Handbook — Simmons Choir

Welcome

Welcome to the Simmons Middle School Choral Department! Our goal is to develop independent choral musicianship and cultural awareness, connect the school with the wider artistic world through choral excellence, celebrate cultural diversity, and instill a love for singing.

Thanks to our school board, administration, elementary music teachers, parents, and students, Simmons has developed a reputation of choral excellence around the state. Our enrollment this year is approximately 193 students in 5 choir classes. Our program is known for:

Students who receive a genuine music education
Choirs that sing with a healthy, beautiful, and appropriate tone
Choirs that perform interesting, challenging, and meaningful music
Choirs that can sight-read at a high level of excellence

Action required: Please complete the Google Form (Step Two on the choir website) on or before Wednesday, September 9.

General Expectations

Upon entering the classroom, retrieve the contents of your assigned shelf and go to your assigned seat.
Be in your assigned seat with your music folder and a sharpened pencil when warm-ups begin, or you will be marked tardy.
Students are not allowed to play the piano without permission.
No gum — ever, at any time.
Write on music with pencil only. Students must purchase music damaged with pen or highlighter.
Demonstrate pride in the program through courteous behavior whenever a visitor enters the room.
Honesty, integrity, and self-discipline are required at all times.

Grading

Category	Weight	Includes
Preparation & Written Work	10%	Music binder, pencil, paper, vocabulary, music reading, solfege, key signatures
Participation	60%	Hand signs, posture, listening, individual/group singing assessments, positive contributions
Performances	30%	All required concerts and assessments

Performances are required curriculum — not extra-curricular. Missing a performance without prior notice earns a grade of 0. Excused absences require a note submitted before the performance and a make-up recording assignment completed on time without reminders.

Our Choirs

Class Choirs

Non-Auditioned · 6th Grade

6th Grade Choir

~54 students, 4th & 5th periods. Performs unison, SA, and two-part music.

Non-Auditioned · 7th & 8th Grade

7th & 8th Grade Choir

~90 students across two classes, performing as one group.

Auditioned Ensembles

Auditioned · Thursday Mornings 7:15–8:15

Girls Chorale

7th & 8th grade girls performing advanced SA and SSA music.

Auditioned · 6th Period

Synergy

52 students, 7th & 8th grade. Choreographed show plus SATB concert music.

Honor Choirs & Festivals

Auditions: Nov. 6 · Festival: Mar. 11–12

Alabama All-State Choir

Auditions at Bluff Park UMC. Festival at Samford University.

Auditions: Feb. 20 · Festival: Apr. 23–24

ACDA Young Voices Festival

Auditions at Simmons MS. Festival at University of North Alabama.

Uniforms

Informal Uniform — In-school performances & spirit days

Choir T-Shirt ($10, included in the $25 class fee) and jeans. The shirt design is unique each year. Parents may also purchase one.

Formal Uniform	Cost	Details
Boys	$25	Black button-down dress shirt (purchased through the dept.) + black pants, socks, and shoes (purchased independently)
Girls	$40	Black floor-length sleeveless Rivar's dress (rented from dept.) + solid black shoes (purchased independently)

Formal uniform is worn for Winter Concert, Spring Concert, State Choral Assessment, and other formal performances.

Fundraising

Participation in fundraising is encouraged but not required. Funds raised offset expenses for activities, competitions, trips, and materials.

A percentage of total funds raised is divided evenly and applied to choral fees for all students.
Fundraising money belongs to the Choir Program and is non-refundable if a student leaves.
Students who damage or lose fundraising merchandise are responsible for replacement costs.
Remaining funds are used for music, equipment, and other program needs at the director's discretion with principal and bookkeeper approval.

Dates & Events 2026–2027

August

Aug 14Synergy Music Retreat (3:30–10:00p; Choir Room/Lower Gym)

Aug 20First Girls Chorale Morning Rehearsal

Aug 21–23Synergy Choreography Retreat (Dance Room)

Aug 24Synergy Parent Meeting (6:00–6:30p; Choir Room)

Aug 26First Synergy Morning Rehearsal (Dance Room) — Wed. mornings only until after the musical, then Fridays added

September

TBDFall Fundraiser with Booster Enterprises

Sep 18–19Synergy Mini-Retreat (3:30–9:30p Fri; 9a–2p Sat; Dance Room)

October

Oct 22–24Performances of the Musical (HHS PAC)

November

Nov 6All-State Auditions (Bluff Park UMC)

Nov 6Synergy Mini-Retreat (3:30–8:30p; Dance Room)

Nov 14Girls Chorale & Grace Note Retreat (HHS; 1–5p)

December

Dec 3Winter Concert Rehearsal (9:00–11:30a; Shades Crest Baptist)

Dec 3Winter Concert (6:00p; Shades Crest Baptist)

Dec 4Girls Chorale Caroling Field Trip (8:30a–1:00p)

Dec 4Synergy Mini-Retreat (3:30–8:30p; Dance or Choir Room)

Dec 9Winter Fine Arts Assembly (Lower Gym)

January

Jan 8–10Synergy Choreography Workshop (HHS PAC)

Jan 15Hoover City Schools Show Choir Showcase (HHS PAC)

Jan 16Synergy Contempo Choral Festival (Vestavia Hills High School)

Jan 29–30Hoover Show Choir Smackdown (HHS PAC)

February

Feb 5Synergy Albertville Diamond Classic (Albertville, AL)

Feb 12Synergy Oak Mountain King of the Mountain (Oak Mountain HS)

Feb 20ACDA Young Voices Festival Auditions (Simmons Middle School)

Feb 23Synergy and Paradigm Performance for SMS (Lower Gym)

March

Mar 7–10ACDA National Conference (Professional Development — Mr. Cater)

Mar 11–12All-State Festival (Samford University)

Mar 16–18State Choral Performance Assessment (Riverchase UMC)

Mar 19Simmons Got Talent (Lower Gym)

April

Apr 8Synergy/GC Spring Trip Parent Meeting (6:00–6:30p; Choir Room)

Apr 8Young Voices Festival Parent Meeting (6:30–7:00p; Choir Room)

Apr 23–24ACDA Young Voices Festival (University of North Alabama)

Apr 27Spring Concert Rehearsal (8:30–11:30a; Shades Crest Baptist)

Apr 27Spring Choir Concert (6:00p; Shades Crest Baptist)

May

May 5–8Synergy/Girls Chorale Spring Trip (Orlando, FL)

May 11Spring Fine Arts Showcase (Lower Gym)

May 4–15Synergy and Girls Chorale Auditions

Choir Handbook