"Take Note"
Carmel High School Choir Newsletter - November 2
Holiday Spectacular Performer Tickets On Sale This Week
Performance Dates/Times:
Wednesday, Thursday, & Saturday December 2, 3 & 5 at 7pm
Saturday & Sunday, December 5 & 6 at 2pm
CHS Auditorium - reserved seating - tiered pricing $14-$24
Online pre-sale window for performers & members of production only (6 ticket limit):
https://carmelperformingarts.ludus.com/index.php
Seniors - sales begin Tues, Nov 3 at NOON
Juniors - sales begin Wed, Nov 4 at NOON
Sophomores - sales begin Thurs, Nov 5 at NOON
Freshmen - sales begin Fri, Nov 6 at NOON
CHS Staff sales - Mon, Nov 9 - Wed, Nov 11
Public sales begin Thurs, Nov 12 at 9:00am
Please click below for all instructions on how and where to purchase tickets to all choir events this year. Please be aware that nearly all of our performances sell out, so it is very important that performer families purchase their tickets on the day they are made available to them. If you wait until tickets are on sale to the public, you risk not getting a seat.
All ticket questions should be directed to the CHS Performing Arts Department Administrative Assistant, April Culbertson at aculbert@ccs.k12.in.us
***If any family is in a financial situation that makes it difficult to purchase a ticket to see your child perform, please reach out to their director and we can assist.
Poinsettia Helpers Needed - Sign Up Here
The Poinsettias will arrive at the Greyhound Activity Center (GAC), the new building north of the football stadium, on the morning of Friday, November 20th. We will need help unloading trucks in the morning, and then organizing plants in the afternoon.
On Saturday the 21st, students will pick up their orders at the GAC, and then there will be a short period to break down the delivery area.
We need volunteers for two-hour shifts through both days (Friday 12:30-6:30, and Saturday 8:00-2:00).
Sign up! Lets support the department and faculty who work hard to give their students all they receive year in and year out.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B094DAFA629A31-67212770-2026#/
Holiday Spectacular Volunteers Needed
Hello Choir Family, YOU ARE ALL AMAZING!!!!
Thank you for your incredible response to the Holiday Spectacular Sign-Up-Genius!!!! As you read it, I’m sure you understood what an enormous undertaking this is. There were 558 volunteer opportunities available, and you all have filled 342 of them to date. For those that like math that means the SUG is 61% full!!!
This also means that I have 216 volunteer spots that need to be filled to ensure that everything runs smoothly for Spec. There are many opportunities available. Every Choir needs more Chaperones.
Please take a moment and see where your help is still needed and sign up.
If you have not had a chance to volunteer, please do so. Every family is needed to make this happen.
Here is the link to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090848AFAF22A13-66893542-holiday#/
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me. bsxsix@gmail.com or 317-496-8301
Thank you in advance for your help.
Barb Sullivan, House Manager
Solo & Ensemble Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for this year's ISSMA Solo and Ensemble event! If you are in private voice lessons, I HIGHLY recommend participating in this event to get some constructive feedback on your current classical performance. If you are not currently in lessons, see any of the choir directors for more information and recommendation on pieces to perform. The event is January 30th at Noblesville West Middle School. Forms are due Friday, November 27th, with payment due at that time as well. You can pay online or bring a physical check made out to Carmel High School to Mrs. DeBard's office. Make sure you hit submit on the registration form. Mrs. DeBard will post a list of registered students on December 30th so that those who registered can be sure it went through. Please fill out the form below to register and let Mrs. DeBard know if you have any questions!
Half Notes Registration Now Open
It’s that time of year again! Registration is now open for Half Notes 2027 with the Carmel Ambassadors.
Who: Open to students in grades 4-6
When: Friday January 29, 2027 (4:30pm-halftime of the boys basketball game)
What: They will learn a song and choreography to a popular song that afternoon. They will be split into groups and be assigned an Ambassador to work with. It will include a pizza party and some fun with the Ambassadors, and then they will perform their number at halftime for the game. Each family receives 4 free tickets to the game that evening as well!
Register: Via QR code on the ad or by following this link directly: https://carmelchoirs.org/half-notes/
Note: Due to a longer lead time for t-shirts, we must submit all orders by 12/11. Any registrations received after that date are not guaranteed a t-shirt!
