~~ Concert Choir (MUEN 101) ~~

2021-2022 Syllabus

Dr. Ramona Wis, Conductor

rmwis@noctrl.edu
Mr. Jon Warfel, Collaborative Pianist
jrwarfel@noctrl.edu

Our History
The North Central College Concert Choir is the longest standing ensemble at the College,
serving as the “anchor ensemble” for decades of rich choral history.
Comprised of students representing virtually every major on campus and chosen by selective
audition, the Concert Choir studies and performs a wide variety of choral repertoire, including
choral/orchestral collaborations with the DuPage Symphony and Chicago Sinfonietta, and enjoys
master classes by visiting composers such as Stacey Gibbs, James Falzone, Kyle Pederson, and
Adrienne Inglis. Whether in the U.S. or abroad, in churches or for an ACDA conference,
“CC” performances are always enthusiastically received by audiences for their
breadth of programming and passionate commitment to the choral art.

Our Mission
At the heart of what we do is our North Central College commitment to leadership, ethics, and
values. Our choral program promotes a servant leader approach to our work, characterized by our
phrase:
Singing For the Greater Good

S Singing (what we DO!) individually together with a performance goal

F Family (who we ARE!) community of friends, our “choral family,” collaboration
G the Goods (what we LEARN!) skills, knowledge, understanding
G Grit (what we DEVELOP!) character, resilience, grace

By using our gifts, passion, energy, intellect, discipline, skill, and opportunities, we work towards
greater personal wholeness, creating meaning and purpose as we serve others through our artistic work.
In the end, we become a premiere ensemble in both artistry and character and we
positively impact the world around us.
Let’s stay on mission and have a great year!

Meeting Times and Location

Monday/Wednesday/Friday, 12:00-1:05 PM. Location will change so please check our calendar daily.
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?
src=o3dboh0ahqi9k5n61r786h2so8%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America%2FChicago
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Our Goals
~ To study and perform a wide variety of the finest choral music at the highest level of artistry.
~ To help develop your musical skill and knowledge and your vocal abilities and to enhance your overall
musical experience and understanding.
~ To make a positive difference to your lives and time here at North Central and to the lives of
all those you touch with your music.

CC officers:
Axel Hageman athageman@noctrl.edu (President), Ashley Zima akzima@noctrl.edu (Admin Assistant)

Required Materials, Technology

 Zoom and Blackboard
 Group Me (for quick communications); and (optional) Facebook page
 Choral repertoire. Most will be posted on our Blackboard page; some purchase may be
necessary. Print it out or, if you access it via your iPad, you MUST be able to mark your score.
 Resonance Singer’s Mask (you will receive one; purchase a second mask and filters to be sure you
always have yours clean for rehearsals and performances.
https://www.mymusicfolders.com/product/resonance-singers-mask-with-disposable-biofilters/
 Phone or laptop; headphones/earbuds; quiet place for recording, when needed
 Please check your NCC email and Blackboard daily

Performances (participation required, format TBD as per health and safety situation)
Friday, September 24. Informal outdoor Homecoming Sing, late afternoon/evening time TBD
Friday, November 19. Explore the Sound. 7:00 PM, call time TBD
Friday, February 25. Winter Choral Concert. 7:00 PM, call time TBD
Wednesday, April 6. Spring Finale! Concert, 7:00 PM, call time TBD

Grading
 (20%) Participation (engagement during class, contribution to discussion, preparation, willingness
to model/sing, positive contribution to the choir community)
 (30%) Assessments (score marking, part learning, vocal skills, singing or written assessments)
 (50%) Performances (timeliness, preparation, and presentational quality)

Singing as a Physical Process

Choral music is a physical activity—indeed, your instrument is your body so keeping yourself
healthy in every sense will reap countless benefits for you and for us as a choir. During rehearsal, we will
move, stretch, conduct, and breathe deeply as part of our work. This will be invigorating and educational
but if you have any medical concerns or limitations, you need to do what is best for you. Let me know if
you have questions or need any references to help you be at your best health.
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Choir Protocols for Safer Singing

Stay current with the College’s updates on the COVID situation:
https://covid.northcentralcollege.edu/
https://covid.northcentralcollege.edu/health/

The performing arts at North Central College are following their unique professional organization’s
recommendations, which we are modeling in our choral program.
https://www.nats.org/_Library/docs/VSAC_STATEMENT_-_June_23_2021.pdf

Masks. You must wear your Resonance Singers’ Mask, provided by the department, to all singing
rehearsals and performances. You will not be allowed to sing without your mask. Wear your mask into
the building and out of the building and be mindful when removing the mask; clean your hands
thoroughly afterwards and store your mask in the zip-top bag you received.

Purchase an additional black Resonance Singers’ Mask and filters to be sure you always have yours clean
for rehearsals and performances.
https://www.mymusicfolders.com/product/resonance-singers-mask-with-disposable-biofilters/

Before our second rehearsal, read the mask PDFs on our Blackboard page and view this mask video:
https://youtu.be/bWfTc920mHk

Social distance. Maintain a minimum of 3 ft. social distance while entering and exiting the building and a
minimum of 6 feet in rehearsal.

Hygiene. Wash your hands well or use antibacterial cleanser, available throughout campus buildings,
before and after rehearsal. Clean any stands or chairs before and after use.

