Choir teacher Susan Ainley  prepares for the upcoming season prepping for events that include music festivals and concerts. 

Choir Event Dates 

• Oct. 16 – Fall Concert, 7 p.m. @ Redemption Bible Church 
• Oct. 19 – FSU Choral Festival
• Dec. 11 – Christmas Concert 
• April 12-14  – Festival Trip 

The choir team has grown since last year with 48 members in the concert choir, 11 members in the women’s ensemble, and 17 members in chamber choir. Ainley is excited to have so much participation for the year ahead. 

“We are growing this year, and I have some of the biggest choirs I’ve ever had,” Ainley said. “I have 12 new men who joined this year, which is so encouraging. We have a big, full sound which means we can do more with our music.”

Training up new voices is a special expertise for Ainley.

“I have quite a few students who have never sung in a choir before,” Ainley said. “I think we have helped them ‘find their voice’ and now they are contributing to our rehearsals very well.” 

Last year, the choir team traveled to Anaheim for the Worldstrides Festival placing first in the competition. This spring, choir will return to the festival in hopes of regaining their first-place title. Ainley talks about the goals set for the competition season. 

“Each choir has a different set of goals,” Ainley continues. “This teaches them to listen to each other and focus on the group’s sound, which benefits singers all the way through high school.”

The students are introduced to higher levels of music which challenges them to learn how to perform as professionals. Ainley uses this method as an experience to prepare students for the real world.

“I push them to learn very difficult music and express themselves musically,” Ainley said. “They also get a taste of what professional musicians experience, singing in the community for different functions in front of a crowd that doesn’t know them.”  

Having joined choir three years ago, Senior Karis Petrie speaks about how choir has changed over the years and what she’s excited about her last year in choir.

“I think that my years especially last year have been the best because more people are starting to join and experience choir,” Petrie continues. “I’m excited to do my last Christmas concert and show parents and friends what we’ve been learning.” 

Students, families, and communities are welcome to attend concerts and support the choirs.

To read more from The Feather go to; Column: Three objectives from ASB President or PROMO: 38th Annual Homecoming