DISCOVERY SESSIONS

A Cappella Choir represents the most advanced choir in a rural community of about 9,800. My goal in directing this ensemble is to provide students with enriching choral experiences that develop their love for music-making. While I believe we achieve this goal well, my students emphasize that it is the friendships and sense of camaraderie that keeps them coming back for more. In this session you will hear A Cappella Choir perform and you'll gain community-building strategies to use in any context: rural, urban, or in-between.

Ditch Your Auditions!
Jenny Bell and the Mountain View Choir will present a different approach to school choir program structure that eliminates the need for auditioned ensembles while still providing an experience and atmosphere of excellence. Reimagine your program without "failing" any student or leaving anyone behind in the typical choral ensemble hierarchy. Jenny Bell will share the philosophy that guides her decisions and how she structures her program where students self-select their ensembles.

Description coming soon.

This high energy program will feature original songs from our upcoming album interspersed with dialogue about why and how we do this work of building a sense of belonging with this diverse community. Songs will likely include: · “Moon Song”- song inspired by teenage boys detained locally who when asked “How is the moon different from back home?” answered, “There’s no moon for us here.” · “I’m Just Like You”- song co-written by a Congolese refugee about his desire to belong and build a safe life just like the rest of us. · “Everyone Can Love Someone”- a song sung at every TRC practice and event that states, “It doesn’t matter where you’re from, we all need love.” While not yet confirmed, we may invite a partner organization, Neema Youth Choir of Spokane, to join us for this session. These youth from central African countries are joyful and inspiring and can be part of demonstrating how quickly the spirit of welcoming can be developed as we reach out and cultivate these relationships.

Yelling Choir will perform a 15-20 minute original collaborative composition incorporating movement and voice. We will then provide a 5-10 minute description and demonstration of extended vocal yelling techniques and our rehearsal process and philosophy.