Choir Handbook

The Daily Experience

Curricular choral offerings

Bass Chorus - a non-auditioned men’s ensemble that perform a variety of literature alone and mixed with the women’s Concert Choir. Blue Bass Chorus meets period 7* (lunch 8), and the Gold Campus Bass Chorus meets period 9. Both ensembles are conducted by Mr. Kellner.

Cecillian Singers - a non-auditioned freshman women’s ensemble that performs primarily two and three part literature . Cecillian Singers is comprised of two separate, yet equal, Cecillian class periods that perform together. Cecillian Singers combines with Bass Chorus to prepare the Masterworks Concert literature presented in January (see performance calendar). Cecillian Singers meets either period 8 or 9 and is conducted by Mr.DeGroot.

Concert Choir - a non-auditioned women’s ensemble that performs repertoire for women’s voices alone as well as mixed literature with the men’s Bass Chorus. Concert Choir meets period 8* (lunch 7) and is conducted by Mr. Rimington.

Treble Choir - an auditioned women’s ensemble studying and performing advanced, primarily three part, treble literature. Treble Choir meets period 2 and is conducted by Mr. Kellner.

Varsity Singers - an auditioned men’s and women’s ensemble performing advanced, primarily four part, mixed literature. This ensemble has two sections, Varsity I and Varsity II, which rehearse and perform independently and combined. Varsity I meet period 4* (lunch 5), Varsity II meet period 6* (lunch 5), and both ensembles will work with Mr. Kellner and Mr. Rimington. Both Varsity ensembles work regularly during period 5. The specific schedule will be provided in class. This is an expectation of the class.

* Lunches for these choirs are scheduled to allow rehearsals with other ensembles.

Placement in auditioned curricular choirs is based upon a voice hearing consisting of the student performing the National Anthem unaccompanied, a sight-singing excerpt, scales, triads, and a prepared selection provided by the director. Strategies and opportunities to rehearse these performance activities will be provided in class as well as on the music department website. The voice hearing and assessment takes place during the school day in March. Student performance of the National Anthem and sight-singing is calculated as a part of their 3^rd Quarter grade. This performance, combined with achievement on performing scales, triads, and the prepared selection, determines placement in a curricular ensemble for the following school year.



Period Mr. Rimington Mr. DeGroot Mr. Kellner

1 AP Music Theory Plan

2 AP Music Theory Treble

3 Advisory Advisory

4 Plan Varsity

5 Varsity Varsity

6 Varsity II Lunch

7 Lunch Bass (Main)

8 Concert Choir Cecillian Travel/Lunch

9 Auditorium Cecillian Bass (Gold)

Mr. Spears – Everywhere, at all times!
Mr. Bramstedt – Neuqua World Voices – Tuesday evenings
Mrs. Kasprzak – Chamber Singers – Wednesday evenings

Meet The Music Staff:

Mr. Bramstedt     Nathan_Bramstedt@ipsd.org          630.428.7177
Nathan Bramstedt directs the choral program at Crone Middle School in Indian Prairie School District 204. At Crone, he conducts the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choirs as well as the Honor Chorus. Mr. Bramstedt also conducts the Neuqua Valley High School World Voices, an ensemble dedicated to performing music and movement from across the globe. He has been recognized by the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation as a "Most Influential Educator." Mr. Bramstedt received a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the Pennsylvania State University where he taught courses and conducted various choral ensembles. Prior to his fellowship assignment at Penn State, Mr. Bramstedt taught high school choir and band in Warrensburg, Illinois. With a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, he has directed and performed in numerous musical theatre and opera productions, church choirs, the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, the Chicago Master Singers, and choral tours to Italy and Austria. Mr. Bramstedt has served on the conducting staff of the Young Naperville Singers and was honored to serve as Guest Conductor for the Elgin Children's Chorus. In July, 2006 he and his wife Carol celebrated the birth of their son Paul.

