Dear Parents of Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Students,

I am excited to announce the continuation of the NCS Elementary Honor Choir. This auditioned group is comprised of third, fourth, and fifth graders who perform at various events during the Fall and Spring Semester. I am honored to organize and direct the choir and we will use a contracted accompanist on the piano. We will be singing choral music with some unison and two-part harmony. The unchanged voice of an elementary student is full of innocence and purity that glows in a choral setting. I look forward to sharing this beauty with you.

The first performing venue will be a special Veteran's Day chapel on November 9, 2007. In addition to honoring our country's veterans in song, the high school Christian Council will also have a special presentation. In December, the Honor Choir will perform during our annual Christmas concert held in conjunction with the junior high, high school choir, and visual arts programs. The upper elementary grades (third, fourth, and fifth) will present a Christmas play and the Honor Choir will perform additional holiday music. The Spring Semester will be filled with various performing opportunities including Grandparents' Day and the NCS Talent Show. 

Due to the select nature of this group, I will have auditions for membership. Students in orchestra are invited to try out as well since the rehearsals will not take place during music class. I will have the students vocalize to establish their range, listen to them sing a song (Amazing Grace or My Country Tis of Thee) for tuning purposes, and assess their ability to sing with harmony. The music I have chosen for the group requires a high level of musicianship from the students and the rehearsals are fast paced. Please prayerfully consider if your child is willing and able to meet the challenges I will give them in this setting. Membership or non-membership has no bearing on your child's grade in regular music class. Auditions will be from 2:00-3:00 on the following days:

Friday, August 31—Fifth Grade
Friday, September 7—Fourth Grade
Friday, September 14—Third Grade

Once the group is chosen, we will begin practicing every Friday from 2:00-2:50. The homeroom teachers will release them to come to choir practice and the students are responsible for any work they miss in class. It is vital that members of the choir attend every practice so they may learn this exciting music. We will not practice this music in our regular music classes. Students are also required to maintain an A or B average and E or S conduct grade in all their classes to continue membership. 

Please consider carefully the parameters I have laid out for this special group and if your child wishes to audition, please sign and turn in the permission form below. A student may not audition without a signed permission form. I look forward to a musically exciting year!

In Him,
Tamara Nelson