CLASS AUCTION BASKET THEMES
Master Class with Cara Rose DiPietro
Join us Saturday, November 21st! For 2 Exclusive Master Classes with Broadway Influencer and Performer Cara Rose DiPietro! Vocal Master Class: 10:00am-11:30am Social Media Class: 11:30am - 1:00pm About the Classes Vocal Master Class
Age: 14-22 years old
Attire: Please dress as you would for a professional audition.
What to Bring: Come prepared with sheet music of a 16-bar cut of a song in your repertoire for live coaching.
Join Broadway social media personality and performer Cara Rose DiPietro for an interactive vocal master class designed for aspiring young performers ages 14-22. Students will receive professional coaching, personalized feedback, and practical techniques to strengthen their vocal performance, storytelling, and audition skills.
Social Media Master Class
Age: 18+ years old
What to Bring: Come prepared to take notes and learn from Cara, who boasts over 400k+ followers across platforms and 40 million likes!
Join Cara Rose DiPietro for a lecture-style master class exploring social media, personal branding, and content creation in the entertainment industry. Designed for college students, emerging artists, and theater and social media professionals, this class will offer practical insights into building an online presence, growing an audience, and using social media to advance professional opportunities.
Get To Know Cara! Cara Cara Rose DiPietro is a New York City-based actor, singer, and content creator. Known as @cararosedipietro, she has built a community of 350K+ followers with 44 million likes across TikTok and Instagram by sharing her journey as an artist in New York City. Since graduating from Elon University's BFA Music Theatre program in 2021, Cara has appeared on CBS's Elsbeth and at theaters across the country. In March 2025, she made her New York City solo concert debut at 54 Below with My Mother's Daughter. Her 2024 TEDx Talk, "Confessions of a Recovering Theatre Kid," was a TEDx Editors' Pick, and she is a passionate advocate for mental health in the performing arts.
Songbook Academy Applications Open
Next summer, 40 high school singers will come together in Carmel, Indiana, for the Songbook Academy, taking place July 17–24, 2027.
Students will explore the Great American Songbook through small-group coaching with vocal coaches and music directors, guest mentor sessions, and opportunities to develop their storytelling, interpretation, and vocal technique. Plus, every student performs on the world-class Payne & Mencias Palladium stage.
Singers from musical theatre, jazz, pop, and other backgrounds are welcome. No extensive Songbook experience is required.
Students in grades 9–12, including homeschooled students, are eligible to apply. Previous participants who remain eligible are welcome to reapply.
Every applicant receives written feedback from a national panel of music professionals and educators, whether or not they are accepted.
- Early bird application fee: $35 through December 31, 2026; $50 beginning January 1.
- Priority deadline: March 21, 2027, for an admission decision by April 14.
- Final deadline: March 28, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Full and partial financial assistance and application fee waivers are available. Visit our website for audition requirements, program fees, and financial assistance details.
Interested? Start an application today. Opening an application lets our team know you’re interested so we can offer support as you work through the process. Your progress is saved, so you can return to finish and submit when you’re ready.
Raise Right Physical Gift Cards On Sale
Happy Holidays, Choir Family - Physical Gift Card Sales Now Open
I’m happy to announce that physical gift card sales are now open through RaiseRight!
Sales will remain open through Sunday, November 29 (the Sunday after Thanksgiving). Between now and then, RaiseRight is offering lots of gift card bonuses, so it’s a great time to stock up on physical cards for all your holiday gifting: stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, gift exchanges, office parties.
RaiseRight has several promotions running during this window to help you earn bonuses. For a short time only, you can also get $5 and $10 increments for places like Starbucks, Chipotle, Panera—perfect stocking stuffers for your teens!
I’ll close physical gift card orders after that weekend, so the cards arrive in time for me to distribute them at Holiday Spec.
Enjoy your holiday shopping—take advantage of earning bonuses and don’t forget to get a little something for yourself, too!
Local Opportunity for Singers
Voice Day - Saturday, November 1st from 9 am - 2 pm. Individual Middle School and High School aspiring singers who have been recommended by their voice teachers or choir directors are welcome to come to University of Indianapolis for an individual voice lesson, ensemble singing, audition prep class, music theory and sight-reading workshop, t-shirt and lunch with a mini showcase at 1:30 p.m.
