High School Choir

2019-20

Greetings Northwest Kansas Choral Teachers!

I hope over the summer you had a chance to recharge for the new school year! Welcome all who are new and/ or new to the Northwest District. If you have questions please ask. If you are a new teacher I encourage you to take advantage of our fantastic mentoring program that links you to an experienced teacher who can help answer questions and guide you through your first year. All teachers please make sure to check both this website, as well as the state website at ksmea.org for updates and deadlines.

The regular deadline for online registration is Sunday, October 6, 2019. This is for both state and district auditions. You must register online all students who wish to audition (except for on-site entries). Students in grades 9-12 are eligible to audition for District Honor Choir and are also eligible to be selected for the State Choir. There is no fee for auditions if students are registered by the first deadline. I encourage you to register them early, but please make sure you have the correct voice part listed. If you have to change that later it will be considered a new entry!

Live auditions for State and District Choir will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2019, in conjunction with the JH Honor Choir and Band and the High School Jazz Ensemble convention. Please be willing to assist with the process by volunteering to judge, tabulate, or work as a door monitor, or at the registration table. This year there are a couple of KSHSAA conflicts with our audition date. If your student is unable to audition live they are not eligible to audition for the State Honor Choir, however they can audition for the District Honor Choir by recording themselves singing both audition songs in their entirety on a CD. Teachers should bring these CDs along with them on the November date. Only State KSHSAA events qualify as exceptions to the live audition procedure. The ACT does not qualify for a CD audition. Please remember that all KSHSAA eligibility rules apply for participation in KMEA. When you turn in your District Choir fees for participants please make sure you include a copy of the invoice. Reminder- to be eligible to be considered for the State Honor Choir, students must be in attendance for the entire District Concert at the December convention- choir, band, and orchestra. If a student leaves early, they will be disqualified for consideration.

The District Convention will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Fort Hays State University. Our clinician will be Mariana Farah from Kansas University. Repertoire for the concert will consist of the three audition pieces and additional pieces chosen by the clinician.

I hope you have a great year! If I can help in any way please contact me.