Choir
Choir
The Rock Island/Milan School District 41 choral music program is dedicated to quality choral music and performing in and around our community. RIHS Choirs typically have a good number of students qualify for IMEA (Illinois Music Educators Association) District II Choir Festival and District II Jazz Festival in November, with some advancing to the All-State Music Festival in January. Groups also compete annually at Solo & Ensemble Contest and Organizational Contest in the spring, earning many Superior and Excellent ratings. The choirs are currently under the direction of Mr. Scott Voigt, with the assistance of Mrs. Cheryl Bolt.
The Rock Island High School Chamber Choir
The Rock Island/Milan School District 41 choral music program is dedicated to quality choral music and performing in and around our community. RIHS Choirs typically have a good number of students qualify for IMEA (Illinois Music Educators Association) District II Choir Festival and District II Jazz Festival in November, with some advancing to the All-State Music Festival in January. Groups also compete annually at Solo & Ensemble Contest and Organizational Contest in the spring, earning many Superior and Excellent ratings. The choirs are currently under the direction of Mr. Scott Voigt, with the assistance of Mrs. Cheryl Bolt.
The Rock Island High School Chamber Choir
- Chamber Singers, a select group of 16-24 members, are in high demand as a performing group throughout the Quad Cities area, especially during the holiday season, normally having 15-20 performances a year. They perform a wide variety of choral literature, including madrigals, chamber music, vocal jazz, spirituals, contemporary, and various genres of popular music. They compete each spring as a madrigal group, chamber ensemble, jazz choir, and mixed choir. During the holiday season, they may be seen performing on Paula Sands Live on KWQC-TV6.
- Symphonic Choir is an auditioned group, with most members having at least one year of previous experience. The group performs a wide variety of choral music and joins with Chamber Singers to form a larger choir for some performances, including Organizational Contest in the spring. All members of Symphonic Choir compete at Solo & Ensemble Contest.
- Concert Choir, for beginning choir members, is open to all students in grades 9-12. The group performs at one concert per quarter and focuses much class time on learning choral techniques and fundamentals of reading music. Members may choose to compete at Solo & Ensemble Contest. No experience is necessary, but a good attitude and a willingness to learn new things are keys to success in the class.
Washington Jr. High Choir/Edison Jr. High Choir
Our district junior high choirs are open to all students in grades 7-8. Junior high choir members perform once per quarter, including concerts at their respective schools and a joint concert with the high school choirs at the end of the first quarter. Students may also choose to audition for IMEA District II Junior Festival in the fall, as well compete with a solo and/or ensemble at the Illinois Grade School Music Association Contest (IGSMA) in the spring. The Washington Choir is currently led by Mr. Voigt and Mrs. Bolt.
About the faculty:
Scott S. Voigt, Director – RIHS, WJHS
Originally from South Dakota, Mr. Voigt received a Bachelors of Arts in Music Education degree from the University of Sioux Falls in 1998. After a brief stint as a part-time middle school choral director in Barrington, IL, he became the choral director at John Hancock High School in Chicago, IL, where he taught for 8 years before coming to Rock Island High School in the fall of 2007. In 2005, Mr. Voigt received a Master of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago.
Contact: 309-793-5950 ext. 1220; Email Contact >> [email protected]
Cheryl Bolt, Accompanist – RIHS, WJHS
Mrs. Bolt has been an active member of the RIHS music department since 2000. She received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from St. Ambrose University in 1999 and currently serves as the head organist at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Moline, IL.
Contact: 309-793-5950 ext. 1220; Email Contact >> [email protected]