Central Choir

Enjoy participating in an activity that has been proven to increase happiness, brain activity and much more. 

Meet new people. Share moments of beauty. Live interaction with human beings.

Choir is a home. We are family and we celebrate success together, lift each other when we have trials, and laugh together. Singing in choir will give you an instant sense of belonging no matter where you go for the REST OF YOUR LIFE.

The CHS Choral Department wants YOU to become involved in school. Studies show that students who are involved in extracurricular activities, particularly the arts, will be more successful in school. They are less likely to drop out of school and achieve greater academic success. Music also makes the day more alive and interesting, which in turn leads to more learning.

Becoming a part of the choir is also a great way to make new friends in high school. Singing offers instant fellowship. One of the really neat things about choral singing is that the individual singer doesn't have to have a terrific voice -- blend and group dynamic is more important.

Singing in a choir greatly helps a student to focus his/her mind on multiple tasks at once. The student has to think about singing the right notes at the right time, performing in conjunction with the rest of the group, following the director while reading music, singing in tune, enjoying the sounds being made both by himself and the group, thinking about the text and expressing the emotional life of the music. This stretches the mind like no other activity or exercise, nor provides as much enjoyment and satisfaction in the process.

At Central, we offer the opportunity for singers of all ability levels to further their skills not only as a singer but as a total musician. We also offer opportunities for those students who want to go further by offering many solo and small ensemble singing experiences.

The Phoenix Union School District requires a credit in either fine arts or vocational education for graduation. Many universities, including all Arizona universities, require a fine arts credit as an entrance requirement. Universities such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, and Cornell state quite clearly in their admission statements that they value the arts in the overall cognitive development of prospective students.

Being is Doing!!

Our choir department participates in a variety of events. We perform throughout our community at engagements ranging from retirement homes, corporate events, professional athletic events, local and national government officials including the Governor, President and former presidents on several different occasions. The choir also participates in music festivals and competitions throughout the state and nationally. The choir is also involved in school activities and our singers perform at many assemblies and athletic functions throughout the year.

Advice from students :

1. Your high school years are the last time to receive a free education. Take advantage of that fact and take full schedules every year.

2. Many students find summer school an ideal way to take courses thus freeing up elective slots. For example P.E. is an excellent summer school course, which can even be taken the summer before or after you enter CHS as a freshman.

3. A wide range of courses are now available online. Students are able to make more space available during the academic year for specialization courses by using the online option.

4. Everyone agrees that students who get involved do better in high school. The arts classes are an excellent place to become involved, develop talents, which can lead to scholarships, and find a place to belong within a large student body.

How can I fit Choir into My Schedule?

The following schedule includes all classes required by the instate universities for the class of 2005 and beyond. Several students even manage to take two or even more choirs during some years.

FRESHMAN SOPHOMORE

English English

Math Math

P.E. Social Studies

World Language Science

Fine Arts – CHOIR World Language

Elective CHOIR

JUNIOR SENIOR

English English

Math Math

Social Studies Social Studies

Science Science

CHOIR CHOIR

Elective Elective

How Can I Become a Part of the CHS Choir?

Don’t miss out on the fun and exciting time you can experience as a member of the CHS Choir! On your registration form, all you need to do is select Beginning Men’s or Women’s Choir. These non-auditioned classes are for all incoming freshman or students new to Central. Auditions are held in the spring for advanced placement of selected students.

For more information, you may contact the CHS Choral Department at (602) 764-7500. You can contact Ben Shafer, Choir Director, at shafer@phienixunion.org

What Others Have to Say About Music

Music is one way for young people to connect with themselves but it is also a bridge for connecting with others. Through music, we can introduce children to the richness and diversity of the human family and to the myriad rhythms of life. Daniel A. Carp, Eastman Kodak Company Chairman and CEO

The U.S. Department of Education lists the arts as subjects that college-bound middle school students should take, stating “Many colleges view participation in the arts and music as a valuable experience that broadens students understanding and appreciation of the world around them. It is also well known and widely recognized that the arts contribute significantly to children’s intellectual development.” Getting Ready for College Early: A Handbook for Parents of Students in the Middle and Junior High School Years, U.S. Dept. of Education, 1997.

Physician and biologist Lewis Thomas studies the undergraduate majors of medical school applicants. He found that 66 percent of music majors who applied to medical school were admitted, the highest percentage of any group. 44 percent of biochemistry majors were admitted. (As reported in Phi Delta Kappa)

“Arts education aids students in skills needed in the workplace: flexibility, the ability to solve problems and communicate; the ability to learn new skills, to be creative and innovative, and to strive for excellence.” Dr. Joseph M. Calahan, Vice President, Xerox Foundation