Mr. DeGroot     John_Degroot@ipsd.org   John_Gegroot@ipsd.org 630.428.6439
John DeGroot secured his Bachelors degree in Music Education from Western Illinois University and his Master of Music degree from Northern Illinois University. He served as Director of Choral Music at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, IL from 1976 until 2005. Retiring from full-time teaching in June of that year, John now serves as adjunct faculty on the staff of Millikin and Northern Illinois universities, supervising student teachers in music education. In addition to guest conducting choral festivals, and adjudicating for I.H.S.A. and I.G.S.M.A., he is Director of Music at Plainfield United Methodist Church, and directs the Chancel Choir there. Director of the Greater Chicago Youth Choral in six European Chorale tours, Mr. DeGroot has served on the American Choral Directors’ Association Executive Board as the Repertory and Standards Chair for that organization from 1997 – 2005, and is past President and Choral Division Chair of the Fox Valley Music Educators Association. In addition, he was Choral Division Chair for District VII and District IX of the Illinois Music Educator’s Association (I.M.E.A.). He remains actively involved in the I.M.E.A. Mr DeGroot has been repeatedly honored as “Most Influential Educator” by the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation. John has lived in Plainfield, Illinois for the past 32 years. He and his wife Debby recently celebrated their 35^th anniversary, and have raised three now-adult “children”.

Mrs. Kasprzak     akasprzal@yahoo.com
Anne Kasprzak received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education with high honors from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, in 1994. While at Saint Mary’s College, she received the top department awards in both Music and Education. She most recently graduated from VanderCook College of Music with a Master’s Degree in Music Education. Mrs. Kasprzak will be working with the Neuqua Valley Chamber Singers. Prior to working with students at Neuqua, Mrs. Kasprzak was the choral director at Crone Middle School for seven years. During that time, she directed a choral program of over 350 kids in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. While at Crone, she also directed the Honor Chorus, the school musicals, and she took numerous students to solo and ensemble festivals each year. Mrs. Kasprzak has also taught elementary vocal music in District 204. During her time as a teacher in District 204, she has been named a “Most Influential Teacher” by several students. Mrs. Kasprzak is a member of the artistic staff for the Young Naperville Singers where she directs the Concert Singers.   She has been a member of the New Classic Singers at the College of DuPage and serves as a piano accompanist at Holy Spirit Catholic Community in Naperville, Illinois. She is also an active soloist at churches in the Chicagoland area. Mrs. Kasprzak is a member of both the American Choral Directors’ Association (ACDA) and the Music Educators National Conference. (MENC). Outside of her musical endeavors, Mrs. Kasprzak dedicates all of her time to her husband, Derek, their son, Timothy, and their newborn daughter, Sarah.

Mr. Kellner     Jay_Kellner@ipsd.org   630.428.6672
Jay Kellner had the honor of opening Neuqua, starting its vocal program, and is in his 25th year teaching, having previously taught at Elgin High School ('83-'94) and Granger MS ('94-'97). Mr. Kellner is also the Founder/Music Director of the Elgin Children’s Chorus, a 4-choir, 220 member organization centered at Elgin Community College and currently celebrating its 22th year. Mr. Kellner’s ensembles have toured Europe on nine occasions, performed with Donny Osmond in a seven month run of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Chicago Theatre, sung at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, and twice at famed Carnegie Hall in New York. Mr. Kellner and his students have also led Take Me Out to the Ball Game during the Cubs 7th Inning Stretch at Wrigley Field. Choirs under his direction have enjoyed private clinics with Chanticleer, Alice Parker, Kitka, Henry Leck, Nick Page, David Flood and Western Wind. In 2005 Mr. Kellner had the honor of conducting the Vienna Boy's Choir in concert in Vienna. Mr. Kellner earned a Bachelor of Music from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music ('83) and a Masters of Music Education from Northwestern University ('92). All of his spare time is dedicated to his lovely wife Sue, a special education teacher in Streamwood, and their children, Molly (14) and Ryan (17). Coaching travel baseball is Mr. Kellner’s most pleasurable diversion (Go Bartlett Silverhawks…and, of course…Go Cubs!).

