Why You Should Join Choir @ DGN!

Why should I join choir?

NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY! 

The DGN Choirs are one of the largest student organizations on campus at North High School! It is a fun way to get involved, meet new people and be part of something bigger than yourself.

Choir is a great way to meet new people, be a part of a community/family, develop yourself as a musician, sing challenging music, learn to read music, discover how to sing different styles correctly (including pop, Broadway, jazz, traditional), travel around the country (our last tour was to London in January, 2023, and prior to that, LA in February 2020), and to be part of something bigger than yourself. Let this be a stress reliever from your academic load! Choir is the right mix of fun and work. We perform at a high level and have fun doing it! High school is the time to try new things, so why not?!

The students in choir are involved in many other activities at DGN — everything from Track & Field, Wrestling, Football, and Swimming to Student Council, Theater and Speech Team (to name a few).  All are welcome to join choir- there is no such thing as "not good enough!" There is a big range of skill levels and multiple choirs to accommodate the various levels. We learn about singing and music, take trips, develop friendships, and sing fun music! Choir is a great way to make lasting memories and friendships! Don't wait! High school is a time to try new things so come and be a part of our family. Now is the time to sign up to join our DGN Choir Family!

In addition, there so many non-musical skills you will gain and develop...

What choir should I register for?

Incoming freshmen: 

Treble Voices (sopranos/altos) sign up for FRESHMAN CHOIR

Bass Voices (tenors/basses) sign up for CONCERT CHOIR

Sophomores/Juniors/Seniors new to choir:

You can register without any audition for Concert Choir. 

If you are a junior or a senior and are interested in a placement audition for Treble Choir or A Cappella Choir (where most of our upperclassmen sing), please email Mrs. O'Riordan (boriordan@csd99.org) or Dr. Piekarz (fpiekarz@csd99.org).

Do I need to be enrolled in choir at my middle school to join DGN Choirs?

No. Any DGN student (regardless of previous experience) is invited and encouraged to join choir. You do not need to have sung in your middle school choir or in any previous choir to join us!

Can I be in choir if I play sports?

Yes! Choir meets during the school day as a class. We have athletes in choir from Swimming, Football, Track & Field, Badminton, Dance, and many other sports/activities. If you are an athlete, being in choir will not be a problem at all.

Can I be in choir if I'm in band or orchestra?

Yes! In fact, MANY of our students are involved in multiple areas of the music program at DGN. We offer courses in Choir, Band, Orchestra, Guitar, Digital Music, and Music Theory. You don't need to choose between these classes! It is possible to enroll in multiple music classes simultaneously. School counselors can help you tailor your schedule to fit in Choir along with other electives you choose to take. 

Can I be in choir and take a language class (Spanish, French, etc.)?

Yes! Many of our students take a language in addition to choir at DGN.

Should I take choir or a study hall?

You need to make the best decision for yourself - but most of our students admit that a study hall is not often a motivating space to get work done. Time after time, our students report enjoying having a break in their day instead!

Can I drop a lunch to fit choir into my schedule?

You can! We feel that eating lunch is important, but it is a possibility to fit choir as well as other electives in.  Many teachers allow students to eat during class, and students in our 6th period Freshman Choir (specifically) that do not have a lunch period are allowed to eat lunch at the side of the room as class is beginning. This is our "lunch bunch!" 

I'm worried I won't be "good enough" for choir at high school...

We have multiple curricular choirs (choirs that meet during the school day as a class.) We have students who join choir for the first time in high school with zero experience and also students who have been singing since they were young. Everyone is welcome to join, regardless of skill level or familiarity with music- the only way to improve at singing is by singing and learning how to sing! Choir is a super welcoming, safe environment to do this! 

Do you have any sample schedules of how I might be able to fit choir into my schedule? 

Absolutely! We have students with a variety of interests and many want the option to take lots of electives. Here are some very recent freshman student schedules:

Freshman Choir Sample Schedules - Document 1

Freshman Choir Sample Schedules - Document 2

​

If you have any other questions, we encourage you to email us:

Beth O'Riordan - boriordan@csd99.org

Frank Piekarz - fpiekarz@csd99.org