"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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DEXTER HIGH SCHOOL
CHAMBER CHOIR

The Dexter High Chamber Choirs is a select audition choir that rehearses daily. This choir features our most advanced singers in grades 9-12. The Chamber Choir performs a broad range of music from jazz and pop to major choral works. The DHS choirs have a rigorous performance schedule that changes each year to add variety to the literature we learn from and for the enjoyment of the community of Dexter.  The DHS Chamber Choir has been under the direction of Mrs. Julie Bassett for the last eleven years.  During this time, the choir have consistently received Excellent and Superior ratings at MSVMA District and State Choral Festivals.  The choir has also performed several major works in combination with the outstanding Dexter Orchestra and Bands. The Dexter Choirs have participated in the Ann Arbor Symphony's Winter Pops Concert at Hill Auditorium and tours regularly. Most recently to Ireland, Germany, New York and Chicago.

MEET THE DIRECTORS

Mrs. Julie Bassett, is currently Director of Choirs at Dexter High School and Mill Creek Middle School. 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. Mrs. Bassett has been teaching in Dexter since 2006 where she has directed the sixth through twelfth grade choirs 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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2020-2021 CONCERT DATES TBA

This will be updated as MSVMA releases more information about these events.

Concert dates have been scheduled but may not happen in person due to COVID 19. More information will be published as we develope our plans to return to school in person later this school year.

MSVMA OPPORTUNITIES 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR

Musical Theatre Intensive - October 24

Art Song Lessons/Lectures - Date TBD

Solo & Ensemble Festival - Submission deadline of December 15 Festival will include traditional S&E participants and Musical Theatre Festival participants. Musical Theatre participation is extended to include 7th and 8th-grade students. Students will receive a rubric adjudication and a clinic experience.

Choral Festival - Submission deadline of March 31 Festival will include traditional choral festival participants, Chamber Choir Festival participants, and A Cappella Festival participants. Participants will receive an area-specific rubric adjudication from one MSVMA adjudicator as well as a clinic experience.

Honors Choir Choirs - Submission deadline TBD (late fall) Three virtual honors choirs will be professionally produced Middle School/High School/Vocal Jazz. No audition to participate. Submissions may mark application for potential adjudication and consideration for an “All-State” level project or ensemble. Each virtual honors choir will perform a different piece of music from a composer/director (TBD). Directors will lead Zoom rehearsals throughout the fall to prepare and guide students before they record their submissions.

RESOURCES

MILL CREEK 2020-2021 VIRTUAL CLASS INFORMATION

DEXTER HIGH SCHOOL 2020-2021 VIRTUAL CLASS INFORMATION

2019-2020 CONCERT RECORDINGS

QUOTES AND TESTIMONIALS

"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.

CONTACT

734 424-4240 ext.7134

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view of audience

View of audience from the stage at Ann Arbor Symphony Concert. Audience holding lights.