PINE VIEW HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL & VOCAL MUSIC
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      • 2022 - 2023 Concert Recordings >
        • NAU Jazz Mad 2023
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        • Fall Concert (October 5, 2022)
      • 2021 - 2022 Concert Recordings
      • 2020 - 2021 Concert Recordings
      • 2019 - 2020 Concert Recordings >
        • Christmas Concert (December 18, 2019)
        • Handbells First Quarter Videos 2019
        • Fall Concert (October 16, 2019)
      • 2018 - 2019 Concert Recordings >
        • State Choir (May 11, 2019)
        • Region Choir (April 3, 2019)
        • NAU Jazz Mad 2019
        • Fall Concert (October 17, 2018)
        • Christmas Concert (December 18, 2018)
      • 2017 - 2018 Concert Recordings >
        • Spring Concert and Awards (May 16, 2018)
        • State S&E and Choir (April 28 and May 12, 2018)
        • Festivals and Chamber Concert (May 1 & 2, 2018)
        • NAU Jazz / Mad (February 10, 2018)
        • Christmas Concert (December 13, 2017)
        • Fall Concert (October 4, 2017)
      • 2016 - 2017 Concert Recordings >
        • Spring Concert (May 16, 2017)
        • State Solo & Ensemble (April 28, 2017)
        • Christmas Concert (December 15, 2016)
        • Fall Choir Concert (Sept 28, 2016)
      • 2015 - 2016 Concert Recordings >
        • Festivals Concert 2016
        • State Choir 2016
        • NAU Jazz / Mad 2016
        • SUPAF 2016
        • Christmas Concert (Dec 16, 2015)
        • Fall Concert (Sept 30, 2015)
      • 2014 - 2015 Concert Recordings >
        • State Choir, May 16, 2015
        • Spring Concert, May 13, 2015
        • Combined with DSU at Eccles, April 29, 2015
        • State Solo and Ensemble, April 25, 2015
        • Festivals Concert, April 22, 2015
        • Region Large Choir, April 8, 2015
        • Region Solo and Ensemble -- March 18, 2015
        • Combined with MMHS at Eccels March 25, 2015
        • Take Note! January 28, 2015
        • Christmas Concert Dec. 3 2014
        • Fall Concert 2014 (High School)
        • Fall Concert 2014 (Middle School)
      • 2013 - 2014 Concert Recordings >
        • Graduation May 22, 2014
        • CA Trip National Anthem April 12, 2014
        • State Large Choir May 9, 2014
        • State Solo & Ensemble April 26 2014
        • DSU Ladies Choir Festival April 1, 2014
        • Region Large Choir 2014
        • Green Valley Chamber Invitational March 21, 2014
        • Take Note Concert, January 31, 2014
        • Washington All-County Honor Choir 2014
        • 2013 Christmas Concert
        • The King and I PVHS Live Cast Recording 2013
        • 2013 Fall Concert
      • 2012 - 2013 Concert Recordings >
        • 2013 NAU Jazz / Mad Festival
        • 2013 Region Choir Festival
        • 2013 Festivals Concert
        • 2013 State Solo and Ensemble (Highlights)
        • 2013 Chamber Concert (SG Tabernacle)
      • 2011 - 2012 Concert Recordings >
        • 2012 NAU Jazz / Mad Festival
        • 2012 CD "This Train"
    • Past CD Recordings >
      • 2009 - 2010 CD Recording
      • 2006 - 2007 CD Recording
      • 2001 - 2002 CD Recording
      • 1994 - 1995 CD Recording
    • Utah All-State and Honor Choir Recordings >
      • 2017 All-State Choir (Ryan Murphy) and 2018 Honor Choir
      • 2016 All-State and Honor Choir
      • 2015-16 All-State and Honor Choir
      • 2014-15 All-State and Honor Choir
      • 2009 Utah All-State Choir, James Jordan
  • The Choirs
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      • Readings
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      • Trilogy Audition Page
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      • Trilogy: The Ancestors
    • Triumph!
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    • Handbell Choir
    • Auditions
    • Outfitting
  • Class Sites
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    • Trilogy Class Site >
      • Trilogy Class Site
      • Twa Tanbou Resources
    • AP Music Theory
    • Handbells
    • Music 1010
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    • Power in Progress
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    • 2012 - 2013 Awards
  • About Us / Contact Us
    • About PV and the Choirs
    • About the Choir Council
    • About the Director
    • Contact Us
  • Resources
    • Into the Woods Resources
    • Music Sterling Scholar
    • All-State Choir >
      • 2014 All-State Choir
      • 2013 All-State Choir
    • UMEA Honor Choir >
      • 2017 UMEA Honor Choir
      • 2016 UMEA Honor Choir
      • 2015 Utah Honor Choir
    • WCSD Honor Choir >
      • 2016 WCSD Honor Choir
      • 2014 WCSD Honor Choir
      • 2015 WCSD Middle School Select Choir
    • CATS: Musical Resources
    • Music Stores and Solo Books
  • What's New?
  • SUPAF Choir (February 11, 2020)
PictureSolo and Ensemble Festival
Solo and Ensemble Festivals

