Choir Levels - Children's Choirs

• Primary Choir :  Kindergarten and 1st graders
• Preparatory Choir :   2nd and 3rd grade
• Intermediate Choir :  4th and 5th grade and graduates of the Preparatory Choir
• Training Choir :  4th thru 8th grade, unchanged voices
• Concert Choir :  graduates of the Training Choir
• Youth Choir (Vocal Ensemble) :  9th grade thru college

Primary Choir  (Kindergarten and 1st Graders) - Redmond only

No audition is required. No previous singing experience required. Basic introduction to singing correctly and building a repertoire of songs to be performed and to be used to develop music reading skills. Emphasis on learning about music and ear training in fun ways through "solfege" (a system of syllables [do, re, mi, etc.] and hand signs developed by Zoltan Kodály, a Hungarian music educator).  Variety of activities including singing, moving, listening, musical games.

Preparatory Choir (2nd & 3rd graders)

Interview required. No previous experience necessary. Ability to carry a tune required. 

The children participate in a combination of choir rehearsal including singing technique, sight-singing and ear training using "solfege" (do, re, mi, etc.), preparing music for presentation on the recital series. Songs in unison and some two part rounds. Note: admission organized by grade level in school initially, but promotion to next choir level based solely upon demonstrated readiness in rehearsals (showing leadership, demonstrating music skill-level).

Intermediate Choir   (4th & 5th graders) - Redmond only

Interview required or promotion from the Preparatory choir level. Ability to carry a tune required. No experience necessary. The children learn singing technique, sight-singing and ear training using "solfege" (do, re, mi, etc.), preparing music for presentation on the recital series. Songs in two voice parts. Note: admission organized by grade level in school initially, but promotion to training choir level based solely upon demonstrated readiness in rehearsals (showing leadership, demonstrating music skill-level).

Training Choir (4th through 8th graders; unchanged voices)

Interview required. Ability to carry a tune required. Admission organized by grade level in school initially, but promotion to concert choir level based solely upon demonstrated readiness in rehearsals (showing leadership, demonstrating music skill-level readiness). The children participate in a combination of choir rehearsal (singing technique, sight-singing and eartraining using "solfege" (do, re, mi, etc.), preparing music for presentation on the recital series and in retirement homes. Songs in two voice parts.

Note: Occasionally, a singer with significant instrumental training, or singing experience in a comparable (high quality, internationally recognized) choir organization may be considered for advance placement into the concert choir at the discretion of the concert choir conductor.

Activities: Singing technique, sight-singing and ear training using "solfege" (do, re, mi, etc.), preparing music for presentation on the recital series. Songs in two and three voice parts. This is the level just under the world-traveling Concert Choir.

Redmond (6th graders and up, and promotees from intermediate choir; coed, unchanged voices) - No experience necessary.

South King(3rd graders and up)

Concert Choir - Prerequisite is Training Choir

This is the main, performing choir of the organization. They maintain a regular schedule of local and regional performances and take summer-time concert tours every year (alternating between domestic and foreign).  Rehearsals involve singing technique, sight-singing and ear training using "solfege" [do, re, mi, etc.], preparing music for presentation on the concert series.  Songs in three or more voice parts.  Occasionally, a singer with significant instrumental training, or singing experience in a comparable (high quality, internationally recognized) choir organization may be considered for placement into the concert choir.

Youth Choir (Columbia Vocal Ensemble)