Vocal Performance

Upper School Chorus

Walker Upper School Chorus includes students from grades 9 through 12. In this class, students learn the following: healthy vocal technique, importance of breath support, sight-singing, diction, music theory, singing in complex harmonies, blend, intonation, and good tone quality. We learn these qualities through warm-ups geared toward specific areas to work the voice. The music repertoire ranges from classical, folk, multiculturalism, jazz, contemporary, and even show tunes. Every quarter the Upper School Chorus gives a performance of the pieces they have learned for their family, faculty, and friends. Students also have the opportunity to be a part of Honor Choruses (Such as GISA and Georgia State), audition for All-State Chorus, and possibly compete in competition/rating only festivals.

Upper School Show Choir

The Walker Show Choir includes students from grades 9 through 12. This choir is an auditioned, after school group that combines choral singing with dance movement. This chorus involves both young men and women and is usually 3 to 4 parts. Last year we competed in the Southern Star Music Festival and placed Silver. We will compete in this festival again this year. The music repertoire ranges from Broadway, contemporary, jazz, rock, and pop. However, the group is not limited to these genres of music. Students also learn good vocal technique as well as the coordination of singing and dancing and how to be expressive to an audience.

Barbershop Quartet

The Walker Barbershop Quartet consists of young men between the 9th and 12th grade. This is an auditioned group that meets outside the school day. Though there can be more than four involved, the "quartet" is left in the title of this group because we will be singing in 4-part harmony; tenor 1, tenor 2, baritone, and bass. The music repertoire ranges from barbershop classics, contemporary, Motown, jazz, rock, and pop; however the group is not limited to these genres of music. Students will also learn good vocal technique.

Ye Merry Mix

Ye Merry Mix is now entering its 8th year at The Walker School. This unique auditioned group involves Middle School, Upper School, and faculty. The all-girls chorus meets after school during the Spring Semester and performs in two or three part harmony. The main performance venue for the group is the Georgia Renaissance Festival; the ladies dress in Renaissance period clothing and perform as professional singers for the public. Ye Merry Mix have also performed for luncheons, school assemblies, campers at the Enota Mountain Retreat, and choral concerts. Music repertoire ranges from Madrigals to Celtic, Irish, and Scottish folk songs. With the addition of choreography to the repertoire, students learn how to be expressive in their movement as well as their singing.

8th Grade Chorus

The 8th grade chorus focuses on sight-singing and complex harmonies. Through warm-ups, students achieve better breath support, intonation, and knowledge of the head voice vs. the chest voice, voice range, and diction. They also begin learning how to hear intervals and identify them, more music theory, and healthy vocal technique. We hope to achieve 3 to 4 part harmony as well as sight-sing fluently in solfège. They will be responsible for learning the major/minor scale with the Kodaly Hand Signs as well as the chromatic scale (all in solfège). The 8th grade chorus dives into these elements even deeper and begins to develop their now maturing voices. We also explore Hand bells/chimes as well as some keyboard instruction. They perform at the Choral/Strings Concert in October, December, March, and April. Students will also have the opportunity to be a part of Honor Choruses (such as GISA, GMEA), audition for All-State Chorus, and possibly competition/rating only festivals.

Walker Lower School Chorus

Lower School Chorus is comprised of 1st -5th graders who love to sing, move, and perform. The girls and boys rehearse separately but perform as one group. The students work on their sight-singing, vocal technique, breath control, and ensemble skills as well as learning how to follow a conductor. They learn a wide variety of age appropriate repertoire from standard choral classics to American Folk songs, and modern style pop. These students learn the importance of working together as a team to create beautiful music.

Walker Preschool

Preschool students sing in every class period. They utilize traditional solfegé for learning how to match pitch and proper vocal technique. All students participate to two large vocal and drama productions a year. For many of the students this is their first experience singing in a large group setting. The mini-musicals provide an avenue to help build self-esteem and team work.