GENERAL
Are there a lot of required things my student needs to be at?
We let students get as involved as they want to or not. We tend to see that the more a student commits to an activity, the stronger and more tied in they become to school and their peers. They find a ‘home’ in being here.
The only truly required thing students must be at are their concerts and any additional rehearsals directors schedule (with plenty of advance notice). Check your child’s Commitment Sheet for all the required dates that apply to your student(s).
I’m confused by something, who do I contact?
Reach out to any choir director if you have a question,
Andrew Steffen – [email protected]
Lorelai Taylor – [email protected]
We are happy to answer anything that may confuse you or if there is more clarity needed.
What is Charms and how do I use it?
Charms is our only portal for communication and collecting choir fees. If you follow the instructions below you can access and pay for things.
What is Choir Registration?
Choir registration is an event where we fit everyone for uniforms, pay fees, join the Booster Club, sign-up for Voice Lessons and other activities! Choir Registration will be held on Saturday, August 19th in the Choir Room. The following students will be fitted at the times below,
Is Choir Registration mandatory?
Yes, it is. It’s the best time for us to distribute choir uniforms, collect fees, and sign-up for things without overloading you with emails, Remind messages, and flyers sent home during the first few days of school.
What if I can’t attend?
Let Mr. Steffen ([email protected]) or Mrs. Taylor ([email protected]) know and we’ll work it out with you.
ALL-STATE/9-10 HONOR CHOIR
What is All-State?
All-State is a state wide contest held to determine who makes the All-State choirs (Mixed, Treble, and Tenor/Bass). The state is divided into regions (holding multiple school districts) that compete with each other to determine their top candidates to making the ensembles.
Is the music difficult?
This music is college/advanced level literature. It’s the ‘big dog’ music for choir.
What if this is too challenging for me. Is there something else I can audition for?
Yes! If you’re a 9th or 10th grade student, you can audition for the 9-10 Honor Choir. This just like the Region auditions you might have done in middle school. Only 9th and 10th grade students are allowed to compete, so it’s less pressure and not as difficult music.
When does All-State begin?
All-State begins in the summer with students attending All-State choir camps hosted by universities/colleges to teach the music.
Do we practice All-State on our own or at school?
Both! You are expected to be practicing your music all the time at home. We have sectionals once a week for an hour for each voice part. Those sectionals begin Monday, August 14th. Stay on the lookout for when each section meets.
How do I know what music is being auditioned at each round?
Attend the All-State Kickoff on Thursday, August 3rd at 3:30pm to find out everything you need to know about our auditions!
SHOW CHOIR
I’m really interested in show choir, how do I participate?
Auditions for Royal Harmony (our non-varsity HS show choir) are the first full week of school.
What should I prepare?
About one minute of a song that shows off your voice – please no rap or musical theatre ‘rap’. You need to sing!
Do I need to dance?
Yes! Part of show choir is singing and dancing. You will be taught a small dance combo to see where you’re at with movement/choreography.
Do I need to be in choir to do show choir?
Yes, because we have announcements and rehearsals that sometimes take place during class, if there is time. Plus we utilize all our proper singing technique and expectations in rehearsal.
How do I make Royal Heirs?
Stay in show choir, get as much experience with your performing, work hard, have a great attitude, and audition when the time comes (Spring semester)!
VOICE LESSONS
Are voice lessons required?
No. Nothing is ‘required’ unless you want to be in it. Think of voice lessons as going to the gym and working out your voice. Coming to class is going ‘once’ a week. Adding voice lessons is going ‘twice’ a week. The more the ‘go to the gym’ the stronger your voice becomes. That’s how our older students become so advanced – choir, voice lessons, show choir, All-State, doing the musical, etc. They participate in a lot of things that grow their instrument so they can be as good as possible.
It sounds expensive, is it?
Voice lessons are $20/lesson. Our Booster Club offers 25 scholarships to students/families that significantly reduce the cost of lessons, if that is something that your family needs. Applications are available on our choir website under “Forms”
Any family/student on scholarship is required to be a member of our Booster Club, at any level.
BOOSTER CLUB
How do I join?
At Choir Registration, or on our choir website, join can fill out a form to join!
There are three different levels of membership,
Century - $125
Silver - $75
Bronze $30
What are the perks of joining?
Parents/guardians/members receive t-shirts, decals, yard signs, and early entrance to our concerts for being a member.
What exactly does the Booster Club do? Am I obligated to anything as a member?
The Booster Club is the choir programs support network outside of school/BISD. They directly support the students and program through providing voice lesson scholarships, senior scholarships, choreography for show choirs, music, clinicians, and directly support our end of the year banquet.
You are not obligated to anything unless you with to volunteer for anything. Please make sure you are an approved volunteer through the district!
How do I become more involved in the Booster Club or choir program?
Email our Booster Club ([email protected]) or Andrew Steffen ([email protected])!
Are there a lot of required things my student needs to be at?
We let students get as involved as they want to or not. We tend to see that the more a student commits to an activity, the stronger and more tied in they become to school and their peers. They find a ‘home’ in being here.
The only truly required thing students must be at are their concerts and any additional rehearsals directors schedule (with plenty of advance notice). Check your child’s Commitment Sheet for all the required dates that apply to your student(s).
I’m confused by something, who do I contact?