Mr. Rimington     Ryan_Rimington@ipsd.org    630.428.6672
J. Ryan Rimington is a National Board Certified Teacher, conducts curricular choirs, teaches Advanced Placement Music Theory, directs WildScats Blue, facilitates the music technology computer lab, and serves as co-Auditorium Manager. As an educator in the Indian Prairie School District, multiple students have recognized Mr. Rimington as their “Most Influential Educator.” While earning degrees from the University of Illinois School of Music, Mr. Rimington was honored as the Most Outstanding Student in Music Education and recognized with highest academic honors by being named onto the Bronze Tablet. In 1999, he earned 2^nd place in the American Choral Director’s Association National Conducting Competition. Mr. Rimington is also a published composer and arranger of several choral works, and frequently receives commissions from midwestern choral ensembles and festivals. Outside of his musical endeavors, Mr. Rimington dedicates his time to his wife, Molly, and children, Jack and Kate, while rooting on the Chicago Cubs!

Mr. Spears       Reid_Spears@ipsd.org      630.428.6672
Reid Spears received his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Indiana University in December, 1991, and has had the privilege of working as a full-time professional musician ever since. He has played on the cruise ships at Navy Pier since 1992, including a long tenure on the Spirit of Chicago (1992-2001), where, in addition to performing, he also functioned at times as bandleader and assistant music director, and then later on the Odyssey (2001-present). Since 1996, he has led his own band, Inside Out, which performs for private parties, corporate events, and country club functions. He has also been the pianist with the Chicago Skyliners Big Band since 1998, and performs approximately 20 concerts with them every summer at parks and festivals throughout the Chicagoland area, as well as many other performances throughout the year. Over the course of his career, he has had the honor of performing with many well-known artists, including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members The Drifters, Peter Frampton, and members of Earth, Wind & Fire, The Dells, and the Phil Collins and Barry Manilow touring bands. He spent some time performing in the contemporary Christian music industry, releasing his own CD entitled A Vision in Mind in 1996. He has also worked frequently as an accompanist, including auditions
for the Broadway and touring productions of The Lion King and Aida. In 2001, he became a permanent accompanist with the Elgin Children’s Chorus, as well as the choral department of Neuqua Valley, while continuing his extensive performing schedule with his own and several other Chicagoland bands. He loves spending his spare time with his wonderful wife, Stacey, and their daughter, Jaidyn, as well as cheering on his favorite teams, the Cubs and the Blackhawks.

Philosophy and Goals

People have a unique ability. It is the ability to share the meanings of emotions, the ability to share that which makes us who we are. No other life form can do such a thing. We not only have such an ability, we have a need to share that which makes us who we are. This has given rise to a uniquely human form of transport; we call it art. The art of music affects our emotions in a most direct, powerful, and untranslatable fashion. Music transcends language; it goes beyond the limits of words and can affect us in ways that nothing else in the world can. It allows us to grow.

There exist countless non-musical benefits through membership in choir as well. Attention to discipline, stage presence, manners, self confidence, work-ethic, cooperation, responsibility, and fostering a desire to improve are but a few.

General Goals

To develop each student’s aesthetic potential;

To develop knowledge, understanding, and habits concerning the basic elements of music;

To promote musical literacy by developing skills necessary for music performance;

To promote understanding of the value of choral music as an art;

To satisfy each student’s need for self expression;

To develop and foster the desire and the potential to extend and continue music experiences in social and cultural life beyond high school;

To refine each student’s discriminative abilities; and

To develop independence and initiative in areas such as solo and small ensemble performance.

Choral Literature

As individuals grow and deepen their ability to have aesthetic experiences, so too must the literature engaged as curricular material expand. In efforts to expand the realm of possible aesthetic experience, attempts are made to perceive and respond to the highest possible quality of appropriate music. A danger exists in that a fantastically large amount of literature published today is poorly crafted, insensitive, unimaginative, insincere and devoid of qualities worthy of our study. The quality of our potential experiences are in direct proportion to the quality of a composer’s material. All of this is not to suggest that we will only perform music of Bach, Mozart and the like. It does, however, indicate that the justification for studying and performing literature as curricular material is scrutinized and evaluated in efforts to provide variety and quality in each student’s experience.
     An exceptionally high degree of outstanding literature was originally composed for utilitarian purposes. Though Haydn may have composed a Kyrie to be performed in a religious worship service, the purpose for its study and performance 200 years later is substantially different. Such works possess an historical significance and are present in our culture today as a work of art aside from their original intent. Such literature is employed in public schools because of its significance as a work of art and its importance in an historical perspective. Through studying sacred literature, the text of the work is not the purpose of study. In so far as there may exist textual influences on the musical composition, such relationships are addressed. Beyond that, sacred music is studied because it is worthy music literature. Avoiding sacred literature in choral singing might be akin to avoiding cathedrals in the study of architecture.

