Embedded Files
For newly admitted upper school students wishing to audition for the Madrigal Singers, please contact Ms. Lipman
Please see the Madrigals page for more information about auditions
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Students new to choir are invited to sign up for the Middle School Choir (6th-8th grades) or Upper School Chorale (9th-12th grades), a friendly and welcoming environment to explore the vocal arts and does not require any previous singing experience.
2025 Choir Performance Tour
The Upper School Choirs will be traveling to Portugal for performances in March of 2025.
Contact Ms. Lipman for more information.
The SSES Choirs worked hard during our 2020 spring term of remote learning to bring joy and hope during difficult times.
Enjoy these videos of our virtual choir performances!
The Madrigal Singers bring you "Unclouded Day" by Shawn Kirchner
The Upper School Chorale brings you "The Dreamer in Me" by Pinkzebra
The Middle School Choir brings you "Walk Through Life" by Pinkzebra
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2020 Spring Madrigals Tour
March of 2020, the Madrigal Singers replaced their tour to Vietnam with a tour to O'ahu, Hawaii. See our pics from our week that included collaborations and performances with University of Hawaii and the Iolani Episcopal School.
Click HERE to see our pics from a wonderful tour.
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The St. Stephen’s Episcopal School Madrigal Singers
Perform World-Premiere of “Tree of Life” in Carnegie Hall
On Sunday March 10th 2019 at 8:30pm, the Madrigal Singers of St. Stephens Episcopal School in Austin, Texas, will perform in the National Youth Choir and as a “Featured Choir” in the WorldStrides Concert in Carnegie Hall. The Madrigals Singers are an internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble from St. Stephens Episcopal School in Austin, TX. They have performed in concert halls, chapels and cathedrals as far-flung as London, Vienna, and Beijing.Under the baton of world-renowned, Dr. Anton Armstrong of St. Olaf College, they will perform a concert in Stern Auditorium with the National Youth Choir. In addition, Kendra Welton-Lipman will conduct the Madrigal Singers in their own set of songs as the select “featured choir” during the concert.
Upholding the St. Stephen’s School founders’ vision for a community that respects and celebrates the unique individuality and dignity of every human being, the Madrigals Singers will perform a world premiere of Tree Of Life, a five-minute choral work dedicated to the remembrance of last year’s victims of the l’Simcha Synagogue shootings in Pittsburgh. Tree of Life was commissioned by the Amatius Foundation for this performance. It will be conducted by Kendra Welton-Lipman, and feature text by Zenon Neumark, and music by Sam Lipman. Dr. Jodi Blount, St. Stephen’s piano instructor, will accompany the Madrigal Singers in the “featured choir” concert which will also include thought provoking and uplifting works by composers, Jody Noblett and Joan Szymko.
Conductor Kendra Welton-Lipman has been directing community, church and school choirs in Texas for over 20 years. She joined the St. Stephen’s Fine Arts Department in 2013. Since 2002, she has sung with Grammy-Award-Winning vocal ensemble Conspirare, under the direction of Dr. Craig Hella Johnson, and serves as alto singer and section leader for the Conspirare Symphonic Choir.
Author Zenon Neumark (b.1924) is a refugee from World War II forced labor camps in Tomaszów Mazowiecki and Vienna, and a member of the Jewish Fighting Organization. He is known for his best-selling memoir Hiding In The Open.
Multi-genre composer Sam Lipman (b.1973) has written for the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Austin Opera, and Justin Timberlake. Previously the Faculty Composer-in-residence for University of Texas Department of Theater and Dance, Sam is currently the Adjunct Professor of Screen Scoring at UT. He most recently scored Richard Linklater/Cate Blanchett’s movie Where’d You Go Bernadette.
We hope you can attend this special concert and world premiere. The work reaches for the hearts of anyone who has suffered the angst of oppression. With Pittsburgh’s victims in our hearts and minds, Tree Of Life offers us a songful prophecy, that while such atrocities are not new, we must and will overcome them.
Audio tracks from the concert can be heard HERE on Soundcloud
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The Madrigals 2018 Tour Ireland
The Madrigals are on tour March 3-10,2018 in Cork and Dublin, Ireland
2017-2018 Madrigal Singers
Soprano
Cecilia Cosby (12) - Section Leader
Isabel West (12)
Stella Fitzgerald (10)
Ananye Ganne (10)
Susannah Joffe (12)
Sadie Shea (9)
Alto
Audrey Czuchna (11) - Section Leader
Aidan Ellis (11)
Cameron Watkins (12)
Angela Yang (12)
Bess Dossett (12)
Addie McClish (10)
Tenor
Andrew Yow (12) - Section Leader
Blossom Maduafokwa (12)
Austin Raven (12)
Aditya Sankaran (10)
Toby Wolfson (9)
Baritone/Bass
Brendan Whyburn (12) - B1 - Section Leader
Daniel Salazar-Harper (12)
Robert Quinn (12)
Zach Jones (12)
David Lucid (11)
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Congratulations to our Senior Class of 2017 Choir Singers!