Cost is $30.00 to cover lunch and materials (limited to 24 singers.)
"Paint the Town Pink" - Carmel Accents 50th Anniversary Celebration
https://carmelchoirs.org/accents-50/
Join us for a spectacular celebration of five decades of sisterhood, music, and unforgettable memories as the Carmel High School Accents mark its 50th Anniversary by "Painting the Town Pink." This milestone concert honors the legacy of past and present staff members who have shaped generations of talented performers, while showcasing the extraordinary voices that have made Accents a beloved tradition. The evening will feature special alumni performances, bringing together singers from across the decades to share the stage once more. Take a nostalgic trip down memory lane as we revisit iconic moments, beloved songs, and the enduring bonds of sisterhood that have defined Accents for half a century. This is more than a concert—it's a heartfelt tribute to the passion, dedication, and harmony that continue to inspire new generations of young women in music.
We are asking all Accents Alumni to complete the form below and share some of their favorite memories and songs. Alumni Memory Form
Carmel Accents Alumni Facebook Group
Accents 50 Years Instagram Account
Tickets on sale now!
BECOME AN ANGEL TODAY!
Are you interested in supporting the Carmel High School Choir Program with your financial donation? Become an OVATION Angel today! This opportunity is for parents, grandparents, alumni, businesses, or anyone else who appreciates what the Carmel Choir Program provides for hundreds of students each year.
Click the link below to find out how your financial contribution can not only support over 400 talented students this year, but also how you can receive special perks like reserved parking, complimentary concessions, early ticket reservations, and more. We appreciate your support more than you know. Deadline for all Angels to be listed in the Fall Concert Program is September 12.
https://www.cognitoforms.com/CarmelChoirs/_20262027AngelSponsorship
BECOME A CHOIR CORPORATE SPONSOR
BECOME A CHOIR CORPORATE SPONSOR
BECOME A CHOIR CORPORATE SPONSOR
BECOME A CHOIR CORPORATE SPONSOR
2026-2027 Choir Calendar
26-27 Choir Google Calendar:
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=carmelchoirs%40gmail.com&ctz=America%2FNew_York
Instructions to subscribe to the 26-27 Carmel Choirs Google Calendar found in the Choir Handbook
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kDRivgOJwA1I-oHUAe12749pJUxn1T7z/view?usp=drive_link
iCal Subscribe Link:
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/carmelchoirs%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics
Mark Your Calendars!
Saturday, November 14 - 9am - 4pm
Wednesday, November 18 - 4:15pm - 6:30pm
Wednesday, November 19 - 4:15pm - 6:30pm
Monday, November 23 - 4:15pm - 6:45pm
Monday, November 23 - 8th grade family showcase 7-8pm
Monday, November 30 - 5:30pm - 9:30pm
Tuesday, December 1 - 5:30pm - 9:30pm (full dress rehearsal)
Wednesday, December 2 - Performance #1 (6:00pm Call Time, 7pm performance)
Thursday, December 3 - Performance #2 (6:00pm Call Time, 7pm performance)
Friday, December 4 - SSRT Matinee performance, NO EVENING PERFORMANCE
Saturday, December 5 - Performance #3 & 4 (1:00pm Call Time, 2pm & 7pm performances)
Sunday, December 6 - Performance #5 (1:00pm Call Time, 2pm performance)
December 13 - Select Sound "Holiday Harmony" at Feinstein's
February 25 - Choral Showcase Concert
March 17 & 18 - Evening of Show Choir
March 25 - Blue & Gold Company/Rhapsody Mini-Tour Field Trip
April 1 - 10 - European Choir Tour (France/England)
April 18 - Accents 50th Anniversary Show "Paint the Town Pink" - Palladium
April 22 - Ear Candy Concert
May 2 - Choir Awards Ceremony
May 13-15 - Spring Musical "Legally Blonde"
May 20 - Spring Choir Concert
REQUIRED 26-27 Choir Forms
2. Permission Slip/Health Form 26-27
3. Non-Competition Choir Expectations Agreement 26-27 (SS, ALL, GS, BG, RHAP, EXP, & CP)
Competition Choir Expectations Agreement 26-27 (AMB, ACC, & NE ONLY)
4. Payment Agreement/Selection Form 26-27 (for your individual choir)
- Accents Financial Agreement
- Allegro Financial Agreement
- Ambassadors Financial Agreement
- Blue & Gold Financial Agreement
- Counterpoints Financial Agreement
- Expressions Financial Agreement
- Greyhound Sound Financial Agreement
- Greyhound Sound (if it is you second choir) Financial Agreement
- New Edition Financial Agreement
- Rhapsody Financial Agreement
- Select Sound Financial Agreement
- Select Sound (if it is your second choir) Financial Agreement
Students need to join the Remind Group for whatever choir they are in starting in June 2026.
