Ensembles and Programming

Horizon Choir (formerly Master Singers)

Consisting of singers ranging in age from 12-18 (typically grades 7-12), the Horizon Choir is a choral ensemble led by our artistic director. The goal of the ensemble is to build upon the musicianship of our singers, whether having participated in our younger choirs or not. This is accomplished through weekly rehearsals in which students learn a wide range of choral music in preparation for performances in addition to the inclusion of our Music Mastery Program outlined below.

The Horizon Choir are committed to learning diverse choral repertoire that ranges from historical to contemporary, and represents a variety of cultures from across the globe. The ensemble performs in two concerts annually in addition to several run-out events, such as our past performances with the Long Beach Chorale, the Camerata Singers of Long Beach, the Long Beach Symphony, Jelly of the Month Club, and more!

Wayfinder Ensemble (formerly Chamber Singers)

The Wayfinder Ensemble is a small ensemble of 10-12 singers, chosen through audition from the Horizon Choir. The approach to repertoire is similar to Horizon Choir, with focus on music that is more challenging and varied repertoire. The Wayfinder Ensemble rehearse for 45-60 minutes after the end of Horizon Choir, from 5:30 to 6:15 or 6:30, depending on the amount and difficulty of the repertoire, and usually sings 2-3 pieces in each LBYC concert.

Tideline Voices (formerly Elementary Choir)

The Tideline Voices is for children in grades 4-6. It is a non-auditioned choir that focuses on the fundamentals of choral singing. This choir sings music in one to three parts, and works towards developing good vocal technique, tone, vowels, projection and pitch control. The Tideline Voices rehearses for an hour, from 4:30-5:30, and joins the older Horizon Choir for some repertoire, thereby developing relationships through the entire Chorus.

Shoreline Singers (formerly the Young Musicians Program)

The Shoreline Singers is intended for children in grades 1-3, and serves two functions. Using a variety of instruments and instruction, we will instill a lifelong appreciation of music. We will also train them to be able to perform some of the more difficult repertoire used by the main ensembles. By the time they graduate, students will be able to:

• Keep a consistent beat on a small handful of instruments.

• Recognize and identify several different genres of music.

• Understand solfege and the basics of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

• Read and write musical notation.

• Perform a handful of pieces by working in a group.

LBYC Ensemble Grade and Age Policies

Students are assigned to the requisite ensembles based on both age and grade level. In the case of exemplary musicianship, exceptions may be made, but these are the general guidelines: