Saxophone Choir
This Summer on Sunday and Wednesday evenings
in Silver Spring MD
This summer Ms. Walsh will be leading two saxophone choirs in rehearsals and mini-recitals. We will get a chance to play REAL orchestral and choral music which has been arranged for saxophone choir and perform it at the highest level to show what the saxophone can really do!
As the first program for saxophone choir it is fitting that the theme this summer is choral and vocal music! Students will play arrangements from choral and opera works which fit a flexible saxophone ensemble.
Age ranges:
Lower group: Around middle school age depending on ability
Upper group: Around high school age depending on ability
A request for a different group will be considered and all students will need to submit a recommendation from a private saxophone teacher or band director.
Rehearsal times:
Lower groups Wednesdays and Sundays at 6 PM
Upper group Wednesdays and Sundays at 7:30 PM
Summer Schedule:
1st Session: June 19-30
Rehearsals: Wednesday June 19th, Sunday June 23, Wednesday June 26, Mini-recital Sunday June 30
Program: Lower- Mozart Ave Verum and Bach Chorale. Upper-Music from Bach B-minor Mass and Ravel Trois Chansons
2nd Session: July 3-14
Rehearsals: Wednesday July 3, Sunday July 7, Wednesday July 10, Mini-recital July 14
Program: Lower-Delibes Flower Duet and Bach Chorale. Upper-Music from Bach B-minor Mass and Faure Pavane for Orchestra and Choir
3rd Session: July 17-28
Rehearsals: Wednesday July 17, Sunday July 21, Wednesday July 24, Mini-recital July 28
Program: Lower-Music from Humperdink’s Hansel and Gretel opera and Offenbach Bacarole. Upper- C.M. Weber Hunter’s Chorus and Mendelsohn Op. 89
4th Session: July 31-August 11
Rehearsals: Wednesday July 31, Sunday August 4, Wednesday August 7, Mini-recital Sunday August 11
Program: Lower-Beethoven’s Ode to Joy and Stravinsky Ave Maria. Upper-Whitacre Sleep, Music from Bach's B-Minor Mass and tbd.
Learn More:
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Younger group: 6 PM to 7:30 PM
Older group: 7:30 PM to 9 PM
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Ms. Walsh’s studio close to downtown Silver Spring MD. Recitals will be in a church within a 10 minute drive from Silver Spring, TBD.
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The younger group will have music appropriate for middle school level all-county band, or around musical grade 2-3.
The older group will have music appropriate for difficult all-county or all-state band, or grade 3-5.
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No audition necessary, only a recommendation letter from either a band director or the student’s private lesson teacher. However it is helpful for placement if students send a short video to Maureen.S.Walsh1814@gmail.com.
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For this year there will be no requirements for how many of each saxophone we have except for baritone sax. Each choir will need one baritone sax but the rest will be flexible.
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There will be a maximum of 5 saxophonists in each group and it will be FIRST COME FIRST SERVED. If there are more saxophonists interested than can be accommodated Ms. Walsh will invite them to play on other days of the week depending on their schedule.
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No! Summer is a very busy time so to accommodate, students only need to attend at least 1 rehearsal to participate in the mini-recital. Pricing will then be adjusted to reflect the number of rehearsals attended.
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We will be giving mini-recitals on the last Sunday evening between 6-9 PM of each session, as well as a dress rehearsal on site.
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Tentatively the program is:
Younger group: Mozart Ave Verum, Delibes Flower Duet, Bach Chorales, Ode to Joy, Evening Prayer and Little Man in the Woods from the Opera Hansel and Gretel and Stravinsky Ave Maria.
Older Group: Faure Pavanne, Hunters Chorus from the Opera Der Freishutz, Ravel Trois Chansons, Music fom Bach’s B minor Mass, Whitacre Sleep
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Pricing per session is 120$ per student, or 450$ for the entire summer. Ms. Walsh’s current students will receive a discount of 20$ off of each session, or 80$ off of the entire summer.
Once the form below has been filled out Ms. Walsh will send information on making payments with several options (ex. Paypal or Venmo.)
Playing in a choir will allow students to go beyond preparing pieces. Together they will expand their technique including intonation, practice habits, air support, articulation and musicality. Knowing that a recital is coming up where everyone gets a chance to be heard is very motivating and the perfect way to spend the summer!