Vox Equitum

Rio Linda High School is adding another choral ensemble to our lineup.

We will be combining all of the vocal classes into one festival ready performance ensemble. As of this date there are 30 singers that make up this ensemble.

Watch us as we grow.

We will be reviewing music fundamentals which include, but are not limited to:
*Names of the lines and spaces (note names), rest / note durations, accidentals, articulations,
*dynamics, styles for the works we will be learning and performing.
*We will be conversant in the musical roadmap: Clef(s), Key, Time and, Tempo, Further we will be
working on chords, chord structures, tuning chords vocally, and learning to play the Major, minor and other chords as they appear in our literature.

We will be focusing on melodic phrasing and the harmonies that accompany the piece of music they will be performing. We will study beginning to intermediate vocal techniques which include: vowel placement, breathing for singing, intonation, etc.

The three I's will be a constant, steady mantra in all of the vocal classes: In Tune, In Tone, In Time. Followed shortly after with the two B's: Balance and Blend.

We will be performing difficulty level 1 to 2.5 songs of the solid literature that makes a great Concert type Choir. Some of those style periods will be the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century, Folk, Spirituals, and the National Anthem (as soloists, trios, quartets and a choir) / Alma Mater. Mr. Murray may even write a tune or two for the ensemble when they are ready.

This ensemble will be limited in size to a max of 24 (6 per SATB voicing).

We perform on risers and will have choir mics to help with sound reinforcement. Solos, when there are any, will be a walk to a solo mic as opposed to our vocal jazz which is "one on a mic" for their performances.

You will be expected to hold your part as part of a quartet in rehearsals and on stage. We will be doing from 2 to 4 part harmony plus a solo/descant line. Currently we perform with tracks. As an accompanist becomes available we will work with that person.

Connectivity

We will use the following for communications throughout the year:
The Band App - This is for instantaneous connections - need to be here now, kind of thing. We send information home on the app as well. Your parent/guardian are encouraged to be on the app. We will show you how to get it and get connected.
eMail - As always we will send information home via email (the communications portal in Aeries).
Printed materials - These are things that we will send home, from us to you to your folks, and need to be signed and returned in a specified time line.

Performances

We will have two home performances (Spring Concert, and Pops Concert) as well as a performing as part of the choir at the District Festival Of The Arts.

We will attend a few festivals each year. The ones with an " * " are confirmed and the ones with the " ^" are open for discussion.

Honor Choir - TBA
Golden Empire Music Festival - 4/18/26
Music In The Parks Music Festival - Whole Department (Vallejo CA)* - 5/2/26
We will have other "outside" performances. We will be singing Christmas Carols in December for the Christmas Parade in Rio Linda. And as they come up I will let you know and see if we can do them.

Our debut will be in the Spring of 2026 at the Spring Concert. This ensemble will also perform, based on time limits of the festival, at the Golden Empire Music Festival on April 18, 2026.

Songs that we are considering:
Vox - Written by Greg Gilpin
Nightfall - Music by: Roger Emerson, Lyrics by: Robert Fuller Murray (1863 - 1894)
Amen - Written by Jester Hairston

2025 - 2026
Performance Dates & Repertoire

Spring Concert (March 19, 2026)
Vox - Written by Greg Gilpin

District Festival (March 25, 2026)
Song 1 - Will There Really Be A Morning? - Ruth Morris Gray
Song 2 - Furaha! - by Sally K. Albrecht

Golden Empire Music Festival (April 18, 2026)

Other than the District Festival of the Arts, and Music In The Parks, this will be the first time in the history of the school that the "concert" choirs will be going to this festival.

Vox - Written by Greg Gilpin
Nightfall - Music by: Roger Emerson, Lyrics by: Robert Fuller Murray (1863 - 1894)
Amen - Written by Jester Hairston

Spring Tour - Six Flags MITP - Vallejo (May 2, 2026)
Vox - Written by Greg Gilpin
Nightfall - Music by: Roger Emerson, Lyrics by: Robert Fuller Murray (1863 - 1894)
Amen - Written by Jester Hairston

Pops Concert - (May 14, 2026)
Amen – By Jester Hairston

Uniforms
Ladies: Concert Dresses, black closed toe flats (no more than 1 inch heels).

Gentlemen: 2-piece tuxedos, white tuxedo shirts and bow ties, black dress shoes (no boots), black dress socks.

You will have a Music Handbook packet to fill out and sign, as will your parental unit(s) (parents, guardians, etc.)

Fundraising - All funds that are raised via a fundraising effort sponsored by the Music Department (regardless of where it is held) remains in the department should you decide to leave the ensemble.

Travel - Beginning 2021 we changed our travel patterns. We will be going to local festivals and one big festival each year. If something comes up, festival-wise, we will discuss it at length and determine if we want to do it.

MrM

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