Rehearsals and Tuition
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are held each Monday afternoon/evening between August and May at First Christian Church (yes we have moved! We were in Brainerd but now we live at 650 McCallie Ave). The girls are grouped by grade level to ensure age appropriate music and educational benchmarks are set.
The Cantilena Choir (grades 2-4) meets from 5-6pm and focuses on music fundamentals. In additional to preparing music for concerts, they spend time learning note and rhythm reading, how to hold and follow a score, and pitch matching.
The Jubilate Choir (grades 5-8) meets from 5-6 pm and builds on the skills learned in Cantilena. They sing in parts, focus on improving tone, and expand the number of languages they perform in.
The Grace Moore Singers (grades 9-12) meets from 5-6pm and polishes multi part singing and fine tuning their tone and sound. From this group, an auditioned Ensemble often performs separately at local events.
Concert Choir is comprised of two groups: Jubilate (grades 5-8) and Grace Moore Singers (grades 9-12). This large choir meets together from 6-6:30pm on Monday nights as well as one extended rehearsal until 7pm once per month. This group is eligible to apply to be in the touring choir each year.
*as with all academic activities, enrollment numbers may vary and cause slight adjustments to scheduling or division of grade levels*
CGC follows Hamilton County School schedule for Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks.
Performance Dates
Each choir has multiple informal community performances as well as our two formal concerts held in December and May each year. The choirs may appear altogether or as individual groups for civic, church, or event performances throughout the season. We provide a calendar of events at the beginning of the season for parents, and give as much notice as possible as other opportunities for performances arise throughout the year.
Cost to Join
Each of the choirs has an annual tuition for membership. Tuition is $500 per year with discounts available for early registration, early payoff, siblings and referrals. We also provide scholarships to up to 50% of our families annually. See Scholarship information below.
Other Components
Each family is required to complete a set number of volunteer hours and raise a set amount of fundraising per year. We provide multiple opportunities each semester for families to easily reach those goals.
Volunteer hour examples: Door Duty during rehearsal, Wardrobe assistance to measure the girls and/or hem dresses, handing out programs at concerts
Fundraising examples: selling tickets to the annual Chili Cookoff or Pancake Breakfast, participating in the fall or spring fundraiser (we have sold Coke products, holiday wreaths, or coffee in past seasons)
*Families are able to payoff Volunteer hours and Fundraising if they are unable to participate*
Scholarship Information
The Girls Choir has never turned away an applicant because of an inability to pay and regularly seeks outside scholarship funding to assist those in need. If your family needs tuition assistance please follow the application process and turn in the scholarship application at your audition. Download the Scholarship Application Form here.
If you have questions or need assistance with anything please contact the office: chattanoogagirlschoir@gmail.com
Benefits of Joining the Choir
With your membership you receive:
- Weekly musical instruction during the season
- Multiple performance opportunities.
- CGC t-shirt and/or polo
- Formal performance wardrobe rental
Choir Tuition
Tuition for all grades is $500 per season (August-May) which breaks down to about $15 per week while we’re in session!
Discounts for siblings, early registration, early payoff, and referrals are available to all of our families. We also offer need based scholarships to ensure every girl that wants to sing with us has the opportunity to do so!
Alumna 1993 – 1994
Children’s book author and illustrator/Independent investor
I had trained seriously for years as a dancer and only came into the choir as a senior, so I was a little apprehensive about being accepted – and measuring up to – by the veteran girls. But everyone was so nice! There were fantastic altos around me at the time and it increased my musicianship exponentially right away. It was fun to be part of that wonderful sound!
Alumna 1991 – 1994
Board-certified family physician/Certified lifestyle management diplomate/ yoga instructor
I loved the way tour was such a uniting experience. Being away from home together for a long time created a real bond with the other girls. We got to sing in all of these different, amazing acoustical environments , and it was interesting to see how space could help define the sound the group made.