Text the appropriate code below to 81010
Accents - @26acc27
Allegro - @26all27
Ambassadors - @26amb27
Blue & Gold Company - @26bg27
Counterpoints - @26cp27
Expressions - @26exp27
Greyhound Sound - @26gs27
New Edition - @26ne27
Rhapsody - @26rha27
Select Sound - @25ss26
Forms for Parents to Complete:(Parent Resource Folder)
Angel Sponsor Form(Optional)
Carmel Choirs Social Media
Ambassadors 26-27 Parent Facebook Group
Select Sound 26-27 Parent Facebook Group
Accents 26-27 Parent Facebook Group
Blue & Gold 26-27 Parent Facebook Group
New Edition 26-27 Parent Facebook Page
OVATION BOARD Contact List
Once the 26-27 OVATION Board is finalized, we will post contact information here.
Raise Right Fundraising Program
RaiseRight is an AMAZING way to earn funds towards paying off choir fees and trips. 100% of the profit earned by you goes towards your child's account. Multiple people can earn for one student so even out of town friends and family can sign up to support your child. We HIGHLY recommend this great program. All of the details can be found in this google folder at the link below. Leanne Dimon is the parent in charge of this program and she can answer any questions you may have.
RaiseRight families, please know that due to the high cost of shipping physical gift cards we only process these orders twice per year. We will have an opportunity in the fall to purchase physical cards. In the meantime, please purchase e-gift cards only.
Contact Leanne Dimon with any questions about this program.
317-503-1234
Important Information For Choir Families
Support Carmel Choirs
Link your Kroger Card to OVATION
Become a corporate sponsor or advertise in our programs
Costume Requirements
Students Wearing Suits Must Provide the Following:
Students Wearing Dresses Must Provide the Following:
Strapless Long-Torso Strapless Bra
(Accents will be measured specifically and should wait to purchase a long-line bra)
Flesh-Tone Sheet To Waist Pantyhose
Tan Ankle-Strap Character Shoes
Students must have all items prior to the Fall Concert Rehearsal on September 25
See Directors if assistance is needed to obtain items
Recommended Private Instructors
We cannot recommend highly enough that students who are serious about advancing in the program, and being the best musician they can possibly be, take private lessons. Here is a list of recommended instructors and resources that students can access if they are interested.
STUDENT, PARENT, & ALUMNI TESTIMONIALS NEEDED
As we update the website and put together some new recruiting materials, we are looking for some parents and students (current and alumni) to submit testimonials about the Carmel Choir Program telling us about your positive experience in the program and what you gained from being a part of it. This can be as short as one sentence or a paragraph. It can also be a video if you would prefer. If you are interested in submitting a testimonial, please use the form linked below. Please pass this along to any alumni that you are still in contact with.
Follow Carmel Choirs on Social Media
Accents 26-27 Parent Facebook Group
Ambassadors 26-27 Parent Facebook Group
Blue & Gold 26-27 Parent Facebook Group
Expressions 26-27 Parent Facebook Group
Select Sound 26-27 Parent Facebook Group
New Edition 26-27 Parent Facebook Group (coming soon)
Contact the Choir Directors
Mrs. Kathrine Kouns (Accents, Select Sound, Blue & Gold Company, Expressions)
Mr. Kyle Barker (Ambassadors, Allegro, Greyhound Sound, Counterpoints)
Mrs. Anna DeBard (New Edition, Rhapsody, Applied Music)
Carmel High School Choir Department
Email: carmelchoirs@gmail.com
Website: www.carmelchoirs.org
Location: 520 East Main Street, Carmel, IN, USA
Phone: (317) 846-7721
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmelchoirs
Twitter: @carmelchoirs