PROSPER HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL DEPARTMENT HANDBOOK 2015-2016 ,

Connie Miserak, Director Kaela Ganz, Assistant Director Aaron Tombrella, Asst. Director/PHS, Director/Reynolds M.S. Prosper High School 301 Eagle Drive Prosper, TX 75078 469.219.2180 extension 80456/80457

2015-1016 Varsity Treble, Varsity Mixed, Chorale, Chamber Singers, Progression Show Choir and Applied Voice students As a member of the Prosper High School Choral Department, you are responsible for its success. The director will make every effort to schedule rehearsals and performances so as not to conflict with other activities. The rest of the choir is depending on you to be present. We are a team! Goals for Directors: - provide each choir member with a basic understanding of vocal music and production - develop choirs who produce a healthy, mature sound - develop choirs who perform music of varied interest and are challenged and entertaining. - develop each singer’s sight-reading ability to a high level of excellence. Goals for Students: - attend class regularly -enter and exit the rehearsal area in an appropriate manner - attend every rehearsal and every performance - receive no disciplinary action from the school which would require you to miss any choir rehearsal or event - take pride in your personal accomplishments and show support for your peers’ positive efforts. - pass all your classes each 9 weeks Goals for Supporters: - encourage your student to sing - tell your student positive things about his/her voice - provide transportation to and from rehearsals and concerts - attend concerts - contact the director with concerns Rehearsal Etiquette - A positive attitude toward the director and fellow choir members is vital - Good concentration on the present class has to take precedence over past classes or experiences as well as future classes or experiences - A pencil in hand is required. Please mark your music diligently. This allows you to be a responsible choir member by keeping up with the progress of the music as well as rehearsal notes Concert Etiquette - Concert audiences should arrive before the concert begins, sit quietly during performances and applaud when appropriate. Cheering and yelling are not part of appropriate concert etiquette. Concerts are not sporting events. Choir Fee This year the choir fee of $100 will cover: Choir t-shirt Rental and cleaning of choir uniform Membership in the Choir Booster Club Travel expenses for singing in the community The choir fee is due by September 18, 2015 and may be brought to the choir room or left at the PHS front office to the attention of Connie Miserak. Checks may be made payable to Prosper Choir Booster Club. Cash is also accepted. If there is more than one child per family in choir, the first child’s fee is $100 and each additional child’s fee is $50. Please note that there will be an additional fee for any music which is lost or damaged.

Uniform Information Choir uniforms are available for all choir students to wear for performances. A uniform will be assigned to each student. They will be stored in the uniform room in the Choir room. After each performance and at the end of the year, each student must check in their uniform. Students are allowed to take uniforms home for ease in changing and preparing for performances. Damaged and missing uniforms will be charged to student accounts at the end of each year.

UIL Solo and Ensemble Competition ALL STUDENTS are encouraged to participate in the UIL Solo & Ensemble competition held in February 2015! Music will be selected from the approved song list in the fall, so there will be plenty of time to prepare. This is a great opportunity to compete as a soloist using vocal technique that is normally outside a choral setting! Students who compete with a Class I solo and earn a Superior rating have the chance to move on to the state competition in Austin, Tx! It is encouraged that students take this chance to really learn and challenge themselves. You never know what might happen!

TMEA All-State Competition Students who have attended summer choir camps are encouraged to participate in the TMEA All-State competition. There will also be scheduled rehearsals after school for students who are interested. If you have not attended an all-state camp, then it is highly encouraged that you attend the scheduled rehearsals. All students are welcome to learn the music and compete! This is a great opportunity to meet and work with amazing people, and to further your musical experiences! T-shirts Choir shirts are worn every time we perform in the community where we do not wear our formal uniforms. They are also able to be worn on any other day as Spirit Wear. Students will receive a shirt as soon as the shirts arrive. The cost is covered in the original choir fee. If a student’s shirt is lost or damaged, they are responsible for purchasing a new shirt. The cost to replace a shirt is $15.

