The Community Choir is for members aged 19 or over, rehearses at the British School in Tokyo's Showa campus in Sangenjaya every Monday evening. We sing a variety of repertoire, and perform at the end of each term.
Rehearsals
Mondays 18:30-20:00 in Sangenjaya
Performances
A performance takes place at the end of each term. There may be other opportunities to sing throughout the year.
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
None
Fees
¥25,000 + consumption tax per term
Click Here to register for the Community Choir
Why Join?
There are so many reasons to join a choir. Singing in a group with others can be a joyous experience, which is enough of a reason in itself to take part. However, there are many other reasons to sing in a choir. There is a rich repertoire of choral music spanning thousands of years, and participation in a choir can help us to connect with different histories and cultures throughout the world.
Aside from the musical benefits (which are the most important), there are many other reasons to join us. We are a friendly community of members from different walks of life, and it is a great way to meet others who share the same interests. We invite members to make suggestions about the repertoire we sing, and there will be social events, which members can join throughout the year.
Am I eligible to join the Community Choir?
We welcome members from age 19 to sing in the choir. There is no audition, and all members who are keen to sing are welcome to join. We will only close registration once the maximum capacity of the rehearsal room is reached.
What kind of repertoire will we sing?
Our aim is to to sing a wide variety of choral repertoire, singing everything from Bach to Bernstein and beyond. We will sometimes collaborate with some of the other groups from the music school, including the Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Band, to enhance our performances.
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
A Typical Rehearsal
After a group warm-up, we will introduce new material, and sometimes split into section rehearsals if the piece is in more than one part. During rehearsals we offer tips on tone production, diction, breathing and phrasing depending on the demands of the piece.
After a short tea break, we come back together to sing through the items we have been learning that day, and go back over pieces we have learnt in previous sessions.
When and where does the choir perform?
Each term concludes with a performance. In our first year, performances were held 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 2023-24 year before the end of the summer.
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?
Members will get the most benefit from singing in the choir if they attend all rehearsals and performances throughout the term, but we understand that working life and other plans can sometimes get in the way of attending rehearsals. 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.
Members are expected to spend time looking over and learning the pieces we are working on 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 will sometimes produce vocal guide tracks to assist in students’ preparation for specific pieces.
Will there be any fees to join the choir?
The tuition fee for each term is ¥25,000 (+ 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?
Members 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.
