Regional High School Honors Choirs

The High School Honors Choir program offers Regional Honors Choirs, State Honors Choirs and an All-State Honors Choir.


The Regional Honors Choirs program includes: 
Up to four singers per voice part may audition with each school sending no more than 32 singers. Example: 4 Soprano I, 4 Soprano II, 4 Alto I, 4 Alto II, etc. For Regional auditions only, substitutions of the same voice part will be permitted up to three days prior to the event. Example: Soprano I for a different Soprano I.


Membership into all honors choirs is open by audition to students from Michigan schools holding a current (paid membership fees) MSVMA membership. Those auditioning must be members in good standing in their school’s vocal music program.


Singers will audition online individually on their own voice part. The audition piece must be sung in its entirety without accompaniment. Please refer to the instructions and guidelines below.


In each region, a choir will be chosen with a maximum of 170 singers. Participating schools will be notified of the audition results by email. Individual scores will not be released.


Singers chosen for the Regional Honors Choirs will rehearse and perform in December. The repertoire will be the same in all regions including the regional audition selection, two SSAA selections, two TTBB selections and one SATB selection. A performance will take place at the end of the day.


Audition Guideline & Procedures

Please be sure to read the instructions carefully and strive to submit your application earlier than the deadline.

All HS Regional Honors Choir Auditions must be submitted online. Travel to a regional audition site will not be required. Signature forms for parents, directors, and principals WILL NOT BE NEEDED FOR THIS ROUND OF AUDITIONS either.


Important Information

  • Online Audition Start Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024

  • Online Audition Submissions DUE: Thursday, October 10, 2024

  • Audition Fee: $15 per student due October 10, 2024


Audition Information

Each director will upload audition videos to their individual YouTube channel.

Videos should be marked as “Unlisted.”

Use the MSVMA Wild Apricot event link to submit all necessary student, director, and school information. Copy and paste the YouTube video link into the appropriate field.

  • DO NOT include any school identifying information either in the video and/or audio recording or in the file name.

  • A full body frame must be visible: head to toe.

  • All auditions must be performed in the voice part listed on your school's application. (If your Director listed you as Tenor 1, do not sing a part other than Tenor 1.)

  • All auditions must be performed a cappella, but the piece does NOT need to be memorized.

  • Introduce yourself: First Name, Last Name, Voice Part, and Title of the Piece before singing to ensure accuracy during the adjudication process. 

  • Preview your audition before you submit, ensuring the product best captures and presents your work. Ensure the image is upright (not sideways).

  • The use of a microphone is limited to recording purposes only. No artificial amplification may be used.

  • No sound enhancements are allowed.

  • Record your audition in one take. Film edits within a piece are not allowed.

  • Failure to follow audition guidelines and requirements will disqualify your submission.


Regional High School Honors Choir Audition Application


Fees

Audition: $15

Regional: $40
State: $110


Regions
Region A:
Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 (except Allegan and Barry counties)
Region B: Districts 6, 8, 10 (Allegan and Barry counties), 11
Region C: Districts 4, 12, 15, 16
Region D: Districts 13, 14

    Emily Verdonk
    Director of Honors Choirs
    emilyverdonk@msvma.org


    Anna Bolton

    State Honors Choir High School Supervisor

    annabolton@msvma.org

    2024 - 2025 Schedule

    September 3    Regional Honors Choir online auditions open 

    October 10       Regional Honors Choir online                                                              auditions deadline 

    October 25       Regional Honors Choir/State auditions        registration deadline

      Midnight         

    December 7      Regional Honors Choir - State auditions

    December 20    State Honors Choir registration deadline

       Midnight

    January 23-25   State Honors Choir rehearsal and                                                       performance at MMC


    The High School Honors Choir Audition selection is:

    Ave Verum Corpus - Byrd


    Rehearsal Tracks


    If you notice an error with a rehearsal track, please email Director of Honors Choir, Emily Verdonk, at emilyverdonk@msvma.org. We will promptly address the issue!

    2024 - 2025 State Honors Choirs Directors 

    HS SATB 

    Erin Colwitz, Director

    HS SSAA

    Eric Reyes, Director

    HS TTBB

    Steven Lorenz, Director


    Region A

    Hope College

    Jack Miller Center for Musical Arts

    221 Columbia Avenue

    Holland, MI  49423

    Host: Eric Reyes

    Region B
    Western Michigan University
    Kalamazoo
    Host:  Kevin West

    Region C

    Allen Park High School

    18401 Champaign Rd

    Allen Park, MI 48101

    Host: Jaylon Sims

    Region D
    Bethany Lutheran Church
    202 South 11th Street
    Escanaba
    Host:  John Beck

    Candice Sytsma

    Region A

    State SSAA Coordinator

    csytsma@grcs.org

    Maxwell Trombley

    Region B

    State SATB Coordinator

    maxwelltrombley@msvma.org


    Jaylon Sims

    Region C

    State TTBB Coordinator

    sims@appublicschools.com

    Sydney Ogren

    Region D Coordinator

    sogren@eskymos.com


    Consideration for All-State Honors Choir

    Students who wish to be considered for the All-State Honors Choir should indicate their interest on the Region Day/State Application Form and confirm their willingness to participate by signing the form.  For more information on All State click here


    Audition pieces will be the following:

    2024: Ave Verum Corpus - Byrd (ed. Morehen)

    2025: O Vos Omnes - Victoria

    2026: Sicut Cervus - Palestrina (ed. Hofstader)

    2027: Jubilate Deo - Orlando de Lassus (ed. Klein)

    2028: Exsultate Justi - Viadana (ed. Klein)


                                                   

     State Music Provided By:


                                                                                                      

    Michigan School Vocal Music Association

    P.O. Box 1131

    Big Rapids, MI 49307-1131

    (231) 592 - 9344

    GuideStar

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