Choir News
Notes from the Choir Department - September 2026
Welcome to the Patrick Henry Choir Page! Below, you will find information about choir, concert, City LIghts, the school musical, and more! Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Choir Contract Google Form:If you haven't already, please read, sign, and submit the Choir Contract Google Form by Thursday, September 3rd.
Here is the link to the google form - https://forms.gle/GUwb2qD4a4MoTp6E6
Concert Policy: We have two main concerts this year where student attendance is mandatory. Attending concerts is part of each student’s grade. If a student is sick and misses school the day of the concert, please communicate with us as soon as possible. Please mark these concerts on your calendars now so that you can avoid any conflicts as we get closer to the events:
Winter Concert: Thursday, November 19th at Lincoln High School
6th Grade Concert - 5:30 PM
7th/8th Grade Combined Concert - 7:00 PM
Spring Concert: Thursday, May 20th at Lincoln High
6th Grade Concert - 5:30 PM
7th/8th Grade Combined Concert - 7:00 PM
Concert Attire: We would like students to wear all black and look dressy for the concerts. Students should not wear the black music department t-shirts from previous years - we are going for a more formal / dressed up look. :)
Examples of Appropriate Concert Attire: Black dresses, long skirts, shorter skirts with leggings or tights underneath, dress pants, dressy tops/blouses, button up shirts, black dress shoes, black ties, black polo shirts, etc. We recommend dark close-toed shoes for safety purposes. Shoes should also look dressy.
Examples of Inappropriate Concert Attire: T-shirts, pajama pants, hooded or crewneck sweatshirts, any shirts with big words, writing, or logos on the front, slippers, slides, etc.
Students will be expected to follow the school dress code for concerts (dresses or skirts should be long enough; no spaghetti strap dresses unless covered with a sweater).
Please let us know if there are any issues getting proper concert attire! We want to help. :)
Concert Attendance Policy -
These concerts are a mandatory part of the performance grade for the class. Students should not miss these concerts, as they are important cumulative experiences for the semester. Should an emergency come up the day of the concert (illness, family emergency/death, etc), a make-up will be offered. In order to fulfill the performance grade the concert provides, two things must be completed -
Students will need to schedule a time with Mrs. Meyer or Mrs. Stadem to come in and sing their portion/voice part of the concert. They may bring 2-3 friends with them of the same voice part to sing with them, just like they would have other students singing with them at the concert. This make-up assignment needs to be made up before the end of each semester after the concert.
Students must find recordings on youtube of other choirs singing our songs and write a 2 paragraph review on each piece. This fulfills the reflection portion of the performance experience students who attended the concert will complete. Please see Mrs. Meyer for the format of this portion. This is also due by the end of the semester after the concert.
City Lights: City Lights is an auditioned show choir open to students in 7th and 8th Grade. Rehearsals are before school on Tuesdays and Fridays from 7:40 - 8:40 AM.**
The first rehearsal will be Tuesday, September 15th at 7:40 AM.
Auditions for City Lights will be held September 2 - 11 in the choir room. Students will be able to sign up for an audition time in the choir room at open house on Monday, August 24th, and once school starts. Additional audition dates may be added, if needed. All potential new and returning City Lights members must audition. The ensemble regularly performs in public, so placement in the ensemble will depend on individual audition preparation, as well as behavior, leadership, and other aspects of Panther Pride displayed in the PHMS choir department. Students may audition individually, or with 1-2 other people. Auditions are first come, first serve. Here is what students can prepare for the audition -
My Country Tis of Thee - we will work on this during class
A song of their choice - something that showcases their voice and they can sing memorized and with confidence; that they can either sing a cappella or with an accompaniment they find.
