Community Outreach
Chicago a cappella’s Educational Outreach Program strives to promote and improve the life-long performance, understanding and appreciation of a cappella vocal music through programming, mentorship and collaboration with schools and community organizations in Chicago and beyond.
High School Internship Program
High School Internship Program
This unique and innovative program gives high school students unprecedented access to top-level professional musicians, directors and arts administrators in a broad range of settings. Chicago a cappella High School Interns gain valuable skills to help further their musical ambitions, including how to rehearse collaboratively, how to sing at a high level in a small a cappella ensemble, and how such activities are supported behind the scene by a nonprofit organization. The students meet regularly and rehearse as an ensemble, attend Chicago a cappella rehearsals, meet with staff members and other mentors, and assist at concerts. Meet our 2012-13 High School Interns!
Chicago a cappella will hold auditions for the 2013-2014 High School Internship Program on May 19, 2013, from 1-4 p.m. at the Athenaeum Theatre Building in Chicago. Interested applicants should download the Internship Information and Application Kit and reserve an audition spot no later than May 10. Audition spots are limited and usually fill well before the reservation deadline, so don't delay! For more information on this exciting program and the 2013 auditions, or to reserve an audition spot, please contact Chicago a cappella Education Outreach Coordinator Susan Schober at sschober@chicagoacappella.org or (312) 804-1544.
What our current interns are saying about the program:
“I always leave these rehearsals feeling better than before because I can see myself doing something like this when I'm older. This is really the beginning of my future and I'm so excited to live it!"
“Trevor made me think about the music in a new way. The music is conveying a message to the audience, and we, as musicians are the messengers. It gives a new depth of soul to the music we are studying, and a revitalized energy to my work ethic."
Youth Choral Festival
This exciting choral event brings small ensembles from Chicago-area high schools together with Chicago a cappella's professional singers and directors for a day of workshops, rehearsals, discusion sessions performing. This non-competitive festival culminates in an informal concert for the public featuring all of the groups, including Chicago a cappella, singing alone and as a large festival choir. The third annual Youth Choral Festival is being planned for March 2014; details will be available soon. For more information on this unique festival or to inquire about participating, please contact Chicago a cappella Education Outreach Coordinator Susan Schober at (312) 804-1544 or sschober@chicagoacappella.org.
View photos from our 2013 Youth Choral Festival.
Other Program Offerings
Chicago a cappella’s Education Outreach Program seeks to serve singers and students of all ages and levels of experience. All of our programs are taught by Artists from Chicago a cappella’s current roster of singers and directors, many of whom have degrees in music education. All of our Artists have experience working with singers/choruses at a variety of experience levels. Each outreach program is individually planned and carefully tailored to fit the exact needs of each organization, and may include access to Chicago a cappella rehearsals and concerts. Our offerings include:
Master Classes
These workshops are administered by two or more Chicago a cappella Artists and usually last between 60-120 minutes. Repertoire can be chosen by, or in conjunction with, Chicago a cappella’s Artists. Master Classes are typically relaxed in nature and allow for questions at the end. Observers are always welcome.
Choral Residencies
These residencies with school or community choirs serve as an introduction to a cappella singing for musicians new to the genre or as a source of expert training for more experienced singers. Residencies can be either short-term (3-5 visits) or long-term (typically 8-12 visits), and often focus on specific repertoire and skill building. Each visit is sequentially designed to complement the goals of the choral director and/or school curriculum and can be during or after the school day.
Youth Concerts
Our youth concerts bring Chicago a cappella’s unique, entertaining and informative concert repertoire to the next generation of musicians and music patrons. Youth concert programs are often based upon recent Chicago a cappella series concerts, and are tailored both to the age of the students and to the school’s curriculum. Age appropriate readings and songs entertain, engage and educate. Examples of concert topics include From Slavery to Freedom: African-American History Through Spirituals and Chicago, Chicago: The History and Culture of the City of Chicago.
