Last week we held our first annual auditions for Undergraduate Scholarships and Choral Showcase Solo Opportunities. Our two prestigious guest judges were Pat Wiehe, the former director of the North Central High School Choral Department, and Paul Gulsvig, the former director of the Onalaska High School Choral Department. Both of these amazing directors were blown away by the incredible talent displayed by all of the students who auditioned.

Students sang solos of their choice, and submitted essays to be considered for summer-study scholarships. These funds can be used for voice lessons, summer music camps, continued study in dance, sight-reading, music theory, instrumental music, etc. Students currently in grades 9-11 were eligible for scholarship money so that they can hone their musical skills and return to the Carmel Choir program the following year to contribute their higher level musicianship.

Students who auditioned were also eligible to be chosen as a featured soloist at the upcoming Choral Showcase. In the future, these solo opportunities will only be available to 9th - 11th grade students, but for this first year of the event, we allowed Seniors to also audition since they have never had an opportunity in the past. We could not be prouder of everyone who auditioned. Congratulations!

Choral Showcase Soloists

Thea Bendaly

Luke Boyce

Gabi Bradley

Emmaline Colvin

Bethany Ducat

Mackenzie Edwards

Lizzie Farrell

Isaiah Henderson

Emma Miller

Sam Tiek

Scholarship Winners

$100 each

Ayasha Bandaranayake – 9

Ipsha Basu - 9

Lily Bose - 9

Jenna Hoffeditz - 9

Abbie Ivy - 9

Emma Miller - 9

Anaya Reed - 9

Harper Roan - 9

Hannah Sevening – 9

Annabelle Carpenter – 10

Isaiah Henderson – 10

Jack Kennedy – 10

Paige Murray – 10

Katie Spence – 10

Ben Boyce – 11

Liam Hansen – 11

Zoey Hornback – 11

Katie Rizzuto – 11

Joseph Sandy – 11

Sam Tiek – 11

$250 each

Max Altenberg – 9

Krishaa Motycka – 9

Thea Bendaly – 10

Kenny English – 10

Gabi Bradley – 11

Emmaline Colvin – 11

Alec Evard – 11

Julien Gourgue – 11

$500 each

Luke Boyce – 9

Deedee Nwafo - $500

Help us spread the word! Registration for our annual Summer Spectacular Show Choir Camp begins on Monday, January 30 at www.carmelchoirs.org.

Calling all students who are currently in 4th - 8th grade and who LOVE to sing and dance! The Carmel High School Choir Department will once again be hosting its annual Summer Spectacular Show Choir Camp from May 30 - June 2 at CHS. We will offer a morning session for students entering 5th - 6th grade each day from 9am - 12pm. We will also offer two afternoon sessions from 1-4pm each day, for students entering 7th - 9th grade. All groups will work with a vocal clinician and guest choreographer as they prepare three songs and dances. The week will finish with a concert for the public featuring all three camp choirs. Campers will also receive two t-shirts, music, snacks, and are sure to make lots of new friends and have a full week of fun! Registration begins January 30 and there are limited spots available. We expect it to fill up quickly, so don't wait to register. No experience required! Camp Tuition is $160.

Any students who would like to be considered for placement in Ambassadors, Accents, New Edition, Select Sound, or Applied Music for the 23-24 school year, must submit a supplemental audition video in addition to the parts of the audition done during class. The detailed requirements for this video are outlined on page 2 of the audition packet that students were given in December. The packet can also be found at the link below. Students have had six weeks to record their videos, and Tuesday, January 31 is the last day to upload videos. Any student who does not turn in a video WILL NOT be placed in any of the ensembles listed above which all require advanced musicianship, high-level dance skills, and/or extensive time commitments outside of the school day.

Audition Packet with details for video requirements:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tu1v9WkgjEwigS4JSR6suw8us-HAC0tO/view?usp=sharing

Upload videos to this link by 11:59pm on Tuesday, 1/31

https://carmelchoirs.smugmug.com/upload/sJZgT9/auditions2324

Placement auditions for the 23-24 school year have begun. We are currently hearing all students do their sight-reading and tonal memory. Once that part if complete, we will hear all students sing the required solo. If students want to be considered for Ambassadors, Accents, or New Edition, they must also plan to attend the dance audition after school on February 16.

