Darby Choir

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Honors Choir 400, known as Symphonic Choir, is a very select choir and is the school’s most advanced performing group in the field of vocal music. Members are selected by auditioning interested students. Ability to read music is assumed on the part of the student. During the year, this group presents choral concerts which consist of music drawn from classical, sacred to contemporary genres. The chorus meets five periods per week, and performs a rigorous schedule of performances, including but not limited to in-school concerts, OMEA Adjudicated Events, and possible convention performances and clinics. Permission of the instructor is required. A choir camp/retreat is part of this course.

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor is Required / Audition Required

Choir 300, known as Chorale, is a select choir. Members are selected by auditioning interested students. Some ability to read music is assumed on the part of the student. During the year, this group presents choral concerts which consist of music drawn from classical, sacred, and popular fields. The may perform at various functions throughout the year—concerts, OMEA Adjudicated events, and various invitations. The chorus meets five periods per week. Permission of the instructor is required.

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor is Required / Audition Required

Concert Choir Soprano is open to all treble students who are interested in singing and performing. This choir may perform at various functions throughout the year—concerts, OMEA adjudicated events, and various invitations. This group will focus on developing proper vocal production and technique.

None

Concert Choir Tenor is open to all tenor and bass students who are interested in singing and performing. This choir may perform at various functions throughout the year—concerts, OMEA adjudicated events, and various invitations. This group will focus on developing proper vocal production and technique

None

Polyphonix is a select small choir. Members are selected through an after-school audition. Students must demonstrate the needed proficiency in reading music. Polyphonix performs a wide variety of literature ranging from Renaissance to contemporary pop a cappella. Polyphonix has a rigorous schedule consisting of in-school performances/ concerts, community performances, and possible conventions, clinics, and competitions. Polyphonix requires after school rehearsal and performance commitments.

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor is Required / Audition Required

Music theory and history are taught within the same Music Theory course sequence. The descriptions that follow are taken from the Hilliard City Schools High School Programs of Studies.

Music Theory 1/Music History 1: The course of study for theory includes music construction, arranging, ear training, sight singing, and conducting. The course of study for history (taught simultaneously in the same course) aims to present music as an art and a science. Music History 1 is a study of the progress of music through the ages. In this course, music studied will be from the Baroque, Romantic, and Classical music periods. Students who may continue in music are encouraged to take the Music Theory/History 1 course.

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor is Required

Music Theory 2/Music History 2: Music Theory 2 is a continuation of Music Theory 1 and includes further study in music construction, instrumental and choral arranging, ear training, sight singing, and conducting. The Music History 2 coursework focuses on the study of music history from the Romantic period (1820) to the present. The format of the course would allow for more individual instruction during the second semester.

Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor is Required

Darby Choir Program

Founded by accomplished composer/conductor/arranger, Dr. Michael G. Martin, the Hilliard Darby Choral Program is relentless in its quest for vocal excellence. Under the direction of Dr. Martin, Director of Choral Activities, and Mrs. Hannah Sterman-Wilson, Assistant Director of Choral Activities, the groups continually rank as one of the top choral programs in the country, receiving the highest ratings in local and international competitions. Darby choirs frequently tour throughout the United States and around Europe, including performances in Ireland, Italy, England, Washington D.C., New York, California, Hawaii, and more. Their concerts have been broadcast on national television and the BBC network. Whether singing in St. Paul’s and Salisbury Cathedrals, or receiving superior ratings at contests, Hilliard Darby Choir continues to pursue its craft, putting teamwork, technique, and musicality at the forefront.

The Hilliard Darby Choral Program consists of numerous choirs to meet the needs of the students: Concert Choir, Chorale, Polyphonix, Men’s Chorus, Treble Chorus, Men in Black, Belle Voce, and Symphonic Choir. Symphonic Choir has received national awards, including, most recently, winning third place for The American Prize’s BACON award, which honors choral performances of music by American composers. Symphonic Choir was also a finalist in The American Prize’s category for best high school choral program in the country. Symphonic Choir has performed at ten Ohio Music Education Association Conventions, and they have also performed for two American Choral Directors Association Central Division Conventions.

In 2008, Symphonic was chosen out of hundreds of entries from across the country as one of three high school choirs to perform the Duruflé Requiem at Carnegie Hall with Dr. Craig Jessop, the former conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the St. Luke’s Orchestra. In 2014, the choir was invited by Dr. Jessop to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. for the National Memorial Day Choral Festival. In the fall of 2015, Dr. Jessop was the Conductor in Residence at Hilliard Darby for a performance of Rutter’s “Mass of the Children.” For this concert, Symphonic Choir was joined by Una Voce (the newly formed Darby alumni choir) and the Columbus Children’s Choir.

A 2019 performance from Treble Chorus was featured at the Ohio Choral Directors Association summer conference, and all the Darby choirs have earned praise across numerous festivals, contests, and workshops for their mature tone, musicality, and technical ability. The choirs have worked with notable conductors such as Dr. Donald Neuen, Eric Whitacre, Dr. Ann Howard Jones, Professor James Gallagher, Dr. Eph Ely, Dr. Robert Ward, Dr. Kristina MacMullen, and, as mentioned previously, Dr. Craig Jessop.

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