Choir

The Menlo Choraliers is a non-auditioned group open to men and women in grades 9-12. It is a great place to form new friendships, participate in fun activities, and sing fabulous music! Students assist with choosing and rehearsing songs during our spring semester, and also help come up with ideas for social activities. Singers are exposed to a wide variety of music from different genres. Our singers perform in many exciting concerts throughout the year. Every few years, the choral program travels so that we can connect with cultures outside our own. (Past tour destinations have included Europe, South America, Canada, Cuba, New Zealand, and even Disneyland.) Come sing with us!

Women’s Choir (Lorelei) has been a tradition at Menlo for many years. It gives young women the chance to experience singing in an all women’s ensemble, where they can focus on forming friendships and and participating in different activities. There are also opportunities to participate in choral festivals and competitions during the year. Students help generate ideas for social activities and community performances. Our singers perform in many exciting venues throughout the year. Every few years, the choral program travels so that we can connect with cultures outside our own. (Past tour destinations have included Europe, South America, Canada, Cuba, New Zealand, and even Disneyland.) Come sing with us!

Chamber Singers (Knights and Knightingales) gives Menlo students the chance to experience the joy of singing in a small auditioned ensemble. This course is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors, and is comprised of 12 -16 voices. It is a great place to form new friendships while experiencing the fun of choral performance. There are also opportunities to participate in choral festivals and competitions during the year. Students also help generate ideas for social activities and community performances. Our singers perform in many exciting concerts throughout the year. Every few years, the choral program travels so that we can connect with cultures outside our own. (Past tour destinations have included Europe, South America, Canada, Cuba, New Zealand, and even Disneyland.) Come sing with us!

Prerequisite: Complete any level of chorus or pass an audition with Ms. Linford.

The course presumes a somewhat fluent level in musical reading and notation upon beginning, but the class begins with a complete review of music basics. Time is spent discovering how small patterns such as scales, intervals and triads combine to create larger units such as phrases, periods and two- and three-part form. In class, students work on sight singing and ear training; the goal is the ability to read a musical score without singing or playing out loud. Students are also taught to transcribe musical sounds into notation. Regular melodic and harmonic dictation is given in class. Short compositions are assigned throughout the year to illustrate fundamental principles being studied, and the final project is the composition of a longer piece by each student to be included in a concert at the end of the school year. Critical and analytical listening to major works from the classics of European and American composers from the Middle Ages to the present, as well as representative music of Asia and Africa, is a regular part of the curriculum.

Prerequisite: Pass an entrance exam through Ms. Linford.