir or in their school choir, parents will be notified and membership in the Children's Choir will be reviewed.
Students must be attending a school in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division and must also be members of their home school choirs, sharing their exemplary choral skills and providing leadership in their school choral programs.
Fees: TBD (Camp Fee
$150-175 + Yearly Non-Refundable Fee: $35.00)
There is a yearly non-refundable fee of $35.00 to belong to this choir. This fee covers the care and dry-cleaning of choir uniforms, any lost music, honourariums for section leaders, social events such as year-end parties, Candlelight and Cabaret expenses, and other administrative costs.
Performances:
Choir performances throughout the year will include ChoralFest (November), the Winnipeg Music Festival (March), and four Divisional Choir concerts throughout the year (November, December Candlelight, April Cabaret, and May). Invitations to perform at other events will be considered and chosen at the director’s discretion.
We are hoping to go on a spring trip and there will be opportunities for fundraising throughout the year in preparation for this. Junior Choir Auditions will take place on May May 17, 23 & 24 at Westwood Collegiate.
If you wish to audition, please follow these steps:1. Sign up for a 10 minute audition time at this link: https://sjsdchoirs.ca/junior2. Fill out an application form in the next section of this form (this link is also available on the audition website listed above).3. Prepare for your audition:Audition Process:The audition procedure may be audio / video recorded and will consist of any / all of the following: Warm up exercises (to determine range and vocal consistency throughout the range) Melodic sing-backs (echoing) Sight-reading - a rhythmic line (be able to clap and count out loud)- a melodic line (sing the line on “loo” after given the starting pitch)
Singing “O Canada” acapella OR
a prepared selection of your OWN CHOICE. I want to hear your voice and see your style / energy. For your audition, feel free to bring sheet music or a track that you can sing along with. I am looking for quality performances with evidence of preparation. Singing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", “Freres Jacques” or “To Stop the Train"
as a canon with Mrs. Neufeld, to show vocal independence.Director Contact Information
Heather Neufeld
heather.neufeld@sjasd.ca
Please fill out and submit the audition application form in the next section. 