Newtown Middle School Choral Program
By joining a choir at Newtown Middle School, you are taking a big step to belong to some of the largest student groups at the school. Most years, a singer's year is quickly filled with concert performances at NMS, festival opportunities (like County Choir and Vocal Thunder), a New York theatre trip (optional), and a music competition at Dorney Park. This year there are virtual performance events planned. More importantly, it's critical that singers keep using their voice, especially at this age when both boys' and girls' voices are experience dramatic changes. Many choristers also audition for CRAFTPlayers, Newtown Middle School’s theatre troupe.
Choraliers: the choir for all young women. It meets on Mondays and Thursdays during RA.
Note: Choraliers voice testing will take place virtually. Students will be asked to submit a video with specific exercises recorded. There will be an .mp3 file the girls listen to through earphones WHILE they record their responses.
Young Men’s Vocal Ensemble (YMVE): the group for all guys. YMVE meets on Tuesdays and Fridays during RA.
Note: YMVE voice testing will take place virtually. Students will be asked to submit a video with specific exercises recorded. There will be an .mp3 file the boys listen to through earphones WHILE they record their responses.
Middlemasters: open to boys and girls by audition. Meeting time TBD
Note: Middlemaster auditions will take place virtually. Students will be asked to submit a video with specific exercises recorded. Candidates will recieve an .mp3 file, asking for specific vocal exercises to be performed - candidates will listen to this .mp3 file with headphones DURING their audition recording session. A google meet with instructions will be held.
Rehearsals for all groups will begin later in the Fall semester, once we have eased into the hybrid model for learning.
Perfect attendance is expected by all singers, unless you are absent from school, of course. RA period priorities are as follows:
- Music Rehearsals (Band, Choir, Orchestra)
- Make up tests / Academic help
- Clubs and other Organizations
- Other commitments
Singers may also participate in Orchestra and/or Band. A schedule will be designed for these musicians.
Vocal Thunder – CANCELED FOR 2020
BCMEA (Bucks County Music Educators Association) – selected from Middlemasters, by invitation. CANCELED FOR 2020-21
Dorney Park – all choirs, orchestra, jazz and concert bands participate. CANCELED FOR 2021
All singers wear the NMS performance uniform. Uniform distribution for 7th graders and collection for 8th graders is temporarily post-poned. Please be on the lookout for updates.