About Our Choirs
Concert Choir, Beginning Choir, Spectrum Singers, Madrigal Singers, Viking Men's Chorus
Concert Choir
Palo Alto High School has an impressive 80 year tradition of excellence in choral and vocal music. The 68-voice Concert Choir for 2009-2010 is chosen from the 1600 student campus and represents its finest singers.
The Concert Choir has made its mark by performing masterworks of the great composers, including Gabriel Faure's Requiem, Franz Schubert's Mass in G, Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria, Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Morten Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna, and have commissioned works from Chanticleer's Joseph Jennings.
Members of the choir have performed in, and been recognized for outstanding performances in the All-State and Regional Honor Choirs and various choral festivals throughout the state. Recent alumni are pursuing musical careers at Chapman, Vanderbuilt, Northwestern, USC, UC Santa Cruz, University of Santa Clara, Harvard and Stanford.
In June of 2004 the Choir finished a successful tour of Spain and France culminating in a performance at La Madeleine in the heart of Paris. In summer of 2006 the Choir performed to standing room audiences in Brazil and were featured on Brazilian television. In 2008 the Choir completed a successful tour of Mexico where they received special recognition from the state of Jalisco for their performance at the School of the Arts in Guadalajara. In summer 2010 the Choir will embark on a European tour to include performances in Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Prague.
The Concert Choir has received unanimous Superior rating at 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 California Music Educators Association (CMEA) festivals in performance and sight-reading. At Anaheim Heritage Festival in 2007 and 2009 the Choir received the Sweepstakes Award, the highest honor for a choral group. In the spring of 2009 the Choir was honored to be selected by a panel of University adjudicators as a top high school choir in the area to perform in the Golden State Choral Competition. In their first ever appearance at the Golden State Choral Invitational the Choir was awarded 4th place and was acknowledged for this rare achievement.
The Choir has been asked three times to be in the Chanticleer High School Choral Festival. The Choir has again been invited and will be there in March 2010 when the Festival becomes national and takes place at Davies Symphony Hall.
Beginning Choir
In 2009 our Beginning Choir performed in its first ever CMEA festival. The all-freshman Beginning Choir received rave reviews and special recognition for a terrific performance. Adjudicators noted that other Beginning Choirs rarely have sung to such a high level and have never before opted to sight-read. One Adjudicator gave them a rating of 97/100 for performance. The choir received an overall rating of Excellent.
Spectrum Singers
The advanced women's chorus is an auditioned ensemble of 15 members that performs the most challenging treble choir music. They have recently performed works by Maurice Durufle, Benjamin Britten, J.S. Bach, Randall Thompson, Vincent Persichetti and others. Although they spend much time working on demanding music they also find time to perform popular songs, jazz standards and world music.
The Spectrum Singers received a unanimous superior rating at 2007 CMEA festival in performance and sight-reading. They received the Gold Award, the highest honor for a women's group, at Anaheim Heritage Festival in 2007 and 2009.
Madrigal Singers
With its inception in 1967, the Madrigal Singers have become a staple in the Palo Alto Community. This ensemble, ranging from 8 to 24 singers, is an auditioned group of excellent musicians. During the winter Holidays season the Madrigals are in demand throughout the city for their authentic performances, strong musicianship, and fine singing. Their annual Madrigal Dinner features them in full costume celebrating the great music and drama during the reign of Henry VIII.
The Madrigal Singers received a unanimous Superior rating at 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 CMEA festival in performance and sight-reading.
Viking Men's Chorus
The Viking Men's Chorus meets at lunchtime, before and after school to sing the great tradition of Men's Glee club music and Barbershop. Membership is open to all interested young men, no experience necessary.