Audition Information can be found at this link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10ZtX-uCt97cTDVbTnW99pBomB2v69Miw?usp=share_link

All students performing in the Choral Showcase Concert on February 23 must complete this form. It was due last week, but we are still missing it from a lot of students. This includes Expressions, Counterpoints, Rhapsody, Blue & Gold Company, Greyhound Sound, & Select Sound. On February 23, students will rehearse right after school, be fed dinner, and then perform that evening. Tickets will go on sale for the event in a few weeks.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdd6Y1b-TnX7v9HtYd2XKwj63Piif2yhW5EWUJU4e95JmHQCQ/viewform?usp=sharing

The Carmel High School Choral Department, along with CHS Ovation is pleased to offer the following scholarships to students who have been part of their choir program during their time at the high school.

1) Round of Applause Award ($500 scholarship, 2 awards given) - This award recognizes students who have been involved in a CHS choir program for four years and who have demonstrated a consistent commitment, high level of enthusiasm, and positive attitude towards CHS choral department activities. Recipients will be selected by the directors of the CHS Choral Department. Minimum GPA = 3.0

2) Standing Ovation Award ($1000 scholarship, 3 awards given) - Recipients of the Standing Ovation Scholarship will have been a member of either the CHS Accents or CHS Ambassadors choral programs, and will have demonstrated their commitment to choir-related activities outside of the classroom. Recipients will be selected by the directors of the CHS Choral Department. Minimum GPA = 3.5

3) CHS Choral Department Peer Recognition Award ($1000 scholarship, 1 award given) - this scholarship is available to a senior in a CHS choir whose peers believe they have exemplified leadership, outstanding commitment, and dedication within the program. A list of qualified applicants will be presented to peers in the choir program to vote on. Minimum GPA = 2.5

If you are interested in applying, please fill out your application through the link below. All applications are due by midnight on March 17th.

https://forms.gle/mHHKtV3SSr7KR8cy7

Please direct any questions to chsovationscholarhip@gmail.com

The Carmel High School Theatre & Film Department will host a Summer Theatre Camp June 12-16, 2023. The week-long, in-person camp is for students 8-14 years old. The camp will offer students an opportunity to focus on acting, singing, and choreography, culminating with a public performance of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR” on Friday June 16!

https://youtu.be/JI_xhpgWrOg

For more details, please visit CarmelDrama.org/camp

https://www.ccs.k12.in.us/foundation/scholarships/application-process

We are in the very beginning stages of planning a Concert Choir Trip to Europe that would likely happen during Spring Break of 2024. The "tour choir" would be made up of any 10th - 12th grade students, in the 23-24 school year, who demonstrate a high level of musical ability, strong sight-reading skills and vocal technique, reliability, consistent integrity and moral character, and the availability to meet the rehearsal schedule and financial commitment of the trip. Students' dance abilities will NOT be taken into consideration since performances will include a strictly "concert choir" repertoire. FAR more details will be communicated in the coming weeks, but we want all students to be aware that their audition scores for placement in next year's choir ensembles will factor into their eligibility for the International Tour Choir.

At the start of second quarter, we introduced all choir classes to our On-Line Music Theory Program that we will be using this year. It is called "Breezin' Thru Theory". Students will need to login daily for assignments. They can do these on any device including a laptop, tablet, or smart phone. Their assignments can be viewed on the dashboard of the theory website, or on Powerschool. Please be sure students are completing assignments in a timely manner.

Site: https://breezinthrutheory.com/

-Monday, January 30 - Summer Spectacular Show Choir Camp Registration Begins!

