Throughout the year, there are many diverse opportunities to get involved in the chorus community at Hingham High School and beyond. Two of the many options are Choral Spectrum and Encore which both had their first meeting last Monday (9/15).
While they meet on the same days and both are conducted by Mr. Landis, the Hingham High School and Middle School chorus teacher, Choral Spectrum and Encore are entirely separate groups except for a handful of students who are involved in both.
Choral Spectrum is a higher commitment group and attendance is not excused for most things, unless it is along the lines of a doctor’s appointment, sports game, or mandatory conflict. In return for regular attendance, members acquire 1.5 credits for each year they participate. In previous years, students in HHS chorus could audition to join Choral Spectrum, but auditions are not required this year. The group meets every Monday, except when there are scheduling conflicts, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in room 197.
Encore is a non-audition group for anyone in a Hingham Public School chorus class from seventh to twelfth grade. Encore meets right before Choral Spectrum from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. There is more of a loose policy on attendance, partly because there is no academic gain from involvement. However, it is still required to attend practices in order to perform and participate in any of the other activities pertaining to the group. One of the major differences between the two is Encore typically goes to a festival in April, led by the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (more commonly called the MICCA festival). Last year was just the second year that Mr. Landis took the Encore group to MICCA where they earned a silver medal!
Even though not everyone has figured out how and where to fit Choral Spectrum and/or Encore into their schedules, there was a good turnout for the first meetings. Encore started learning the song “And So it Goes” by Billy Joel, with the group split into three voice parts. There was no song picked out for the first rehearsal of Choral Spectrum, so the group spent most of their time looking through old sheet music from past years to figure out what they wanted to sing first this year.
Many people in both ensembles have had different experiences with chorus and the after school groups they have been a part of. Eighth grader, Harper Nickerson shares her feelings on the group saying, “I would describe Encore as one of my favorite activities after school with the best teacher. I chose to join Encore because I love to sing and get to sing with incredible people.”
Audrey Jones is a senior in both choral groups and has participated in them for multiple years. She describes Encore as a community that is “supposed to unify the middle and high schools and give them a chance to sing together and get to know each other. It’s also great to have a full ensemble that goes to competition instead of the individual Districts or All-States.” In her words, Choral Spectrum is “a great way for Junior Choral Spectrum to continue into high school and for kids who just want a little extra challenge in chorus to have a space to do that outside of the class.” Both Harper and Audrey highly recommend joining Encore and Choral Spectrum as a way to stay connected in the community and to get to know others with the same interest.
Joining either of group helps create a support system eager to see everyone succeed and be included. It is a great experience for people who have done chorus for a while, very little, or never at all because Encore and Choral Spectrum are for people who want to better their singing abilities and music knowledge.
