"If I cannot fly, let me sing." Stephan Sondheim
ABOUT
The Dexter Community Schools Vocal Music Department strives to assist all members in becoming responsible musicians and informed music consumers. Students will experience music through singing, listening, moving, evaluating and studying works of different genres. We work hard to develop attitudes which will encourage further student growth and enjoyment throughout adult life. Students will develop positive self worth, musical interests and leadership skills through musical experiences. At each grade level, students will learn to read music through basic sight-reading and theory drills practiced on a daily basis. Members will achieve successful performance through focusing on intonation, rhythm, diction, balance, dynamics and phrasing.
Culminating in an accurate and expressive performance
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MEET THE DIRECTORS
Mrs. Julie Bassett, is currently Director of Choirs at Dexter High School, Mill Creek Middle School and Creekside Intermediate. Mrs. Bassett holds a BA in music and a BS in vocal and instrumental music education from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. She has completed Masters course work in Choral Performance from Eastern Michigan University, where she has worked under the direction of Dr. Leonard Riccinto and Trey Jacobs. This is Mrs. Bassett’s 14th year teaching in Dexter where she teaches sixth through twelfth grade choir and is the vocal director for their Drama Club.
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Mrs. Elizabeth Berghorst is currently the 5th grade choir teacher at Creekside Intermediate School and the general music teacher at Bates Elementary since 2016. Liz is also involved with the Dexter High School Drama Club. Previously, she has helped out with vocals for Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Lion King Jr. and On The Town. Mrs. Berghorst graduated with a Vocal Music Education degree from Hope College in 2011. Since then, she has taught elementary and choral music in several districts across the state before settling in the SE Michigan area with her husband, their son, and their golden retriever.
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Mr. Anthony Koch is directing the 6th grade choir at Creekside Intermediate school and teaching general music at Wylie Elementary. Mr. Koch studied classical guitar, piano, and voice while earning a bachelor's degree in vocal music education from Wayne State University. This is his third year teaching in Dexter. He is passionate about making music fun and dedicated to helping students become creative, driven, socially oriented, and culturally aware.
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"For the Love of Music" - Mill Creek and DHS Choirs Concert
NOVEMBER 5TH, 7PM
All Dexter High School and Mill Creek Choirs will be performing an evening celebrating our love of music. This concert will feature songs from many different styles and eras. This concert will have something for everyone. Students are called to the DHS Choir room at 6:15PM.
SIXTH GRADE ALL MUSIC CONCERT
DECEMBER 10TH, 7PM
Sixth grade music student from band, orchestra and choir join together for this musical showcase. Each group performs a few selections that they have been working on for the first few months of the school year. This concert is held in the Dexter High School Center for the Performing Arts at 7PM. Choir students are to wear dressy all black and should report to the HS choir room at 6:15PM.
MILL CREEK WINTER CHOIR CONCERT
DECEMBER 17TH, 7PM
Mill Creek Singers will perform a program of traditional folk songs, pop selections, winter themed music and student lead solos and small groups. Students are wearing dressy all black along with their choir tie or flower. This concert is held in the Dexter High School Center for the Performing Arts at 7PM. Students are called to the HS choir room at 6:30PM.
Dexter High School Choirs Winter Concert
DECEMBER 19TH, 7PM
All three high school choirs will join together to perform a program of traditional folk songs, pop selections, winter themed music and student lead solos and small groups. Students are wearing their choir uniform, including their choir robe for this performance. This concert is held in the Dexter High School Center for the Performing Arts at 7PM. Students are called to the HS choir room at 6:30PM.
HS SOLO AND ENSEMBLE
FEBRUARY 1ST
Soloists and small ensembles from the HS choirs will have the opportunity to participate in this festival and receive more individualized feedback. Chamber Choir and Descant Choir members are required to participate and will be divided into ensembles. It is strongly encouraged that students who are studying voice privately also participate as soloists. More information will be distributed in November.
MS SOLO AND ENSEMBLE
FEBRUARY 8TH
Soloists and small ensembles from the Mill Creek choir will have the opportunity to participate in this festival and receive more individualized feedback. . It is strongly encouraged that students who are studying voice privately participate as soloists. Mrs. Bassett is available to help ensembles by appointment before and after school. More information will be distributed in November.
ALL CHOIR CONCERT
FEBRUARY 25TH, 7PM
The All Choir Concert features all choral ensembles in Dexter from Fifth Grade all the way to Chamber Choir. This is a wonderful opportunity for the younger choirs to see what can look forward to in the choir program. Students are called at 6:30 to the choir room (Mill Creek and DHS Choirs) orchestra room (Fifth Grade Choir) Band Room (6th Grade Choir) to warmup for the Concert. Creekside Choirs are wearing dressy all black, Mill Creek all black with flower or tie and DHS robes with all black dress pants and closed toe dress shoes.
MS CHORAL FESTIVAL
MARCH 6TH and 7TH
The Mill Creek Choir will be hosting MSVMA District 12 Middle School Choral Festival at Dexter High School. Middle School choirs from all over Southeast Michigan will be participating. Each choir must perform two selections. Choirs receive adjudication from three performance adjudicators and one sight reading adjudicator. Written comments will support the scoring decisions of the adjudicators. This is an excellent opportunity for more feedback! . We will need lots of parent help for this event. Please let Mrs. Bassett know if you are available or follow the link to the sign up genius to sign up to volunteer. Mill Creek Choir will be bused to the high school before the end of the school day. They are performing at 3:15PM and will be ready to pick up form Dexter High School after 4:30PM.
HS CHORAL FESTIVAL
MARCH 11th
DHS Choirs will be traveling to Clarenceville High School in Livonia. More details available soon!
MAY 19TH, 7PM
The Dexter High School Choirs will perform an evening of musical theater. Come enjoy solos and chorus selections from your Favorite musicals. More details will be included as we enter 2nd semester.
DHS CHOIRS BROADWAY REVIEW
CREEKSIDE CHOIRS SPRING CONCERT
MAY 21ST, 7PM
The Fifth and Sixth Grade choirs perform in their final concert of the school year. This is typically a themed concert and students will dress in a way that enhances the theme. More details to follow.
MAY 28TH, 7PM
The Mill Creek Choir will perform an evening of musical theater. Come enjoy solos and chorus selections from your Favorite musicals. More details to follow.
MILL CREEK CHOIRS BROADWAY REVIEW
EXTRA OPPORTUNITIES AND SUMMER CAMPS
2018-2019 CONCERT RECORDINGS
2017-2018 CONCERT RECORDINGS
QUOTES
"Being in Dexter choirs allowed me to be creative and channel my musical interests. I got to know so many amazing people that I probably would’ve never been around otherwise. It was incredible to see hard work and collaboration turn into beautiful music."
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Randy Gesell
Class of 2017
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"Choir is a loving and accepting family and I would not give up my two years with them for anything. I loved every second of it and I will miss it the most about my time at Dexter High School."
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Reid Snider
Class of 2018
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"I love the choir. It’s such a fun, accepting group of people, and I think that everyone should try it at least once."
Haila Moazami 8th Grade, 2018
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Dexter Music Students Visit Ireland
The Dexter High School Choirs and Chamber Orchestra travel internationally every three years. This past March, we were fortunate enough to spend 7 days touring and performing in Ireland. Check out this video of a few of the highlights.
2017-2018 Concert Highlights
Watch this video of some of the
Concert Highlights of the 2017-2018 School Year.
