The Minnetonka Cappella Choir invites girls and boys in grades 3 - 5 to join this introductory choir which presents choral music at an age appropriate level. A child entering grade 2 may be considered for the choir under special circumstances.
The Cappella Choir lays the foundation for progress and development in MAM's Youth Choirs. Attention span and quiet concentration are a point of focus, as well as practice and development in vocal technique and theory. Working goals are aimed toward both areas: the need to learn important musical basics and the need to work together as a group.
This choir performs three concerts with the Chamber and Concert Choir and several times throughout the concert season at senior retirement homes in Minnetonka and surrounding areas.
The Cappella Choir rehearses on Thursday nights from 6:00 p.m. - 6:55 p.m. at the Arts Center on 7, 18285 Hwy. 7, Minnetonka (east side of Minnetonka High School), a outside of Minneapolis, from September to May.
Due and activity fees are $290 for the year with a one-time $65 rental uniform fee for new members.
To learn more about our Youth Choirs, click here to enjoy our 12-minute video presentation featuring Roger Hoel and Leanne Kampfe, the music directors of the Chamber and Concert Choirs, past and present choir managers, parents and members.
Specific Objectives
- 55-minute rehearsal
- To be attentive throughout the rehearsal
- To sing with correct physical concepts of breath support and management; dropped, relaxed jaw on correct vowels; articulated, clear and precise consonants, distinct and correct diction
- To listen to and match correct pitches on scales and intervals
- To sustain an average phrase in one breath
- To read from a musical score
- To understand basic music terminology and concepts
- To understand and interpret text of the music
- To understand and practice basic concepts of performance etiquette
- To begin 2-part singing rounds or canons
- To be exposed to and study many types of music
- To memorize 15-20 minutes of music for the winter and spring concerts
- To perform in a least three concerts a year
- To develop the concept of head voice and activate muscles of support
- To be supportive of fellow choir members
- Minimum of two extra performances (one in December/one in May)
Music Theory Objectives - Treble clef note names
- Major scale in different theory constructs
(i.e. on numbers -- scale degrees, and with note names) - Notation skills: introduction
- Rhythmic values: whole, half, quarter, eighth, dotted half, dotted quarter, and equivalent rests
- Meters: simple and compound
- Beat placement in relation to meter signatures
- Introduction of accidentals
- Sight singing step-wise based on C major scale
- Vocabulary
- Rhythmic dictation and interval name comprehension
To learn more about joining the Cappella Choir, please contact Joyce Barnes at
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or by calling 952-401-5954. The majority of our members join in September; however, January enrolment is an option. Auditions are arranged at a mutually agreeable time in late August/early September or early January.
Kelly Newell - Cappella Music Director
Kelly Newell is the conductor of the Cappella Choir. After graduating with a degree in vocal music education from the University of Minnesota in 1999, Kelly taught middle school choir and elementary music in the Chaska school district, and conducted the childrens' choirs at Lynnhurst Congregational UCC in Minneapolis for twelve years. She currently conducts the adult and youth choirs at Edina Morningside UCC and teaches private voice and piano lessons at her studio in Prior Lake. Kelly is a member of both ACDA of MN and Choristers Guild.
