Our Chamber Choir is a chance for our most advanced singers to challenge themselves with advanced repertoire. This small-scale SATB choir consists of two to three people per part. Singers should be confident holding their own vocal part and have previous experience of performing in a choral setting. Some sight-singing ability is an advantage, but not essential. The choir is open to school and university-age students (up to 22).
Rehearsals
Mondays 17:00-18:15 in Sangenjaya
Performances
A performance takes place at the end of each term, and the choir may be called upon to sing for special events when invited.
Term Dates 2024 - 2025
Term 1
Sunday 15th September 2024 - Sunday 24th November 2024
Mid-term Break: 20-26th October
Term 2
Sunday 12th January 2025 - Sunday 16th March 2025
Term 3
Sunday 6th April 2025 - Sunday 8th June 2025
Entry Requirements
A video audition will be requested (see below)
Fees
¥30,000 + consumption tax per term
Click Here to register for the Chamber Choir
Why Join?
This choir is for advanced singers who want to challenge themselves with a variety of different choral repertoire. We choose pieces that are musically interesting and challenging in equal measure, to give members a unique insight into many different modes of performing. We will also develop sight-singing skills through this ensemble, as participants will be expected to get to grips with complex music in a short time-frame, and professional standards will be developed throughout the process.
Aside from the musical benefits (which are the most important), there are many other reasons to join us. We are a friendly community of students from international and Japanese schools, and it is a great way to meet others who share the same interests. We have many students who have commented that their English language skills have improved by taking part in our programmes too.
Did you know that the universities of Oxford and Cambridge offer Choral Scholarships to experienced choral singers? Whilst they do not guarantee you a place at the university, they can often act as the deciding factor between two equal candidates. The Chamber Choir will provide students with the skills to take part in this process. Contact us to find out more!
Am I eligible to join the Chamber Choir?
We welcome students from age 11 to 22 who have experience of singing, and are confident holding their own part within a 4-8 part choral piece. We welcome applications from Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses, and we strive to keep the choir evenly balanced between these different voice parts. We will request a video audition (see below), and we will be looking for voices that will blend well within a choral texture. Sight-singing ability is helpful but not essential, as we will develop these skills as we go along.
Is there an audition?
We ask potential members to send an audio or video recording of a piece they can sing confidently, which demonstrates the best features of their voice. We will also ask you to sing some scales as part of the audition to check vocal range. We will request this once you register for the choir, and full instructions will be provided.
Am I guaranteed a place in the choir?
This choir has a small number of participants, with only two to three singers on each part. We will offer places to students who meet the required level as and when they apply, so early application is encouraged. If we are not able to accommodate you in the Chamber Choir, we may recommend a place in the Youth Choir.
Can I sing in the Youth Choir and the Chamber Choir?
Yes! Members of the Chamber Orchestra can participate in the Youth Orchestra at no extra cost. Chamber Choir members who wish to take part do not need to attend all Youth Choir rehearsals, but will need to have attended enough sessions to learn the repertoire if they wish to perform with the Youth Choir. However, there is no requirement to sing in the Youth Choir if you do not wish to, or if your schedule does not allow it.
What kind of repertoire will we sing?
Our aim is to introduce students to a wide variety of repertoire, and to sing pieces from across the spectrum of different choral styles. We plan to sing repertoire that will allow participants to develop vocal skills where they will feel equally at home singing classical or more popular repertoire. We may sometimes collaborate with the Chamber Orchestra or the Jazz Orchestra on some works.
Here are examples of repertoire performed by the Chamber Choir:
And He Shall Purify (Tramaine Hawkins)
Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't My Baby? (Austin & Jordan)
Achieved Is The Glorious Work (Joseph Haydn)
Oh happy day (Edwin R. Hawkins)
Where do rehearsals take place?
Rehearsals take place at the British School in Tokyo’s building in Sangenjaya, which is part of the Showa Women’s University campus. Students entering the campus will need to enter via the main gate. The Music Room is on the 3rd floor. Detailed instructions about entering the campus will be provided to students when they are accepted to the group. The address of the campus is Showa Women’s University 5th Bldg. 1-7-57 Taishido, Setagaya-ku
When and where does the choir perform?
Each term concludes with a performance. Last year, we held all our concerts at The British School in Tokyo Azabudai Campus. Some of our other previous concerts have taken place at the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, and at the Showa Women’s University in Sangenjaya. We will finalise our performance calendar for the 2024-25 year before the end of the summer. We anticipate additional performances for the chamber choir at special events.
Who will conduct & train the choir?
From September 2024, the choir will be conducted by Randy Stenson, accompanied by Rachel Stenson. Randy joined the Tokyo International Music School faculty after a distinguished 40-year career at St. Mary’s International School, where he built a globally recognised vocal music program. His choirs have earned countless accolades on four continents and performed at prestigious events, including the ACDA and the Australian National Conferences.
A Concordia College graduate, Stenson studied under Paul Christiansen and Larry Fleming, earned an MME at VanderCook College of Music, and continued masterclasses with mentor Rodney Eichenberger. His ensembles have performed for royalty and heads of state and on television and radio broadcasts. Stenson is a sought-after clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor of international honor choirs. He edits choral series for Pavane and Santa Barbara Music Publishers and co-authored "Movement and the Maturing Male Voice" with Henry Leck.
What kind of commitment is required?
We expect students to be present at all rehearsals and performances throughout the term, particularly with such a small group. If you already have plans in place that will make it impossible to attend some rehearsals, please contact us in advance, and we will do our best to accommodate prior arrangements.
Students are expected to spend time looking over and learning the parts for the pieces we are learning in the choir. We will make all of the sheet music available from a shared online folder, so students will always have access to this. We may make rehearsal tracks available for particularly challenging material.
Will there be any fees to join the choir?
The tuition fee for each term is ¥30,000 (+ consumption tax).
Once you have been offered a place in the choir, we will provide you with the bank details to make a transfer. Please let us know if you would prefer to pay in another currency (for example from a US or UK account, as this is sometimes possible). Once payment has been received, we will issue you with a membership card.
Can I sign up for one term, or only for the full year?
Students can register for a single term, two terms, or for the full year. Just make sure you select the appropriate box on the registration form.