Concerts

·         Failure to attend a required event (performance, concert, dress rehearsal, festival) without a valid, written excuse fully explaining the absence may result in the lowering of the student’s quarter grade by one full letter. Punctuality also impacts grades.

·         A written note explaining, in full, any student absence from a required event must be received at least two weeks prior to the event in order for the excuse to be considered.

·         Submitting a note does not automatically excuse a student.

·         Upon notification of an absence from a required event, the director will acknowledge the excuse as being either Excused or Unexcused. An excused absence means that the student has an opportunity to make up the grade in the form of an alternative assignment. In the case of an unexcused absence, the students is not given the opportunity to make up the event, and will be graded accordingly.

Bolded items on the Calendar of Events, found in this handbook, are events of required attendance. Each case will be evaluated individually and determination of excuse validity and legitimacy will be made by the choral director in collaboration with building administration. Notification of emergency conflicts will be received up to one week following the concert. Do not expect high degrees of cooperation or assistance from your choral director in resolving long existing conflicts brought to the director’s attention at the last minute. Excuses offered in the past that are not valid include: family vacations, booked airline flights, work schedules, babysitting, lack of transportation, etc. Makeup work for such excuses will not be available.

All choral students will be fitted for and assigned a choral robe and stole for use in all performances. After a performance, all singers must neatly return their robes and stoles to their hanger, in order. Robes must be zipped and the stole design should face outward when returned to the hanger. Students will be held responsible for the care of their robe and stole. Should any robe or stole be torn, stained, or experience any other damage, the assigned student will be held liable for the expense of its repair and/or cleaning. Underneath the robes, all students are to wear the following concert attire:

Women – dress or skirt, black dress shoes (low heels or flats, no high heels, bricks etc.), flesh or nude nylons
Men – dark dress pants, black dress shoes, dress shirt, dark socks (no tie or coat)
All – no athletic shoes or the like, no perfume, no cologne, no heavily scented hair applications, and no jewelry that can be seen outside the robes (conservative earrings please!)

Concert Assignments
October Concert Assignments:
6:30 Concert: Cecillian Singers, Bass Chorus, WildScats Blue, World Voices, and Treble Choir
8:00 Concert: Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, WildScats Gold, Varsity I & II
March Concert Assignments:
Concert: Concert Choir, Bass Chorus, WildScats Gold, World Voices, Treble Choir
8:00 Concert: Cecillian Singers, WildScats Blue, Chamber Singers, Varsity I & II
Crystal Concert Assignments 6:00& 8:15pm
Blue Bass Chorus, Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Treble Choir, Varsity I & II, WildScats Blue & Gold
Masterworks Concert Assignments 6:00& 8:15pm
Cecillian Singers, Gold Bass Chorus, Varsity I & II
May Concert Assignments:
6:30 Concert: Cecillian Singers, Concert Choir, Bass Chorus, World Voices, Chamber Singers
8:00 Concert: Treble Choir, WildScats Blue & Gold, Varsity I & II

Conduct

There exist powerful expectations of good conduct on the part all choir members. Each student will represent their choir, the music department, and Neuqua Valley High School in the most favorable fashion at all times. In addition to expectations of conduct as delineated in the NVHS handbook, choir students are expected to display conduct and respect of the highest calibre during daily rehearsals, dress rehearsals, performances, festivals, contests, field trips, or any activity associated with choir. Respect toward peers and adults is a must. Conduct not befitting a Neuqua Valley choir student may result in disciplinary action, and/or removal from choir with a failing grade.

The Choral Experience Handbook Contents

Philosophy and Goals