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Hazen High School
Choral Ensemble Audition Information
2009-2010
Welcome to Hazen High School’s choral music program! Hazen offers a strong
curriculum in choral music and is quickly becoming one of the top programs in
the northwest. Through all of our various ensembles you will learn the basics
of healthy vocal production, music theory/sight singing, lyric diction and music
history. You will also learn and perform some of the finest music literature
ever composed while making new friends and having fun all at the same time.
The information below will describe Hazen’s 4 choral ensembles, the choral
director as well as audition information. Please come and join us for the best
vocal music experience around!
The Ensembles
Concert Choir:
Concert Choir is a 60-75 voice select mixed ensemble. Concert Choir sings
challenging music literature from all historical periods and in many different
styles and languages. Sight reading, diction practice and choral blend and
balance are emphasized. Concert Choir is the cornerstone of the program and
thus membership must be taken seriously. The group performs several concerts
each year both on and off campus. A performance/competition tour will
generally take place in May (fundraising information will be given in the first
few months of school.) Performance attire is provided by Hazen.
Divina Voce:
Divina Voce is a 16-20 voice highly select women’s ensemble. This group sings
music literature from all historical periods but tends to focus on the music of
modern composers. Advanced concepts in vocal technique, music theory and
interpretation will be discussed and practiced. Divina Voce has been the
regional champion at the Soundview Region Ensemble contest for the past four
years and is ranked in the top 5 of Washington State’s women’s choirs.
Members of this group must be extremely independent musicians and must
have spent at least one year or be concurrently enrolled in Concert Choir.
Divina Voce often performs off campus and will also participate in the yearly
tours/competitions. A fee is required for performance attire.
Man Choir:
This is another select ensemble open only to men who are registered in Concert
Choir. Man choir sings music literature from all historical periods and styles
including; classical, modern, folk and some barbershop and jazz. The group is
in frequent demand to sing off campus and regularly competes at festivals and
concert tours along with Concert Choir and Divina Voce. This choir meets at
the zero hour (6:20-7:15) before school. Man Choir has been the regional
champion at the Soundview Ensemble Contest for the past three years and is
ranked in the top 10 of Washington State’s men’s choirs. THIS IS A FUN GROUP!
A fee is required for performance attire.
Mixed Chorus:
This ensemble is open to all who want to learn how to sing without an audition.
This group of between 30-40 focuses on the rudiments of vocal production,
choral blend and balance, sight singing and rehearsal etiquette. Mixed chorus
performs at all Hazen concerts and sings at one regional contest. This group
wears white and black attire at performances.
The Director:
Mr. Josh Viles is in his sixth year as Director of Choral Activities at Hazen High
School. Mr. Viles conducts the Concert Choir, Divina Voce, Man Choir and
Mixed Chorus. He also teaches beginning piano/keyboard and beginning guitar.
Under his direction, Hazen’s choirs have quickly become a presence in
Washington’s choral community. Concert Choir recently was invited to the
prestigious WWU invitational choral festival last fall while Man Choir, Divina
Voce and Chamber Singers all took first place at the Soundview Region
Ensemble Contest. Both Divina Voce and Man Choir have received superior
ratings at the state level and are ranked in the top ten in Washington State.
All Hazen choirs have received superior and excellent marks at league contests!
Mr. Viles received his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education/Choral
Conducting from Western Washington University in June, 2004. While at WWU
he sang in the nationally acclaimed WWU Concert Choir and the Western Voices
Chamber Ensemble under renowned conductor, Dr. Leslie Guelker-Cone. Mr.
Viles also studies voice privately and has sung numerous opera roles, recitals
and master classes. He is also active in Washington’s choral music community
serving as the WMEA Soundview Region (Renton, Highline and Tukwila)
president, and is the Repertoire and Standards Chair for men’s choirs for the
Washington chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He lives in
Federal Way with his wife Sarah and his two children Alex and Brittney. Mr.
Viles loves working with Hazen High School students and is excited to make
music with each of you!
Audition Information
Singers wishing to be placed in Concert Choir, Divina Voce or Man Choir will be
asked to do the following things in a private audition.

Vocalization – Singers will be led through a variety of vocal exercises so
that the director can get an idea of the singer’s vocal color, tone quality
and range.

Tonal Memory – Singers will be asked to sing back short melodic phrases
that are played for them on the piano keyboard. This will give the
director an idea of how well trained the singer’s ears are. Singers will
also be taught and asked to sing back a major and a minor scale using
solfege syllables.

Sight Reading – Singers will be asked to read pitches and rhythms (from
an actual score) at sight. If the singer has not had any experience in
vocal sight reading, the director will use an alternate exercise in which
the singer is taught a part and asked to sing it back a capella.
It is my goal that singers leave the Hazen High School choral program being
independent and well trained musicians. Thus, sight reading and aural skills
are heavily emphasized and are a must to succeed in the advanced ensembles.
Ensemble placements will be posted the first week of April on the choir room
(403) door. Singers will be asked to initial next to their name indicating that
they except membership and are committed to the ensemble for the duration
of the following school year!