Ensembles and Important Course Information

Ensemble

Eligibility

Open to all students— no audition required

Open to all female students grades 10-12— no audition required

Open to all male students grades 10-12 by audition only

Open to all female students grades 11-12 by audition only

Highly selective mixed ensemble by audition only. Performance schedule is heaviest of all choral groups, approximately 40 performances per year in school and community.

Jazz Octet: Four advanced male students and four advanced female students , selected from Chamber Choir; sings popular music.

Festivals

Montgomery County mandates that high school music departments take at least one ensemble of each genre to the MCPS festival each year as a means of external assessment. Whitman ensembles consistently earn superior ratings at these events, and therefore are eligible to attend State festivals as well. While the State festivals are not mandatory, it is a tremendous honor to qualify year after year.

The competitions are run much the same way in both the county and state festivals. Three judges, each with a copy of our music in hand, provide us with written and verbal critiques.

Whereas there are some directors in the county who attend the minimum of two or three festivals per year, many enjoy the challenge and attend more. Each of the Whitman upper level groups are assessed two or three times annually.

Kept in the right positive spirit, the festival/competitions provide a set of goals to work towards and a wealth of positive feedback for both the music directors and the students. When a Whitman ensemble does well, a wonderful feeling of camaraderie is generated within the group of talented individuals who worked so hard for a common goal: musical excellence.

The list of festivals that are planned for the current school year can be found on the Calendar page.

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Concerts

Because each of the instrumental ensembles are performing groups, two major concert appearances are planned each year for parents, siblings, staff, and other students. Every winter, one concert is held before the holiday break. All ensembles participate, each performing two or three selections, including one that is usually prepared for the concert and one that will be taken to Festivals in the spring.

The second appearance for the ensembles is during the Walt Whitman Festival of the Arts, which is typically held in mid-May. This concert is very different than the winter concert as it is usually held in the school cafeteria over two nights with instrumental and choral groups sharing the stage. The larger Whitman community enjoys the Festival performances, which are presented in a very casual atmosphere.

The chamber choir performs a farewell concert in late May or early June.  Additionally, that ensemble has the heaviest concert schedule throughout the year, often performing as many as 40 times during one school year.

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Uniforms

Students will be fitted for uniforms during class early in the fall semester.

CONCERT DRESS FOR 2009-10 CHORAL GROUPS
Parents - please review the concert dress requirements for each group.  If any student is unable or unwilling to purchase concert attire, please contact Mr. Davidson.

Footwear - All Groups
Boys: Black dress shoes & black socks
Girls: Black dress shoes – character shoes are ideal, or plain black flats or low heels – no open toe, platforms, sandals or flip flops please! Neutral or no stockings.

General Chorus
Male Students
• White dress shirt, standard tie (any color), and suspenders
• Black dress pants for male students

Female Students
Provided by the student:
• White dress blouse
• Black long skirt. Students are asked to purchase floor length black skirt through the choral department.  (This skirt will also be used in Treble Chorale if student continues in the music program) .

Treble Chorale
•Students are asked to purchase concert dress through the choral department.

Men's Chorus
Provided by the school:
• Suit and tie
Provided by the student:
• White dress shirt (not button down)

Advanced Women's Chorus
•Students are asked to purchase concert dress through the choral department.

Chamber Choir
Male Students
Provided by the school:
• Tuxedo, tuxedo shirt, tuxedo tie

Female students
Provided by the school:
• Faux pearl necklace
Provided by the student:
•Students are asked to purchase concert dress through the choral department. 
• Black dress shoes

At the end of the school year:

Male students must return their tuxedos to the music room. Seniors and other students not performing at graduation should return their uniforms following Festival of the Arts. Students performing in the graduation ceremonies should return their uniforms after graduation. Uniforms must be turned in or final grades will be withheld.

If there are any questions about uniforms, please contact Mr. Davidson.

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