About the Choral/Vocal Program

Marina’s Choral/Vocal Program is considered a traditional choir program that focuses on:

Singing repertoire of vocal literature that represents various genres, styles and cultures with expression, technical accuracy, tone quality, vowel shape, and articulation.  Students will sing in small and large ensembles, with harmonies, with and without accompaniment.  Students will learn to read a vocal score and explain how the elements of music are used.  They will develop the ability to make informed critical evaluations of the quality and effectiveness of performances by comparing each with exemplary models. California State Music Standards,http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/muproficient.asp

Genres of music performed will include: classical (both sacred and secular), spirituals, musical theater, barbershop, jazz, and patriotic, among others. This is by no means a “Show Choir” program in which the choirs dance and sing in mini staged productions. While we will perform contemporary pop songs, rock and roll, and dance around on occasion, it is not the program’s focus.

What We Do:

The choirs participate in various activities throughout the year, including: four annual concerts (Fall, Holiday, Cafe Marina, and Spring), choir festivals (CSULB Chamber Invitational, Chapman Invitational, USC Chamber Invitational, Cerritos College Festival, Riverside Community College Festivals), Golden State Choral Competitions, small ensemble singing, holiday caroling, valentine grams, vocal solo competitions, performance tours over spring break (New York-2010, Seattle/Vancouver/Victoria-2011, Paris and Madrid–Spring 2012, San Francisco-2013), community performances and an end of the year awards banquet.  In addition, many of the choir students also participate in the annual school musical (Once Upon a Mattress-2009, The Pajama Game-2010, Guys and Dolls-2011, Anything Goes 2012 and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 2013).

The Choirs:

Viking Chamber Choir – mixed, auditioned, Advanced Music Honors credit

Valkyrie Ensemble – advanced women, auditioned, chorus 2

Concert Choir – mixed, large choir, auditioned, chorus 2

Norseman Choir – men, non-auditioned, chorus 1 & voice

Siren Chorus – women, non-auditioned, chorus 1 & voice

Vocal Jazz Ensemble – mixed, advanced, auditioned, rehearses after school. Must be currently enrolled in another Marina ensemble.