THE arts

GLEE CLUB *

No prerequisite. Open to students in grades 9 through 12.

Glee Club meets during the academic day and provides students with a comprehensive choral experience. The choir performs at chapel services and special events on and off campus. Repertoire includes sacred and secular choral music ranging from the Renaissance period through 21st-century composers.

CHAMBER ENSEMBLE *

Students must play at an intermediate level to register for the class. Open to students in grades 9 through 12.

String players and pianists may participate in this class to earn elective credit in the Fine Arts. Students learn a classical repertoire, enhance their musicianship, and practice ensemble skills and performance techniques. Chamber Ensemble meets one evening per week outside the class schedule and may perform on Fall and Spring Family Weekends and in the Lessons and Carols services at Christmas.

JAZZ ENSEMBLE *

Students must play at an intermediate level to register for the class. Open to students in grades 9 through 12.

Musicians in the VES Jazz Ensemble enjoy pushing themselves out of their comfort zone to learn the harmonics, rhythms and melodies of jazz, as well as exploring the art of improvisation. The repertoire ranges from big band jazz to Latin pieces to contemporary works. The Jazz Ensemble invites students with a range of experience and instruments, including beatboxers, classically trained vocalists, pianists and other string instrumentalists interested in applying their talents to jazz stylings. Jazz Ensemble meets two evenings per week outside the class schedule and may perform on Fall and Spring Family Weekends and in the Lessons and Carols services at Christmas.

* Each semester’s participation in a VES ensemble earns .5 credit. Students are encouraged to engage with the program for the full year.