-Tuesday, January 31 – Deadline to upload supplemental video auditions for consideration for 23/24 Ambassadors, Accents, New Edition, Select Sound, and/or Applied Music

-Saturday, February 11 – Pike HS Show Choir Contest (Accents - 1:00pm, Ambassadors - 4:05pm)

-Thursday, Feb. 16 - Dance Audition for 23-24 Choirs (New Edition, Accents, Ambassadors)

-Saturday, February 18 - Chesterton HS Show Choir Contest (Accents - 9:00am, Ambassadors - 5:45pm)

-Thursday, February 23 – CHORAL SHOWCASE rehearsal 4:15pm – 6:30pm (dinner provided) followed by performance from 7pm – 9pm (Exp., CP, Rhap, BG, GS, & SS)

-Saturday, February 25 – Franklin Central HS Show Choir Contest (Accents - 9:25am, New Edition - 1:00pm, Ambassadors - 3:20pm)

-Saturday, March 4- John Hersey HS Show Choir Contest (Ambassadors & Accents)

-Saturday, March 11 – Brownsburg HS Show Choir Contest (Amb, Acc, NE, & All)

-Saturday, March 25 – Evening of Show Choir Concert 7pm (Amb, Acc, NE, & All)

-Thursday, March 30 – 23/24 Choir placements announced

-Wednesday, April 19 - “Ear Candy” – Select Sound in Concert 7pm

-Saturday, April 22 – ISSMA Organizational Festival (CP, Rhap, NE, All)

- April 26 – Parents of students who earn placement in 23-24 Ambassadors, Accents. & New Edition – 6:30pm (Auditorium)

-Friday & Saturday, April 28 & 29 – ISSMA State Qualifier (Amb, GS)

-Thursday, May 4 - All Choir Parent Zoom Meeting 7pm All about the 23/24 school year (incoming freshmen parents encouraged to attend)

-Friday & Saturday, May 5 & 6 – ISSMA State Finale (Amb & GS)

-Sunday, May 7 – Choir End of the Year Awards Ceremony 6:30pm (Auditorium)

-May 11-13 – Spring Musical “Hunchback of Notre Dame”

-Wednesday, May 17 – Spring Choir Concert Tech Rehearsal 4:15pm – 6:45pm

-Thursday, May 18 – Spring Choir Concert 7pm – 9pm

-May 30 – June 2 – CHS Summer Spectacular Show Choir Camp

Raise Right (Formerly SCRIP) is a wonderful program that is easy to use and can reduce your choir fees significantly. More information about participating in the program can be found at the links below: https://www.raiseright.com/

Information Packet:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nUr5B7l2IdtDm5nFrJlN5GYG_Hob4t_z/view?usp=sharing

Instructional Slideshow:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dd_AZrwabc0FAf4IAeI_iAGjF5VUvj1i/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110006696487986844557&rtpof=true&sd=true

Please click on the Parent Resource Google Drive to locate important information including the 22-23 choir calendar, the 22-23 choir handbook, and choir fee information.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1prDWhMMU0fBcwsdhQ4alIBBHgnci-Y4Q?usp=sharing

Support Carmel Choirs

Become an ANGEL Sponsor

Link your Kroger Card to OVATION

Link your Amazon Smile Card to OVATION

Become a corporate sponsor or advertise in our programs

https://carmelchoirs.org/support/programs_sponsorships/

Click here to see choir fee information. First payments due by August 31.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ohl3ABvKlEMhvCLs1Tj2kamnyIXmui__/view?usp=sharing

Contact chsovationfinance@gmail.com with questions about fees and payments

Contact your individual director with requests for financial aid or alternate payment plans

Click here for instructions on how to subscribe to the Carmel Choirs Google Calendar

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WNTk_XpJV4jnm2WTb4vclyzB4POKMg2t/view?usp=sharing

Contact your OVATION Chairperson by finding their contact information at this link:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a7QPsKgfED7PnM5qnafRbaZZjOzK1hk8/view?usp=sharing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmelchoirs/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz5JD_Q6IIwrnoxrES6xNQw

Carmel Choirs Page: https://www.facebook.com/carmelchoirs

Accents Parent Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/659467005135997

Ambassadors Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/408734471256762

Expressions Parent Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/612950540536026

Greyhound Sound Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1174477839775065

Select Sound Parent Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/584387426077001

Mrs. Kathrine Kouns (Accents, Select Sound, Blue & Gold Company, Expressions)

kkouns@ccs.k12.in.us

Mr. Kyle Barker (Ambassadors, Allegro, Greyhound Sound, Counterpoints)

kbarker1@ccs.k12.in.us

Mrs. Anna DeBard (New Edition, Rhapsody, Applied Music)

adebard@ccs.k12.in.us