High School Singers join newVoices

Our largest class of High School Master Singers (30young people!) will join us for the fall concert “Where in the World is newVoices?” The students are top choral singers from area high schools who are recommended by their choir teachers. As young singers, they have an opportunity to sing with a collegiate choral conductor in an ensemble of adult voices. They will ramp up their musical skills and learn that choral singing is something they can experience for a lifetime.This fall, we welcome students from the following high schools to our stage:Appleton West High SchoolAppleton East High SchoolAppleton Xavier High SchoolOshkosh North High SchoolWeyauwega-Fremont High SchoolOmro High SchoolFreedom High SchoolHortonville High SchoolKaukauna High SchoolKimberly High SchoolGreen Bay Southwest High SchoolGreen Bay East High SchoolDe Pere High SchoolWest De Pere High SchoolAshwaubenon High SchoolSeveral of these students’ teachers sing in newVoices, and assistant conductor Dan Van Sickle oversees the program. Dan is the choir director at Appleton East High School and says that young people learn being part of a choir doesn't end with high school and even that their teachers are “real people.” “It helps for the students to see teachers outside the classroom,” Dan said. “Students can see that, as music teachers, we are far from perfect - we have to practice, we make mistakes, and we learn just like everyone else does!”Students learn more challenging repertoire and rehearsal skills that will help them be better leaders in their choir classrooms. Teachers whose students participate in the program have seen first hand how it has been life changing and inspired some to pursue music education or music related careers.The higher level musical and rehearsal skills these students develop during this program make them better leaders in their own classrooms, so the effects are multiplied as the students share their experiences with their peers in their own school choirs. “And, of course,” Dan says, “singing harmony with your own students is just really cool!”