Choir is more than just saying words with melody and rhythms. Learning the music, or choreography for a song can be either difficult, or easy depending on how much one cares for choir. There are also plenty of other factors that should be taken into consideration if someone wants to join. Some of those factors include, atmosphere of the classroom, the directors, students and how much work is put into choir.
With two directors teaching different choirs, Assistant Choir Director, Jacob Noordermeer teaches choir with a passion that is not seen in a teacher that teaches a curricular class. Noordermeer directs Cadet Choir, Canto Fratelli, Cliff Avenue, Bel Canto and co-directs Jazz Choir. Cadet Choir is the only choir class that does not need an audition to make it in. Everyone who wants to make it into an ensemble, must audition before-hand. Head Choral Director Kathy Ferguson has been involved in the choir industry for 33 years. Ferguson directs the Concert Choir, Chamber, Cantare, Sotto Voce and co-directs Jazz Choir.
Responsibility is a key principle that LHS strives to maintain. Building that responsibility can help achieve many different opportunities in the future. Having responsibility in choir is no different than what is expected of any LHS student.
“Being at Lincoln, we hold kids to a high standard, so there’s responsibility in the music aspect in learning the music and learning the rhythms and getting it performance ready,” said Noordermeer. “There is also so much more responsibility with logistics, [like]: making sure you are on-time to rehearsals and concerts, making sure you are wearing the appropriate thing to match the group, making sure you know what music you are supposed to be performing and I think that takes a large responsibility too.”
Over the years, students and classes change and teaching a class gets harder and harder to accomplish. Preparing for a concert can create stress however, Ferguson adapts and understands the potential of her choirs.
“It kind of varies from concert to concert and from year to year, and sometimes I feel that some groups are just ready sooner,” said Ferguson. “Just lots and lots of practice, repetition and a lot of drill prepares us for our concerts.”
All of the choirs, whether they are advanced or not, each take hard work and dedication in order to achieve the full experience and being worried about a certain aspect, should not stop someone from joining.
