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The
Vernon Township High School Choirs
have
been recognized as representing one of the most outstanding choral
programs in the state of New Jersey. Two curricular choirs
Concert
Choir
and Meistersingers,
meet every day and are under the direction
of Mr. Kevin Boehm. A graduate of West Chester University in 2009, Mr. Boehm started teaching at Vernon in
September of 2009. The VTHS Choral Program is proud to welcome their new accompanist as of
September 2009, Mrs. Cherwyn Ambuter.
The two choirs combined number approximately 70 students. These
singers merge under the direction of Mr. Boehm performing as the
Symphonic
Choir
at the concerts. Mr. Boehm also conducts the vocal chamber ensembles:
Les Chanteuses
(select
women),
Chanticleer
(select
men), and Close Harmony (select acappella group). The choirs
perform three concerts yearly: a holiday concert, a spring concert, and
an "On Broadway" Concert. The choirs also
present many other concerts through the year and appear in evaluative
festivals such as the NJ ACDA High School Festival. In 2007, the choir traveled to Disney World and
performed in the American Pavilion Rotunda in Epcot and in 2009 the
choir traveled to Boston and performed in Old North Liberty Church and
at Six Flags, New England.
Choir
Council is a student elected board of 9 dedicated choir members
who hold leadership positions. This council meets approximately
twice per month with Mr. Boehm and devotes their time and energy into
helping run the choral program.
Accomplishments
and highlights of the VTHS choral program:
- Vernon
choirs have twice appeared at the United Nations. One of these
events was as the featured choir for International Peace Day.
- Vernon
choirs have twice represented the state of New Jersey at Eastern
Division Conferences of the Music Educators National Conference:
Boston, Massachusetts-1983 and Rochester, New York-1995.
- Vernon
choirs have frequently caroled at the METLIFE building in New York
as part of the Christmas Cheer for Children program.
- Vernon
choirs have sung in the Brutan Parish church in Williamsburg,
Virginia, Ford's Theater and the Capital Steps in Washington D.C.,
and in the Basilica De Notre Dame in Quebec City, Canada.
- In
December-1998 and again in December-2002 the Vernon choirs participated in Disney's Candlelight
Ceremony at the Epcot Center in Orlando. The VTHS Concert
Choir also performed on the Tomorrow Land Stage in Magic Kingdom in
1998.
- Vernon
choirs have received "superior" and "outstanding"
ratings at Region and State festivals sponsored by ACDA, NJMEA, and
NJSMA.
- Vernon
choirs have received "superior" and
"outstanding" ratings in National and International choir
festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City, and Hershey, PA.
- Vernon
choirs have twice appeared in the State Capital Rotunda in Trenton,
New Jersey, and have made several appearances at State Music
Educators' convention, the NJEA convention in Atlantic City, and
County and State Teen Art Festivals.
- In 2002, the
VTHS Meistersingers won the WSUS Music in Our Schools Month contest
with their rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
- In 2005 the
Vernon Township High School Symphonic Choir executed a European tour
to Paris, France and London, England and performed a Bon Voyage
concert at Sacred Heart Basilica, Newark and sung at Southwark
Cathedral - London, England and Cathedral de Notre Dame - Paris,
France.
- In 2007,
the Vernon Township High School Choir went to Disney World in
Orlando, Florida and performed at the American Pavilion Rotunda at
Epcot.
- In 2008,
the VTHS Meistersingers performed in the New Jersey Festival Choir
at Carnegie Hall.
- In 2009, the VTHS
Meitsersingers performed in the Sussex Symphony's 50th Anniversary
Concert at the First Presbyterian Church in Newton.
- In 2009, the VTHS
Choir went to Boston Massachusetts and performed at the historic Old
North Church.
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