Cavalcade

Tickets

Choral Cavalcade is the only choir concert by the Pioneer Choirs where admission is charged.  Proceeds support the activities of the Pioneer Choirs.

All seats are general admission.  Tickets are $5 for adults, $10 for families, and free to AAPS students and staff with school ID.  Tickets are available in advance by mail (please see below), from Pioneer Choir students, or at the door.

All performers are seated in the auditorium during the concert.  Schreiber Auditorium seats 1,640 (220 less than its original capacity of 1860).

History of Choral Cavalcade

The first Choral Cavalcade occurred in March 1977 and included all of the choirs from all of the Ann Arbor Public Secondary Schools.  The intent was to allow all the choirs to hear each other, showcase vocal music in the public schools, raise funds to supplement the budget for vocal music in the junior highs, and help pay for the high school choir camp which was planning to move from Camp Tamarac to Interlochen in August 1977.

At the first Choral Cavalcade, held in Pioneer’s Schreiber Auditorium, singers performed for a standing room only crowd.  In 1978, to deal with the crowding problem, the high school choirs were moved from seats in the auditorium balcony to the cafeteria.  In 1979, the junior highs were told to bring only their 8th and 9th grade choirs.  In 1980, none of the choirs were seated in the auditorium and a dress rehearsal was held for the singers to hear each other.

As the number of choirs and students increased, the length of the concert grew and the number in the audience exceeded the capacity of Schreiber Auditorium.  It was obvious that either the concert needed to be given twice or the number of performers needed to be reduced again.

In March 1986, Choral Cavalcade was divided into East and West.  Clague, Scarlett, and Huron participated in Choral Cavalcade East at Huron.  Forsythe, Slauson, and Pioneer participated in Choral Cavalcade West at Pioneer.  Tappan sang at Choral Cavalcade East in odd numbered years and at Choral Cavalcade West in even numbered years.

Current Format

In March 2009, Choral Cavalcade was divided into East, North and West.  Scarlett and Huron participate in Choral Cavalcade East.  Forsythe and Skyline participate in Choral Cavalcade North.  Slauson and Pioneer participate in Choral Cavalcade West.  Tappan sings at Choral Cavalcade East in odd numbered years and at Choral Cavalcade West in even numbered years.  Clague sings at Choral Cavalcade North in odd numbered years and Choral Cavalcade East in even numbered years.  Ann Arbor Open, when they have a choir, sings at Choral Cavalcade West in odd numbered years and Choral Cavalcade North in even numbered years.