Join Houston Choirs
FAQs
How do I join?
You can join Houston Choirs whenever you sign-up for courses at Houston High School. There is a choir for everyone! Some choirs require an audition.
What choirs are there?
Chorus | Beginner Mens/Womens Choir (9th-12th Grade)
Honors Treble Choir | Intermediate Treble Choir (9th-12th)
Honors Concert Choir | Advanced SATB Choir (9th-12th)
Fifth Measure | Advanced A Cappella (9th-12th)
Cadence | Intermediate Treble A Cappella (9th-12th, meets before school once a week)
What are after-school commitments?
All choir courses meet during the school day. The only after-school commitments are concerts, which are announced weeks in advance. Most concerts require a rehearsal prior to the start time. For example, a 7:00pm concert may require a 5:00pm rehearsal for singers.
Do I have to have previous choir experience?
No. All levels, including beginners, are welcome to join Houston Choirs at any grade.
What do auditions entail?
Chorus (Beginner Choir) does not require an audition. Simply sign-up when you register for classes.
​
Auditions for Honors Treble Choir and Honors Concert Choir requires a GoogleForms submission with an audio or video file of you singing the National Anthem and sight-reading. There may be in-person callbacks for Honors Concert Choir. If a student prefers to audition in person, they can reach out to the director.
The a cappella choirs, Fifth Measure and Cadence, require a separate audition. The first round is a GoogleForms video submission of you singing a pop song of your choosing. This video must be a cappella. The second round (callbacks) is in person and auditionees are to learn an assigned part in an a cappella arrangement.
​
​
Do I have to sing solos?
No, but students have many opportunities to sing solos if they want to.
Do you travel?
Yes! We travel every Spring Break and all choir students and their families are welcome to join. This trip is not required, but is a fun and educational opportunity for all travelers. We rotate domestic and international trip every year.
Italy, 2016
Chicago, 2017
Prauge and Vienna, 2018
Ireland, 2022
LA, 2023
Spain, 2024
NYC, 2025
​
​
​
​
Are there fees and uniforms?
There are course fees via MySchoolCash that help fund sheet music, clinicians, and concerts. Chorus is $50 and the Honor Choirs are $75. Fifth Measure is a separate fee paid via the Houston Choir Booster Club. Cadence has a $50 Club Fee.
​
All choirs requires the purchase of performance apparel. More information is shared at the beginning of the school year.
Can I take choir and be in other extracurriculars?
Yes! Because choir meets during the school day, after-school hours are available for extracurricular activities, such as sports and theatre. No choir meets during 4th period, so students can be in band. Many choir students participate in various activities and take one (or two!) choir courses every year along with AP/Honors/Dual Credit courses. Choir concerts are mandatory, but the director can be flexible with legitimate conflicts and work with families.
​
Houston Choirs has had representatives from every sport and fine arts course. The diversity of student interests keeps the program strong.
What do you do in class?
A typical choir rehearsal consists of warm-ups, sight-reading, and singing in a group or in sectionals with practice tracks. Some rehearsals are community-building days with celebrations and games.