     In February, PVHS hosts the Pine View Cone Site Solo and Ensemble Festival.  For high school students, region S&E is held in March and the Utah State S&E Festival is held at the end of April.
     Solo and Ensemble Festival is just what it sounds like...a festival where choral and vocal students and other musicians get together and perform either in ensembles (groups of two or more) or as a soloist with a piano accompanist. This event is, in some ways, similar to an audition, and in some ways is similar to a concert. Participants play in a room in front of a judge, and are given a performance rating and comments - however, they are not compared to others, but are given a rating based on their individual performance.  High school students (9–12) may qualify at the Cone Site Festival to participate in the Region Nine Vocal and Piano Solo and Ensemble.  Entrants in the region festival may qualify to participate in the State Festival.

Choosing a Piece of Music

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You'll want to make sure you choose something that isn't too hard to learn (but one that will challenge you slightly is good), and that you actually like. A good way to pick is to narrow it down by difficulty, for starters. It really is just a matter of flipping through books, sight-reading, and making a choice. If you're doing an ensemble, make sure all the members agree on it, even if you are the appointed "leader".
     A great example of a place to find a solo piece would be, "First Book of Soprano Solos," published by G. Schirmer or "Folk Songs for Solo Singers," published by Alfred Publishing.  You can order these, and many other solo books, through any music store that sells sheet music or online.  See the "Resources" tab for recommended books and music store contact information.
     Ensemble pieces could be anything that you have performed with your choir or other pieces that you might be aware of.  Consider looking at "www.JWPepper.com" for choral sheet music and you can order through them or through a music store.

I have a solo book.  How do I choose a piece?

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Once you have a book, you will wonder, "How do I choose a song?" especially if you don't recognize any of the titles.  This is where the work comes in.  Plunk the melody out on a piano or have someone play it for you.  Use the included CD or look for the song on YouTube (careful that you have the right version of the song and that, if you are going to use the YouTube version for practice, it is in the same key as your music.  Your music teacher or vocal coach can help you with that.  If you are working on your own, tempos that are "Moderato or Andante or Largo" (slower tempos) are easier to work with and tempos marked "Allegro or Vivace" (faster tempos) can work if you have a voice coach or a good recording.  You might choose to include a foreign language (usually more effective with a vocal coach).
     Ultimately you need to choose something that you love and can be passionate about.  You need to like the song and remember that this is a long process and you will get to know this song well, so choose something that you can stay interested in.

Accompaniment

Solo pieces require live piano accompaniment.  Ask around to find you who plays the piano and would be willing to give you some time.  Make sure that you give an accompanist plenty of time to see the music before the festival.  If you hire an accompanist, you can expect to pay between $20 and $50 which would probably include one rehearsal before the festival, a run-through at festival in the warm-up room.  Some books come with a CD backtrack (and sometimes a vocal guide track as well).  Use that CD to practice and practice and practice.  Make sure that you run through the song with your live accompanist a time or two before the festival.

