Ensembles

Singers at Skutt Catholic High School have a wide variety of choices and opportunities in the vocal arts. We offer three curricular ensembles that meet on a set schedule during the school day. Our concert choir began making music when the school opened its doors in the fall of 1992. Our varsity mixed show choir, Vivace, is in its sixteenth year of existence in its current coed form, and is maintaining a tradition of excellence around the midwest. The Chamber Choir was separated from Concert Choir in the fall of 2015 to deal with increasing enrollment in the Vocal Music Department. This auditioned ensemble is made up of 24 singers who have had a minimum of one year of experience singing in a high school choir ensemble. We also have four optional ensembles meeting outside the school day. In 2009 a new extra-curricular men’s group called Hawkappella was formed, and in 2010 we began rehearsing Music Ministry, a volunteer group, who prepares singing for our All-School liturgies. Our women's contemporary group, Musettes, was formed in the fall of 2013 and most recently the Varsity Unisex show choir, Allegro, began in the fall of 2017.

Singers from all choirs have the opportunity to sing in concerts at school and throughout the community. All vocal students are eligible to audition for opportunities such as Nebraska All State Choir, ACDA Honor Choirs, District Large Ensemble, Small Ensemble, Solo Festivals, and several area collegiate honor choirs. All Concert Choir and Chamber Choir students have the opportunity to travel each year with their ensemble. Over the past seven years we have begun a tradition of annual Choir Department tours. In 2010 the choir traveled to Chicago where they worked with the Chicago Children’s Choir and their directors, Josephine Lee and Judy Hanson. During March of 2011 the Concert Choir toured to Kansas City where they performed at several venues and also worked with Dr. Charles Robinson at the UMKC Conservatory of Music. The 2011-2012 school year took the ensemble to performances and recording sessions throughout the Nashville area, including a tour and an opportunity to sing on stage at The Grand Ole Opry. In 2014, the choirs toured to Rome for the International Choral Festival, where the singers worked with Dr. Z. Randall Stroope and choirs from California, New Mexico, Minnesota and Michigan. Performances in Rome included Mass at St. Peters Basilica and a concert at the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Most recently, in the Spring of 2016 the Choir Department participated in the National Memorial Day Choral Festival in Washington DC in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and then traveled on to New York City for a couple days of sightseeing and Broadway events.

Skutt Catholic High School is a great place for singers and performers. After helping to earn more than 70 Large Ensemble Superior Ratings and dozens of contest and competition trophies in 33 short years, many of our graduates have gone on to great careers in the performing arts. Many more have found a lifelong love of singing and an appreciation for all that the arts do to enrich our lives. Whether you want a future in music or you just want to have a great time, Skutt Catholic Vocal Music is the place for you!

Concert Choir

This performance oriented class is open to all 9-12 students, regardless of previous singing experience. No audition is required for Concert Choir. The ensemble will study sophisticated choral literature and build upon part singing in choral music. Concert Choir students will sing a variety of music throughout the year, including music from all time periods and styles. The ensemble will perform at four home concerts each year, as well as compete in District Music Contest. Concert Choir members also have the opportunity, with instructor permission, to audition for Nebraska All State Chorus, Regional and National Honor Choirs, Vivace show choir, Musettes women’s choir, and Hawkappella men’s choir. Singing with the Music Ministry ensemble for All-School Masses is always voluntary. From 2012 through the present, the Concert Choir’s Christmas Concert has been featured on KVSS Spirit Catholic Radio.

Chamber Choir

In 2015-2016, Honors Concert Choir separated from Concert Choir and offer a more intense study of choral music. Sophomores, juniors and seniors, with at least one year of high school choir experience, may audition for this performance oriented class. Auditions for the 2024-25 ensemble were held in March for this school year. Honors Concert Choir will consist of 16-24 voices and will meet separately from the Concert Choir. Honors credit is issued to students who are a member of Honors Concert Choir. The ensemble will perform at four home concerts each year, as well as compete in District Music Contest. Chamber Choir students will sing a variety of music throughout the year, including music from all time periods and styles. In addition, the students meet their honors credit requirement by completing a research project in conjunction with each of the four home concerts and auditioning for the Nebraska All State Chorus. Chamber Choir members, like Concert Choir members, will have the opportunity to audition for Regional and National Honor Choirs, Vivace show choir, Musettes women’s choir, and Hawkappella men’s choir. Singing with the Music Ministry ensemble for All-School Masses is always voluntary. 

Hawkappella

The SC Vocal Music Department is proud to have a developing men’s choir. The group will perform several times during the year. Some performances may include singing the national anthem at sporting events, the Hawktober concert, Pops concert, District Music Contest, and the spring concert. The group will decide on its rehearsal schedule, but will hopefully meet once to twice a week outside the school day. A meeting will be held in August to form this group.

Musettes

The SC Vocal Music Department is proud to have a developing women’s choir. The group will perform several times during the year. Some performances may include singing the national anthem at sporting events, the Hawktober concert, Pops concert, District Music Contest, and the spring concert. The group will decide on its rehearsal schedule, but will hopefully meet once to twice a week outside the school day. A meeting will be held in August to form this group.

BarberHawks

The SC Vocal Music Department is proud to offer men's barbershop chorus. Completely formed by its current members, this quartet rehearses on their own schedule. The group has opportunities to perform several times during the year. Some performances may include singing the national anthem at sporting events, the Hawktober concert, Pops concert, District Music Contest, and the spring concert. A meeting will be held in August to form this group and hopefully help them continue after their inaugural season.

Music Ministry

Singing for the Skutt Catholic all-school Masses is done by a completely volunteer Music Ministry ensemble. The singers rehearse for 10 minutes prior to each Mass. They then join together to lead music and singing for the service. Cantors are selected by audition, paired together, and assigned specific dates and Masses to cover during the year.