OUR CHOIRS:

5 Choirs, 1 Family

Our choir considers itself 1 large choir with 5 smaller groups. Some students sing in more than one group at a time, and each semester there are students that move between choirs depending on their educational needs and scheduling. We would love to have you come and be a part of what we are doing! #BeAwesome

Be Part of It!

This year, with all of the discombobulation of the cancellation, we understand there will be some extra time needed to make sure everyone is in the classes they need, and a part of the community they desire. Music is a balm to the soul, and choir is an incredible team that is helping to sustain many of us through this difficult season - we'd love for you to experience that support and expression. During the first few of weeks of school there are always a few students who weren't put into the choir they were supposed to be in - so please come talk to me, audition if required, and be a part of something AWESOME!! The best way to contact Mrs. Ellis is via email at ellisa@psd401.net.

Choir Traditions

• Each year we send students to HONOR CHOIRS, such as the NorthWest HS Honor Choir at University of Puget Sound and All-State or All-Northwest choirs. This year we had a record number of 15 All-State Choir members selected! Some years we participate in Solo and Ensemble, and every year we attend both our district Secondary Choral Festival and our Regional Choral Festival. Since 2011 we have regularly received top scores from our judges at festivals and contests.
• We also year have 2 All-Choir Retreats each year, held at PHS for all of the students to come together and get to know one another. We play games, sing, eat, and then there's STARFISH. Each June our seniors go on the Senior Retreat. Since 2014 we've rented a house (or 2) at Seabrook and spent a 3 day weekend at the beach unpacking and reframing our high school experience. It is an important and momentous time - each one is a little different depending on the class, and each one is uniquely special and powerful.
• Another great tradition we've developed is the Nutcracker Choirs. Every December we are invited to send groups of our most advanced students to the Pacific Northwest Ballet's production of the Nutcracker at McCaw Hall, where we sing carols in the lobby before the performance, and in exchange they give us tickets to the performance. It is usually a lovely evening, having dinner at the Seattle Center and enjoying the decorations, performing for thousands of people as they enter the gorgeous building, and then getting to watch the incredible ballet. The show choir also is invited to sing all around our community at this time of year.

A Proud History and An Inspiring Future:

• PHS Choirs have a proud history of greatness - since the 1970's they have performed around the nation and won many honors and competitions. However, budget cuts and difficult scheduling requirements put a damper on our programs for many years. In 2011, our current conductor, Mrs. Alison Ellis, was hired to rebuild and revitalize the choral program. Thanks to wonderful administrative support and awesome students, we have grown from beginning group of 17 students to over 160 students participating in choral music at PHS.
• In the past few years, many of out graduates have won top scholarships in music programs around the state. Those who go on to study music or music education as their major often find that they test out of their first year of theory, and tell us they are well prepared for the programs by our music program here. Many of our other students find that even though music is NOT their major, they are still able to win scholarships in music, or continue to participate in music at high levels in college and beyond.
• We have had several students that have gone to elite summer programs around the country to study voice and music from the Peninsula Choir program over the last 10 years. We have had multiple people study at Tanglewood Summer Opera Institute, Berklee's Summer Music program, and the Westminster Choir Summer Choral program. Our students are well prepared to pursue music at whatever capacity they are interested, and we spend the time and effort to help them pursue their passion.
• Our choirs continue to grow and to pursue excellence. We continue to develop our ideas of inclusion and equity, and we strive every year to Be Awesome in the most inclusive sense of the term, and to follow the idea of Maya Angelou - When you Know Better, Do Better.
• There are many more great things about the PHS Choirs, big and small - come be a part of this community and learn all about it!