Choir Trip Each year, the PHS Choirs take a trip in order to perform and compete at festivals. Information regarding this year’s choir trip will be coming soon! Prosper Choir Booster Club Booster clubs are a wonderful support for students as well as the entire program. Funds raised by the booster club will allow the PHS choir program to grow, allow the students to travel and help enrich the students’ choir experience. All choir parents are members of the Booster Club. Information regarding the group will follow.  Email: [email protected] Officers: President: Renee Long Vice President: Monica Martin Treasurer: Horacio Carpio Secretary: Amy Crabtree

Social Media Prosper Eagle Choir is working hard to communicate with the world! Please join our social media sites: Facebook: Prosper Choir Twitter: PHSChoir01 Instagram: PHSChoir_ PHS Choir Calendar 2015-2016

Thurs. Sept.3 SOCIAL: Swim TBA 4:00-7:00 p.m.

Tues. Sept. 22 SOCIAL: Paint Twister Frontier Park 4:00 p.m.

Tues. Oct. 6 Region Phase I Auditions Plano

Sat. Oct. 10 Region Phase II Auditions Plano

Fri. Oct. 16 PHS Homecoming (sing national anthem) PHS Stadium 6:00 p.m.

Wed. Oct. 21 SOCIAL: Halloween Costume party TBA

Wed. Oct. 28 Rehearsal for Fall Concert PHS Auditorium 3:30-6:00 p.m.

Thurs. Oct. 29 Fall Concert PHS Auditorium 7:00 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 31 All-Region Clinic/Concert (for those in Region) Plano

Thurs. Nov. 5 Sing for Prosper Historical Society Prosper Admin. Building 6:00 p.m.

Thurs. Nov. 12 SOCIAL: Karaoke PHS Choir room 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Wed. Nov. 17 Pre-Area competition (for those in Region) TBA

Thurs. Dec. 3 SOCIAL: White Elephant Gift Exchange Party PHS Choir room time TBA

Wed. Dec. 9 Rehearsal for Winter Concert PHS Auditorium 3:30-6:00 p.m.

Thurs. Dec. 10 Winter Concert PHS Auditorium 7:00 p.m.

Sat. Jan. 9 Area Auditions (for those in Region) TBA

Tues. Jan 12 SOCIAL: Movie Night! PHS Choir Room time TBA

Mon. Jan. 18 Sing for PISD School Board Prosper Admin. Building 6:00 p.m.

Thurs. Jan. 21 Area Clinic/Concert (for Area choir members) TBA

Sat. Feb. 6 UIL Solo & Ensemble Plano East High School (please do not schedule SAT for this day) Fri. Feb. 19 SOCIAL: Breakfast for Dinner Location TBA

Fri. March 18 SOCIAL: Bonfire/Cookout Erwin Park (we hope) time TBA

Mon. April 11 Pre-UIL Concert for competing choirs PHS Auditorium 7:00 p.m.

12,13,14 April UIL Concert/Sight-reading (specific days and times TBA) Allen Performing Arts Center

Tues. April 26 SOCIAL: Game Day! (Outdoor) Frontier Park 4:00 p.m.

3 & 4 May Progression rehearsal for Show PHS Auditorium 3:30-6:00 p.m.

5 & 6 May Progression Show PHS Auditorium 7:00 p.m.

May 10 & 11 Progression Auditions for 2016-2017 PHS Choir room 3:30-6:00 p.m.

Fri. May 13 Choir Banquet TBA

Wed. May 18 Rehearsal for Spring Show PHS Auditorium 3:30-6:00 p.m.

Thurs. May 19 Spring Pop Show PHS Auditorium 7:00 p.m.

Fri./Sat. May 27 & 28 UIL State Solo/Ensemble Austin, TX exact time and date TBA

Sat. June 4 PHS Graduation Prestonwood Plano, time TBA

Dates are subject to change. Detailed information will be sent out via e-mail and listed on the Choir website prior to each event. Dates in bolded letters are required performances for all PHS Choirs. Please add these to your calendar now. Non-bolded dates are required for some but not all choirs. Please check the PHS Choir webpage, PHS Eagle Choir Facebook page, and e-mail notifications for each performance date’s information.

Please sign and return this page and the year-long permission slip to Mrs. Miserak. I have received the 2015-2016 Prosper High School Choral Music Department packet of information. I understand the Goals and Expectations listed therein. I will participate fully and positively to succeed in the choir program. If I have any concerns, I will contact Mrs. Miserak, the director.

Student printed name:______

Date:______

Signature of Parent, Guardian or Supporter:

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Date:______