Andrew Abikhaled
Mahria Baker
Zhishan (Coco) Chu
Nihar Gagneja
Sam Oberle
Ni (Julie) Sang
Lisa Schulmeyer
Kevin Tsai
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2017 Modern Voices Show
Helm Theater, April 1st at 7:30pm
Final Show Lineup
MS Choir
“We Go Together” from Grease
“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens
“Better When I’m Dancin’ from the Peanuts Movie
US Chorale
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
“My Shot” from Hamilton
“I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair” from South Pacific (Chorale ladies)
“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond (Chorale guys)
Madrigals
“Happy Together” by the Turtles
“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen
“Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles
“Barbara Ann” by the Beach Boys
Solos/Duets/Ensembles
Nihar Gagneja (12) - “Fistful of Love” by Antony & the Johnsons
Andrew Yow, Sam Oberle, Noah Yow, & Daniel Salazar-Harper (9-12) - “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys
Cecilia Cosby & Susannah Joffe (11) - “Ghost” by the Indigo Girls
Angela Yang (11) - “Xin You Duz Hong” by Li Peiling
Susannah Joffe (11) - “I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You” by Aretha Franklin
Blossom Maduafokwa (11) - “Roxanne” by The Police
Issy West (11) - “Up to the Mountain” by Patty Griffin
Bess Dossett & Brendan Whyburn (11) - “Dream a Little Dream”
Chiayenne Wolfe (10) - “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” by Ella Eyre
Stella Fitzgerald (9) - “Someone to Watch Over Me” from Oh, Kay!
Addie McClish & Jake Chappelear (9) - “My Way” by Frank Sinatra
Anya Ganne (9) - “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele
Sadie Shea (8) - “Audition (Fools Who Dream)” from La La Land
Ella Parker & Ray Swartz (7) - “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera
Ava Pennell & Ari Sher (7) - “Riptide” by Vance Joy
Mia Chamoun (6) - “Stay” by Rihanna
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Please join us December 10th & 11th
for our
Festival of Lessons & Carols
featuring the
Middle School Choir, Upper School Chorale, and Madrigal Singers
Congratulations to the 2016-2017 Madrigal Singers!
See the Choirs -->Madrigals link for results
2016 SPRING CHOIR CONCERT
Join us Monday, May 9th at 8pm for our Spring Choir Concert in the SSES chapel
Reception in Helm Lobby to follow
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2/15/2016
In a rigorous audition process that started back in October '15 with 67,000 registered singers across the State of Texas, approximately 1700 students were selected for the 2016 Texas Music Educator All-State Choirs (split into 4 different choirs). After multiple rounds of auditions, Sam Oberle and Dillon Nichols both placed 2nd chair in their voice parts (Tenor and Bass). This was Dillon's second year of acceptance into the All-State Choir and he is in the final stages of deciding on a college to attend next year as a music major.
This past week & weekend, In a 4-day clinic with world renown choral director, Dr. Kenneth Davis, Sam and Dillon showed strong work ethic, dedication and passion as singers in the TMEA All-State Small-School Category Mixed Choir. Their accomplishments in rehearsals throughout the week culminated in an incredibly inspiring concert at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio this past Saturday for an audience of over 1500 members.
Congratulations, Dillon and Sam!
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Congratulations to Dillon Nichols & Sam Oberle for both placing second chair (as Tenor and Bass) in the 2016 TMEA All-State Small School Mixed Choir!!!
They both travel to San Antonio in February for a 3 day clinic and concert with Dr. Ken Davis from St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico
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Spartans Place in the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Choir
11/9/2015
Congratulations to Dillon Nichols '15, Sam Oberle '16, and Ben Hines '15 for making it into the Texas Music Educators Association Region XVIII Choir. Dillon Nichols placed 1st chair in the "small school" bass category and 6th chair in the overall large school category (against singers from public and private schools in Austin, Hays, San Marcos, Kyle, Pflugerville, and Eanes). Sam Oberle also placed 1st chair in the "small school" tenor category and 3rd chair overall. Ben Hines placed 2nd chair in the "small school" bass category and 20th chair overall. Dillon, Sam & Ben were competing against approximately 60 singers in their respective voice competitions.
The Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) is an organization of over 9,000 Texas school music educators.
TMEA is responsible for auditions into and concerts of Texas's All-Region and All-State bands, orchestras and choirs. TMEA aligns schools into the 28 regions, and auditions are held at the region level during the fall of each year to determine All-City, All-District and All-Region groups. Most regions host a public concert of their All-Region bands, orchestras and choirs to provide a performance clinic for the selected musicians and to showcase the students' musicianship.
Our students performed a beautiful concert following a two day clinic with Dr. John Dickson, Director of Choral Studies at LSU.
They now advance on to the next round of "Area" auditions in January to be considered for the 2016 TMEA All-State Choir.
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CONSPIRARE WINS 2015 GRAMMY AWARD!
"BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM"
Rick Gabrillo (former SSES choir director), Kendra Lipman (current SSES choir director), Janeene Williams and Eva Laskaris (voice instructors) all perform regularly with Austin based Conspirare Company of Voices and Conspirare Symphonic Choir under the direction of Craig Hella Johnson. We are proud to announce that (after 5 past nominations) Conspirare won a Grammy this year for "Best Classical Album". Special congratulations to Rick and Janeene who both sang on the album that won.
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Please join us for our beautiful Lessons and Carols services this holiday season!
Music provided by the St. Stephen's Choral Department
Middle School Lessons & Carols Service - Saturday, December 12th at 6:30pm in the St. Stephen's Chapel
Upper School Lessons & Carols Service - Sunday, December 13th at 6:30pm in the St. Stephen's Chapel
World Heritage Choral Festival
The Madrigals Tour London
April 14-21, 2014
The Madrigals traveled to the United Kingdom this past April to participate in the World Heritage Choral Festival held at the Royal Academy of Music in London. At the festival they received the 1st place award for "Most Outstanding Choral Performance". They also performed a solo concert at St. Sepulchre Church (The Musician's Church) on Good Friday as part of Easter Holy Week. One of the highlights of the trip was attending the Easter Sunday service at St. Paul's Cathedral where the students heard one of the top boys choirs in the world. They also enjoyed the guided tour of London throughout the week.
See more pics from their trip HERE
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