Performance Tips

  • It is almost impossible to practice too much.  You should know the piece very well.  You should have worked out the parts that you struggle with before you get to the festival.
  • You absolutely must have the original copy of your piece to give you the judge, not a photocopy.  Yes, this means give the judge your book (erase personal markings).
  • Have something worked out between either you and the other people in your ensemble or you and your pianist to signal each other when to play, so you start off together. Forgetting this and messing up can cause a seriously awkward moment, and may affect your score.
  • Dress up.  Demonstrate your respect for your craft by dressing up according to the score you would like to receive.
  • Some districts have a list of "approved" solos and ensembles that you have to pick from to play. Don't get too attached to a piece of music that you like until you've checked to make sure it's approved.  Pop, jazz and most musical theater are not appropriate at a Solo and Ensemble Festival (unless the directions state otherwise).
  • Just have fun. This isn't an audition - how you do is just a score, and it's not determining anything important. Don't stress over it.
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  • Calendar
  • Events
    • Japanese Hosting
    • Utah All-State Choir
    • Take Note!
    • Utah State Honor Choir
    • Singing Valentines >
      • Singing Valentines Contact Page
    • SUPAF
    • Solo and Ensemble Festivals
    • State Large Choir Festival
  • Media
    • Rehearsal Recordings
    • Photos
    • Concert Recordings >
      • 2022 - 2023 Concert Recordings >
        • NAU Jazz Mad 2023
        • Christmas Concert (HS & MS) 2022
        • Fall Concert (October 5, 2022)
      • 2021 - 2022 Concert Recordings
      • 2020 - 2021 Concert Recordings
      • 2019 - 2020 Concert Recordings >
        • Christmas Concert (December 18, 2019)
        • Handbells First Quarter Videos 2019
        • Fall Concert (October 16, 2019)
      • 2018 - 2019 Concert Recordings >
        • State Choir (May 11, 2019)
        • Region Choir (April 3, 2019)
        • NAU Jazz Mad 2019
        • Fall Concert (October 17, 2018)
        • Christmas Concert (December 18, 2018)
      • 2017 - 2018 Concert Recordings >
        • Spring Concert and Awards (May 16, 2018)
        • State S&E and Choir (April 28 and May 12, 2018)
        • Festivals and Chamber Concert (May 1 & 2, 2018)
        • NAU Jazz / Mad (February 10, 2018)
        • Christmas Concert (December 13, 2017)
        • Fall Concert (October 4, 2017)
      • 2016 - 2017 Concert Recordings >
        • Spring Concert (May 16, 2017)
        • State Solo & Ensemble (April 28, 2017)
        • Christmas Concert (December 15, 2016)
        • Fall Choir Concert (Sept 28, 2016)
      • 2015 - 2016 Concert Recordings >
        • Festivals Concert 2016
        • State Choir 2016
        • NAU Jazz / Mad 2016
        • SUPAF 2016
        • Christmas Concert (Dec 16, 2015)
        • Fall Concert (Sept 30, 2015)
      • 2014 - 2015 Concert Recordings >
        • State Choir, May 16, 2015
        • Spring Concert, May 13, 2015
        • Combined with DSU at Eccles, April 29, 2015
        • State Solo and Ensemble, April 25, 2015
        • Festivals Concert, April 22, 2015
        • Region Large Choir, April 8, 2015
        • Region Solo and Ensemble -- March 18, 2015
        • Combined with MMHS at Eccels March 25, 2015
        • Take Note! January 28, 2015
        • Christmas Concert Dec. 3 2014
        • Fall Concert 2014 (High School)
        • Fall Concert 2014 (Middle School)
      • 2013 - 2014 Concert Recordings >
        • Graduation May 22, 2014
        • CA Trip National Anthem April 12, 2014
        • State Large Choir May 9, 2014
        • State Solo & Ensemble April 26 2014
        • DSU Ladies Choir Festival April 1, 2014
        • Region Large Choir 2014
        • Green Valley Chamber Invitational March 21, 2014
        • Take Note Concert, January 31, 2014
        • Washington All-County Honor Choir 2014
        • 2013 Christmas Concert
        • The King and I PVHS Live Cast Recording 2013
        • 2013 Fall Concert
      • 2012 - 2013 Concert Recordings >
        • 2013 NAU Jazz / Mad Festival
        • 2013 Region Choir Festival
        • 2013 Festivals Concert
        • 2013 State Solo and Ensemble (Highlights)
        • 2013 Chamber Concert (SG Tabernacle)
      • 2011 - 2012 Concert Recordings >
        • 2012 NAU Jazz / Mad Festival
        • 2012 CD "This Train"
    • Past CD Recordings >
      • 2009 - 2010 CD Recording
      • 2006 - 2007 CD Recording
      • 2001 - 2002 CD Recording
      • 1994 - 1995 CD Recording
    • Utah All-State and Honor Choir Recordings >
      • 2017 All-State Choir (Ryan Murphy) and 2018 Honor Choir
      • 2016 All-State and Honor Choir
      • 2015-16 All-State and Honor Choir
      • 2014-15 All-State and Honor Choir
      • 2009 Utah All-State Choir, James Jordan
  • The Choirs
    • Concert Choir >
      • Readings
      • Evaluation Media
    • Trilogy >
      • Trilogy Audition Page
      • About Trilogy
      • 2017 - 2018 Trilogy
      • 2016 - 2017 Trilogy
      • 2015 - 2016 Trilogy
      • 2014 - 2015 Trilogy
      • Trilogy Policies and Procedures
      • Trilogy: Current Members
      • Trilogy: The Ancestors
    • Triumph!
    • Les Chanteurs
    • Men's Choir
    • Handbell Choir
    • Auditions
    • Outfitting
  • Class Sites
    • Choir Assignments
    • Trilogy Class Site >
      • Trilogy Class Site
      • Twa Tanbou Resources
    • AP Music Theory
    • Handbells
    • Music 1010
  • Awards and Progress
    • Power in Progress
    • 2013 - 2014 Awards
    • 2012 - 2013 Awards
  • About Us / Contact Us
    • About PV and the Choirs
    • About the Choir Council
    • About the Director
    • Contact Us
  • Resources
    • Into the Woods Resources
    • Music Sterling Scholar
    • All-State Choir >
      • 2014 All-State Choir
      • 2013 All-State Choir
    • UMEA Honor Choir >
      • 2017 UMEA Honor Choir
      • 2016 UMEA Honor Choir
      • 2015 Utah Honor Choir
    • WCSD Honor Choir >
      • 2016 WCSD Honor Choir
      • 2014 WCSD Honor Choir
      • 2015 WCSD Middle School Select Choir
    • CATS: Musical Resources
    • Music Stores and Solo Books
  • What's New?
  • SUPAF Choir (February 11, 2020)