Notes from the Choir Department - September 2026
Welcome to the Patrick Henry Choir Page! Below, you will find information about choir, concert, City LIghts, the school musical, and more! Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Concert Policy: We have two main concerts this year where student attendance is mandatory. Attending concerts is part of each student’s grade. If a student is sick and misses school the day of the concert, please communicate with us as soon as possible. Please mark these concerts on your calendars now so that you can avoid any conflicts as we get closer to the events:
Winter Concert: Thursday, November 19th at Lincoln High School
6th Grade Concert - 5:30 PM
7th/8th Grade Combined Concert - 7:00 PM
Spring Concert: Thursday, May 20th at Lincoln High
6th Grade Concert - 5:30 PM
7th/8th Grade Combined Concert - 7:00 PM
Concert Attire: We would like students to wear all black and look dressy for the concerts. Students should not wear the black music department t-shirts from previous years - we are going for a more formal / dressed up look. :)
Examples of Appropriate Concert Attire: Black dresses, long skirts, shorter skirts with leggings or tights underneath, dress pants, dressy tops/blouses, button up shirts, black dress shoes, black ties, black polo shirts, etc. We recommend dark close-toed shoes for safety purposes. Shoes should also look dressy.
Examples of Inappropriate Concert Attire: T-shirts, pajama pants, hooded or crewneck sweatshirts, any shirts with big words, writing, or logos on the front, slippers, slides, etc.
Students will be expected to follow the school dress code for concerts (dresses or skirts should be long enough; no spaghetti strap dresses unless covered with a sweater).
Please let us know if there are any issues getting proper concert attire! We want to help. :)
Concert Attendance Policy -
These concerts are a mandatory part of the performance grade for the class. Students should not miss these concerts, as they are important cumulative experiences for the semester. Should an emergency come up the day of the concert (illness, family emergency/death, etc), a make-up will be offered. In order to fulfill the performance grade the concert provides, two things must be completed -
Students will need to schedule a time with Mrs. Meyer or Mrs. Stadem to come in and sing their portion/voice part of the concert. They may bring 2-3 friends with them of the same voice part to sing with them, just like they would have other students singing with them at the concert. This make-up assignment needs to be made up before the end of each semester after the concert.
Students must find recordings on youtube of other choirs singing our songs and write a 2 paragraph review on each piece. This fulfills the reflection portion of the performance experience students who attended the concert will complete. Please see Mrs. Meyer for the format of this portion. This is also due by the end of the semester after the concert.
City Lights: City Lights is an auditioned show choir open to students in 7th and 8th Grade. Rehearsals are before school on Tuesdays and Fridays from 7:40 - 8:40 AM.**
Auditions for City Lights will be held September 2 - 11 in the choir room. Students will be able to sign up for an audition time in the choir room at open house on Monday, August 24th, and once school starts. Additional audition dates may be added, if needed. All potential new and returning City Lights members must audition. The ensemble regularly performs in public, so placement in the ensemble will depend on individual audition preparation, as well as behavior, leadership, and other aspects of Panther Pride displayed in the PHMS choir department. Students may audition individually, or with 1-2 other people. Auditions are first come, first serve. Here is what students can prepare for the audition -
My Country Tis of Thee - we will work on this during class
A song of their choice - something that showcases their voice and they can sing memorized and with confidence; that they can either sing a cappella or with an accompaniment they find.
Weekly Rehearsals: 7:40-8:40 am on Tuesdays and Fridays (before school)
**A calendar with more City Lights dates will be given out at Open House on Monday, August 24th
A Few Important Choir Calendar Dates:
** A detailed calendar with more dates will be distributed at Open House on Monday, August 24th
City Lights Auditions - Sept 2-11(choir room)
Monday, October 26th: LHS Fall Choir Concert with 8th Graders - 6:00 pm
Only for 8th graders attending LHS in 2027
Friday, November 6th: JHS Fall Choir Concert with 8th Graders - 6:00 pm
Only for 8th graders attending JHS in 2026
Monday, November 9th: WHS Fall Choir Concert with 8th Graders - 6:00 pm
Only for 8th graders attending WHS in 2026
Tuesday, November 24th: RHS Fall Choir Concert with 8th Graders - 6:00 pm
Only for 8th graders attending RHS in 2026
Thursday, November 19th: Patrick Henry Winter Choir Concert @ LHS
Friday, January 22nd - Saturday, January 23rd: SD Junior Honor Choir in Sioux Falls (select students)
Thursday, February 11th: 8th Grade Choir Performs at SDSU Conference (all day)
Thursday, February 11th: SDSU Elementary Honor Choir (select 6th grade students)
2027 Patrick Henry Middle School Musical
Thursday, March 18th - 7:00 pm
Friday, March 19th - 9:20 am - Elementary School Feeders Performance only
Friday, March 19th - 7:00 pm
Saturday, March 20th - 2:00 pm
Saturday, March 20th - 7:00 pm
Thursday, May 20th: Patrick Henry Spring Concert Concert @ LHS
As always, if there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Meyer at Hailey.Meyer@k12.sd.us or Mrs. Stadem at Tara.Stadem@k12.sd.us.