Suggested Resources for Musician Wellness

Choral Net https://choralnet.org/  blog by Dr. Wis, “The Conductor as Yogi,” bi-weekly topics on wellness
for musicians, including:

“What If I Can’t Meditate?” https://choralnet.org/2020/07/the-conductor-as-yogi-what-if-i-cant-

meditate/
“Still the Mind Chatter”.  https://choralnet.org/2020/07/the-conductor-as-yogi-still-the-mind-chatter/
“Tapas (or “The best way out is always through”). https://choralnet.org/2020/08/the-conductor-as-yogi-
tapas-or-the-best-way-out-is-always-through/
“The Well Choir (Breath)”.  https://choralnet.org/2020/08/the-conductor-as-yogi-the-well-choir-breath/

YouTube videos (there are many!):

Intro to Meditation for Musicians  https://youtu.be/A2Il5R9TW7k
5 Senses Meditation for Musicians  https://youtu.be/v0cHm7WnLbo
A Meditation for Managing School Stress  https://youtu.be/TCY7m10sCF0
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Maximizing your Educational Experience

If you need educational or basic living resources due to situations in your finances or home life,
we have a fund called Cardinal Operation Hope and Help — view the video and learn more about
receiving assistance here:
https://hub.northcentralcollege.edu/sites/support-assistance/news/10794/cardinal-operation-hope-and-
help

If you experience any kind of discrimination or Title IX violations, contact: Dr. Rebecca Gordon,
Assistant Vice President for Equity Diversity and Inclusion and Title IX/504 Coordinator, at
rgordon@noctrl.edu, or by calling (630) 637-5340, to make a report, file a complaint, or obtain further
information on your rights, options, and available resources.

More information, the policy, resources, and an online reporting form can be accessed from the Title IX
webpage (https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/transparency/title-ix-sexual-misconduct) or the HUB.
For confidential reporting, and information about resources and on-and off-campus options, contact the
Dyson Wellness Center advocate, Tatiana Sifri, at 630-637-5550. Anonymous reports can be made by
calling the Campus Conduct Hotline at (866) 943-5787.

North Central College faculty are committed to the safety and well-being of our students, and we are
available to discuss any concerns. Faculty are obligated to share information disclosed to them about
sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking, sexual or gender-based harassment, and/or other
forms of discriminatory harassment with Dr. Rebecca Gordon to help ensure the safety, welfare and
academic success of our students. 

If you are a student with a disability, you are encouraged to contact Student Disability Services at
630-637-5264 or SDS@noctrl.edu. Please visit the Student Disability Services HUB page for additional
information. 

North Central College values diversity and inclusion; we are committed to a climate of mutual respect and
full participation by providing an equal opportunity and meaningful access for all students. Student
Disability Services is the office designated by the College to support students with disabilities under
Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the
ADA Amendments Act of 2008.

Please be aware that the accessible table and chairs in this room should remain available for students
who find that standard classroom seating is not accessible. Be cognizant of those around you and respect
the learning and physical access needs of your fellow classmates.

If you need resources to maintain your health and wellness, please visit our
Dyson Wellness Center: https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/dyson
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REMINDER OF YOUR GUIDELINES-NO NEED TO SIGN

CHORAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Guidelines

I hereby accept a Choral Scholarship for the 2021-2022 academic year.

I understand that the following stipulations apply:

1. Scholarship students must enroll in their assigned large choral ensemble (Cardinal Chorus,
Women’s Chorale, Concert Choir, Naperville Chorus) and private classical voice lessons with North
Central College Music faculty for both semesters of 2020-2021. Students will be notified about
their ensemble placement in spring term. One-half of the scholarship will be awarded each term
contingent upon participation in the assigned large ensemble and in private classical voice
lessons. Excellent attendance in both is expected.
2. Scholarship students must earn a “B” or higher in both choral ensemble and private classical voice
lessons to retain the scholarship.
3. Private lessons require a lab fee each semester which is at the student’s expense ($375.00 for 1/2
hour lessons; $750.00 for 1 hour lessons). Students may opt for either length lesson.
4. Full-time student status must be maintained by scholarship recipients. Scholarships are renewable
for a maximum award of four years based on exemplary performance, attendance, choral
leadership, and continued participation in the ensemble.
5. Scholarship students are required to participate in tours and other Music Department activities
such as Homecoming, Audition Days, Baccalaureate and convocations, in addition to regularly
scheduled concert performances.

I accept the terms of this agreement and understand that failure to comply may result in termination or
reduction of my scholarship.

Please print your name _____________________________

Signature ________________________________ Date: _________________________

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CHORISTER INFO FORM

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY and email to me (do not bring a hard copy)

Name (as you want it printed in a program) ___________________________________________________

First name that you prefer to be called ______________________________________________________
Gender pronoun you prefer ______________________________________________________________
NCC email address ______________________@noctrl.edu Cell # (_____)_______________________
Hometown (city and state) ________________________________________________________________
Home high school _____________________________________ City and state ______________________
Comm. college, if you attended ________________________________ City and state ________________
Major (at the moment) _________________________________________________________________

Year in school (circle) 1 2 3 4 4+ Height _____ ft. _____ in.

Voice part (usually; circle) SI SII AI AII TI TII BI BII

NCC ensembles you are involved in besides this one:

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
NCC groups, activities, sports, etc. that you are involved in:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Special skills that might help our ensemble (instruments that you play; technology; virtual choir
production; foreign language; sign language; organizational skill; hospitality; sense of humor; program or
T-shirt design . . . . ).
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
What would you like to get better at or know more about through your choir experience?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
Anything else would you like me to know about you?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
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Agreement Sheet

Please sign and return via email by the next rehearsal

I have read and agree to the policies outlined in the

Concert Choir or Women’s Chorale 2021-22 syllabus,

including those related to COVID protocols,

performance dates, required materials, and grading.

______________________________________ ______________________________________

Printed name Signature

______________________________________
Date