Recent Outreach Programs
In recent seasons, Chicago a cappella has worked in a number of settings to engage singers in our community, expose them to professional choral music and mentor the next generation of choral singers.
Whitney Young High School, Chicago, IL: 
Chicago a cappella created a long-term residency at the school in the winter and spring of 2011. Over ten weeks, Chicago a cappella Artists guided a newly-formed group of Whitney Young’s best singers from their first rehearsal to a successful final performance of challenging Chicago a cappella repertoire. The students gained invaluable experience in rehearsal technique, jazz and instrumental vocal technique, small ensemble a cappella singing and self-direction. The residency residency was so successful that we were invited back for an extended 14-session residency during the 2011-12 school year.
Rocky Mountain Children’s Choir from Denver, CO: Chicago a cappella presented a master class workshop for the choir during their 2011 tour to Chicago, addressing aspects of a cappella small ensemble singing such as intonation, choral blend, balance, vocal timbre and self-direction (working without a conductor). The workshop concluded with a Q&A session with the Chicago a cappella Artists.
Roll, Jordan, Roll Choral Collaborations, Chicago, Oak Park, Naperville and Evanston, IL: Chicago a cappella welcomed a high school choral group as guest ensemble at each of the four performances of its February 2010 concert, Roll, Jordan, Roll: The Spiritual, Old and New. The student groups came together for a joint rehearsal in Chicago with Chicago a cappella’s singers, and were coached by Chicago a cappella’s artistic and music directors. Each student group sang several spirituals as part of the series concert in their community, and was joined by the singers of Chicago a cappella for a joint spiritual performance.
Naperville North High School, Naperville, IL: 
As a business partner of Naperville School District 203, Chicago a cappella worked with the choral students at Naperville North High School throughout the 2008-09 school year. In the fall, the school's Madrigal Ensemble rehearsed a piece with the women of Chicago a cappella and then performed it with them—along with several pieces from their own repertoire—at Chicago a cappella's holiday performance at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville. Then in February, Chicago a cappella Artists worked with several of the school's choirs in sectional settings. In March, Chicago a cappella performed several pieces on the Naperville North stage as part of the school’s Choral Concert, and as part of the concert finale joined the school’s singers on stage for a special joint performance. In addition to in-school workshops and choral performances, as part of this special program students from Naperville North High School received free tickets to Chicago a cappella's concerts at Wentz Concert Hall for the entire 2008-09 concert season.
Fan Mail
"I just wanted to thank you, again, for sharing your music and talent with our singers last week. It was definitely a highlight for those kids. You and your colleagues had a wonderful way of being demanding and encouraging at the same time. I overheard several of them talking later that day about all the things they had learned from you and your group - you all really made a positive impact on them. Thank you so much!”
“My singers and I had such a fun time with you on our tour. I wish we could do a follow-up with you in the fall. We all learned so much. It was also really great that you talked to the [singers] about what it meant to be a professional singer. Many of the singers would like to take that route. All the best and thanks!”
“I always leave these rehearsals feeling better than before because I can see myself doing something like this when I'm older. This is really the beginning of my future and I'm so excited to live it!"
-Chicago a cappella High School Intern
“Trevor made me think about the music in a new way. The music is conveying a message to the audience, and we, as musicians are the messengers. It gives a new depth of soul to the music we are studying, and a revitalized energy to my work ethic."
-Chicago a cappella High School Intern
“The experience you provided from the moment we arrived was TOP NOTCH. I have been searching for years to provide for my group this very thing.”
-High School Choral Director, Youth Choral Festival
“I had an epiphany at the Youth Choral Festival. I have never had the courage to not conduct my singers. Until today, I have never backed out of the way, and empowered the ensemble to "own" their sound. This was a real career changer. This experience will change the way I approach a cappella singing, for the better, from this day forward.”
-High School Choral Director, Youth Choral Festival
Contact
For more information on our Education Outreach offerings or to have a program specifically designed for your school/organization, contact Education Outreach Coordinator Susan Schober.