Reach out to any choir director if you have a question,
Andrew Steffen – [email protected]
Lorelai Taylor – [email protected]
We are happy to answer anything that may confuse you or if there is more clarity needed.
What is Charms and how do I use it?
Charms is our only portal for communication and collecting choir fees. If you follow the instructions below you can access and pay for things.
- Go to www.charmsoffice.com
- Click on “LogIn” in the top right hand corner
- Click on “Parents/Students/Members”
- Enter “RichlandHSChoir” – case sensitive, capitalize please
- On the left, under “Student Area Password”, enter your child’s Student Lunch ID#. If it doesn’t work contact a director to reset it.
- From there you can access the financial portion of your account on the top of the screen. The button has a dollar sign on it.
- You will pay through RevTrak. Login with your existing account, or create one to pay online with a credit card
- We accept cash and checks (made to Richland HS Choir) for all things related to school. Booster Club payments are dealt with separately.
- We accept cash and checks (made to Richland HS Choir) for all things related to school. Booster Club payments are dealt with separately.
What is Choir Registration?
Choir registration is an event where we fit everyone for uniforms, pay fees, join the Booster Club, sign-up for Voice Lessons and other activities! Choir Registration will be held on Saturday, August 19th in the Choir Room. The following students will be fitted at the times below,
- NEW students (9th grade; new to RHS/Choir) – 8:00am-10:30am
- RETURNING students (10th-12th grade) – 10:30am-12:00pm
Is Choir Registration mandatory?
Yes, it is. It’s the best time for us to distribute choir uniforms, collect fees, and sign-up for things without overloading you with emails, Remind messages, and flyers sent home during the first few days of school.
What if I can’t attend?
Let Mr. Steffen ([email protected]) or Mrs. Taylor ([email protected]) know and we’ll work it out with you.
ALL-STATE/9-10 HONOR CHOIR
What is All-State?
All-State is a state wide contest held to determine who makes the All-State choirs (Mixed, Treble, and Tenor/Bass). The state is divided into regions (holding multiple school districts) that compete with each other to determine their top candidates to making the ensembles.
Is the music difficult?
This music is college/advanced level literature. It’s the ‘big dog’ music for choir.
What if this is too challenging for me. Is there something else I can audition for?
Yes! If you’re a 9th or 10th grade student, you can audition for the 9-10 Honor Choir. This just like the Region auditions you might have done in middle school. Only 9th and 10th grade students are allowed to compete, so it’s less pressure and not as difficult music.
When does All-State begin?
All-State begins in the summer with students attending All-State choir camps hosted by universities/colleges to teach the music.
Do we practice All-State on our own or at school?
Both! You are expected to be practicing your music all the time at home. We have sectionals once a week for an hour for each voice part. Those sectionals begin Monday, August 14th. Stay on the lookout for when each section meets.
How do I know what music is being auditioned at each round?
Attend the All-State Kickoff on Thursday, August 3rd at 3:30pm to find out everything you need to know about our auditions!
SHOW CHOIR
I’m really interested in show choir, how do I participate?
Auditions for Royal Harmony (our non-varsity HS show choir) are the first full week of school.
What should I prepare?
About one minute of a song that shows off your voice – please no rap or musical theatre ‘rap’. You need to sing!
Do I need to dance?
Yes! Part of show choir is singing and dancing. You will be taught a small dance combo to see where you’re at with movement/choreography.
Do I need to be in choir to do show choir?
Yes, because we have announcements and rehearsals that sometimes take place during class, if there is time. Plus we utilize all our proper singing technique and expectations in rehearsal.
How do I make Royal Heirs?
Stay in show choir, get as much experience with your performing, work hard, have a great attitude, and audition when the time comes (Spring semester)!
VOICE LESSONS
Are voice lessons required?
No. Nothing is ‘required’ unless you want to be in it. Think of voice lessons as going to the gym and working out your voice. Coming to class is going ‘once’ a week. Adding voice lessons is going ‘twice’ a week. The more the ‘go to the gym’ the stronger your voice becomes. That’s how our older students become so advanced – choir, voice lessons, show choir, All-State, doing the musical, etc. They participate in a lot of things that grow their instrument so they can be as good as possible.
It sounds expensive, is it?
Voice lessons are $20/lesson. Our Booster Club offers 25 scholarships to students/families that significantly reduce the cost of lessons, if that is something that your family needs. Applications are available on our choir website under “Forms”
Any family/student on scholarship is required to be a member of our Booster Club, at any level.
BOOSTER CLUB
How do I join?
At Choir Registration, or on our choir website, join can fill out a form to join!
There are three different levels of membership,
Century - $125
Silver - $75
Bronze $30
What are the perks of joining?
Parents/guardians/members receive t-shirts, decals, yard signs, and early entrance to our concerts for being a member.
What exactly does the Booster Club do? Am I obligated to anything as a member?
The Booster Club is the choir programs support network outside of school/BISD. They directly support the students and program through providing voice lesson scholarships, senior scholarships, choreography for show choirs, music, clinicians, and directly support our end of the year banquet.
You are not obligated to anything unless you with to volunteer for anything. Please make sure you are an approved volunteer through the district!
How do I become more involved in the Booster Club or choir program?
Email our Booster Club ([email protected]) or Andrew Steffen ([email protected])!