High School Opportunities

Let's Make Music Together!

We love to make music together and would love for you to join us! Each year EMU hosts multiple events for high school and community college musicians to partner with us. Please take a moment to see which opportunity is right for you.

Would you like a joint concert with the EMU Choir? Each year the EMU Choir travels to concert venues across Michigan and Ohio to sing joint concerts. Contact Brandon Johnson at [email protected] today if you have a date to consider.

On-Campus Opportunities

  • High School Honor Choir, November 10, 2023

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    Send a select group of your high school singers to the campus of EMU for a unique experience of high-level choral artistry. High Schools may only send balanced quartets at the recommendation of the choir teacher. 

    Fee: $35 per student for the Honor Choir. This includes two meals, a shirt, and the music.

    Our repertoire will be announced soon.

    To send an individual or mixed quartet of your singers, please contact the choral office [email protected].

     

    For the most up-to-date information please visit the Honor Choir webpage. 

     

  • Rising Stars Vocal Competition, November 18, 2023

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    Feature one of your fine singers at the Rising Stars Competition! Students can a $500.00 cash prize, an EMU voice Scholarship, and a performance on the EMU Honors Voice Recital. 

    Eligibility 

    • Open to all Michigan & Ohio High School Singers
    • The competition will accept the first 36 applications
    • The competition will be canceled if there are fewer than 24 applications
    • High School Choral Directors may recommend up to 6 singers
    • Applications must be submitted by a High School Choral Director or Private voice coach.

    Repertoire

    • One Song or aria from any genre not to exceed 5 minutes
    • Application Fee:
    • $25.00 per student
    • $25.00 for staff pianist, if needed

    For questions please contact: Dr. Robert Peavler

  • Invitational  High School Choral Festival - April 6, 2024

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    Would you like your students to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Johnson, the EMU Choir and and a Guest Composer? Contact us today to see if there is room for your singers at this special set of events. 

    This event is open to all SATB across Michigan and Ohio. You do not need to be selected as a solo-performing ensemble to join us for this outstanding day of choral music. All attending choruses will combine to make a large Festival Chorus and will spend the day learning from our outstanding guest clinician. Individuals and quartets from schools are also encouraged to participate.

    In addition, we will invite several of the most accomplished high school choral ensembles to give a solo performance on the Pease Auditorium Stage. Each participating ensemble will receive a private master-class with Dr. Brandon Johnson and will join the EMU Festival Honor Choir for a day of music making with our festival conductor.

    Fee: $35 per student for each event.

    For the most up-to-date information please visit the Choral Festival Webpage.

  • Choral Workshop - You pick the day.

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    Would you like to inspire your choir? Bring your singers to EMU for an afternoon of choral and voice activities. Your students will learn from world-class music faculty and sing next to mature college musicians. You pick the date. Your choir can receive individual attention and grow tremendously in this one-day event. All within the context of a school day.

    Schedule

    Each day is tailored to meet your needs. We hope to help your singers grow from where they are into the next step. Specific requests can be addressed as the details for your visit are solidified.

    For more details contact us at [email protected].

    Sample Schedule

    • 9 a.m. Master-class with voice faculty

    • 10 a.m. Choral clinic with Dr. Johnson

    • 11:30 a.m. Lunch

    • 1 p.m. Sing with the EMU Choir

    • 2 p.m. Depart for home

    Comments

    "As soon as we got on the bus, the students started singing their choir music using the techniques you just taught them. Today during choir rehearsal, the students came right in and concentrated on all you taught them. It was awesome. What a great experience for them." – Visiting Teacher

  • EMU Conductors Symposium, April 15, 2023

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    The EMU Conductors Symposium is intended to help you and your students better prepare to lead this academic year! Join us for a fantastic day of connection and discussion.

    Track 1 Teacher Refresh

    Current middle and high school teachers will benefit from this event focused on improving gesture, score study and rehearsal techniques lead by Dr. Brandon Johnson.

    Track 2 High School Students

    Here at Eastern, we believe the sooner you begin your conducting study, the better. High school section leaders, student conductors and students considering a music major are a perfect fit to join us for the day.

    Join us on September 27 to spend the day with the EMU choral faculty and students learning and talking about conducting.

    Registration Fee: $25 (includes music). To register, please email: [email protected]

    Tentative Schedule

    • 8:15 a.m. - Meet and greet

    • 8:30 a.m. - Score Study Session

    • 9:30 a.m. - Rehearsal Techniques Session

    • 10 a.m. - Conducting Gesture Session

    • 11 a.m. - Musical Imagination

    • Noon - Lunch

    • 1 p.m. - EMU Chamber Choir Rehearsal with selected student conductors

    • 3 p.m. - Symposium ends

Off-Campus Visits

  • Vocal Arts Outreach- You pick the day

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    Would you like to have members of the Eastern Michigan University voice faculty come to your school and help your students prepare their solo repertoire? Just contact us with your interest and we will set up a date for a visit to your school at no cost to you or your program.

    The goal of the EMU Vocal Arts Outreach Program is to help young singers prepare for upcoming solo and ensemble performances and scholarship auditions.

    The EMU voice faculty is committed to helping further quality solo voice singing across the state and our voice faculty can help teachers prepare their students for further success.

    Students will receive private voice lessons and instruction in diction, stage demeanor, beginning pedagogy and performance anxiety.

  • MSVMA Solo and Ensemble Voice Teacher Visit - You pick the day.

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    Need a little help preparing your singers for MSVMA Solo and Ensemble? We can help. To invite members of the Eastern Michigan University voice faculty come to your school, just contact us with your interest and we will set up a date for a visit to your school at no cost to you or your program.

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