Weekly Rehearsals: 7:40-8:40 am on Tuesdays and Fridays (before school)
**A detailed calendar of City Lights dates will be given out at the first rehearsal on September 15th.
Important Choir Dates 2026-2027
September 2nd-11th: City Lights Auditions (after school; before school if needed)
8th Grade + SFSD High School Combined Concerts (only attend the concert for your area HS)
Monday, October 26th: LHS Fall Choir Concert with 8th Graders - 6:00 pm
Friday, November 6th: JHS Fall Choir Concert with 8th Graders - 6:00 pm
Monday, November 9th: WHS Fall Choir Concert with 8th Graders - 6:00 pm
Tuesday, November 24th: RHS Fall Choir Concert with 8th Graders - 6:00 pm
Thursday, November 19th: Patrick Henry Winter Choir Concert @ LHS
December 7th - December 11th: PHMS Musical Auditions @ Choir Room after school
Tuesday, January 12th: City Lights Preview Show @ PHMS Gym - 7:30 pm
Friday, January 15th: Cavalier Classic Competition @ JHS (Evening TBD; City Lights only)
Friday, January 22nd - Sat, January 23rd: SD Junior Honor Choir in Sioux Falls (select students)
Friday, January 29th: Executive Showcase Competition @ RHS (Evening TBD; City Lights only)
Thursday, February 4th: PHMS 8th Grade Band and Choir Concert @ LHS (tentative; 8th grade only; evening)
Thursday, February 11th: 8th Grade Choir Performs @ SDSU Choral Day (during the day; time TBD)
Thursday, February 11th: SDSU Elementary Honor Choir (select 6th grade students)
Friday, February 12th: Best of Show Competition @ WHS (Evening TBD; City Lights only)
Thursday, February 18th: City Light Friends and Family Show @ PHMS Gym - 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 13th: Musical Dress Rehearsal @ PHMS - 10:00 am - 2:30 pm (musical cast)
2027 Patrick Henry Middle School Musical
Thursday, March 18th - 7:00 pm
Friday, March 19th - 9:20 am - Elementary School Feeders Performance only
Friday, March 19th - 7:00 pm
Saturday, March 20th - 2:00 pm
Saturday, March 20th - 7:00 pm
Thursday, May 20th: Patrick Henry Spring Choir Concert @ LHS
**Important City Lights Dates 2026-2027
Weekly Rehearsals: 7:40-8:40 am on Tuesdays and Fridays (before school)
7th and 8th Graders in Choir may audition
September 2nd-8th: City Lights Auditions (after school; before school if needed)
Tuesday, September 15th: First Rehearsal - 7:40 - 8:40 AM
Friday, October 9th: Sing the National Anthem @ the Stampede (evening)
Saturday, October 17th: Parent Meeting after Choreo Camp @ PHMS - 4:15 PM
Saturday, December 5th: Choreo Rehearsal with Band @ PHMS
Saturday, January 9th: Choreo Rehearsal with Band @ PHMS (tentative)
Tuesday, January 12th: Parent Preview Show @ PHMS (7:30 pm)
Friday, January 15th: Cavalier Classic Competition @ JHS (evening)
Tuesday, January 26th: Rehearsal on Stage @ RHS HS (6:00 - 7:00 pm)
Friday, January 29th: Executive Showcase Competition @ RHS (evening)
Friday, February 5th: Choreo/Pizza/Movie Night Afterschool @ PHMS (4:00 - 8:30 PM)
Tuesday, February 9th: Rehearsal on Stage @ WHS HS (tentative; time TBD)
Friday, February 12th: Best of Show Competition @ WHS (evening)
Thursday, February 18th: Friends and Family Show @ PHMS Gym (7:30 pm)
Wednesday, March 24th: Elementary Tour - all day
Choreo Camps - Saturday, Sept 19; Saturday Oct 17; Wednesday, November 11
**Please note: this schedule is subject to change. Notifications of any changes will be communicated as soon as possible. A full detailed schedule will be given out at the first rehearsal.
As always, if there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Meyer at Hailey.Meyer@k12.sd.us or Mrs. Stadem at Tara.Stadem@k12.sd.us.
