All-School Musical

Each year, the SDHS choral, instrumental, and drama departments collaborate to produce the all-school musical.  All SDHS high school students may audition for this production.  Auditions generally occur in January or February, and the performances are usually the first week in June.  For students who are selected, the time commitment in May is high.

Honor Choir

Honor Choir is a nationwide program sponsored regionally in Southern California by the Southern California Vocal Association and statewide by the California Choral Directors Association.  Students audition at the regional level for both Regional Honor Choir and All-State Honor Choir.  Auditions are rigorous.

This is a rare opportunity in which auditioned students are selected to participate in a choir featuring some of the best singers and directors from across the state.  The Honor Choirs will perform a unique set of literature chosen by the regional conductors.  From those singers chosen to sing in the Regional Choirs an even more select group of individuals will perform in the All-State Choirs.  Both the All-State and the Southern/SCVA Regional Choirs will include a mixed, women’s and men’s choir. 

Singers are chosen for Regional Honor Choir participation according to the raw scores received at the time of audition.  Singers interested in continuing on to the All-State Choirs will so indicate by circling YES on the regional honor choir audition form.  Singers will then be selected for the All-State Honor Choir according to the raw score received at the time of the initial audition process. If a new participant to the honor choir is selected they will be randomly placed into the Regional and All-State Mixed, Women’s or Men’s Honor Choir.   

Regional Honor Choir:

Students may audition for Regional Honor Choir with the recommendation of the SDHS Choral Director.  Auditions are held on a Saturday in September/October at local high school campuses.  The audition involves singing a prepared solo, sight-reading, and tonal memory.

Approximately 300 students from Southern California are selected and assigned to one of three choirs:  men’s, women’s or mixed.   The SDHS Choral Director is notified which students have been selected.  The students will be given music, which they are expected to learn on their own.

There is typically an all-day rehearsal at a high school in Southern California on a Saturday in October.  The Regional Southern California Honor Choir concert is usually held in November in Santa Monica.  On the weekend of the Honor Choir performance, students have all-day rehearsals on Friday and Saturday; the choirs then perform on Saturday evening.  Students will miss one day of school.

There is a nominal fee to audition and a participation fee (if selected).

All-State Honor Choir:

Students who score in the top one-third of the Regional Honor Choir singers are invited to participate at the state level.  The All-State Honor Choir has approximately 300 singers.  Students are notified in early December if they are selected, and students will be assigned to either the men’s, women’s or mixed choir.

The annual All-State Honor Choir performance is in a predetermined location in  California.  Like Regional Honor Choir, students receive their music in advance and are expected to learn it on their own.  Students are tested on the first day to verify preparedness.  There is a participation fee, which does not include transportation, housing, or meals.  Parents must arrange for their singer’s air travel, if necessary.

SCVA Vocal Competitions

Students may participate in the Southern California Vocal Competitions with the recommendation of the LCHS Choral Director or their private instructor.

Idyllwild Summer Program

Students come from around the world to participate in Idyllwild’s summer program, which takes place in August at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in Idyllwild, California.  Any student may audition for this program, which is an intensive two-week workshop for select high school and college-age singers designed to further develop vocal and musical skills.

Students who were selected for either the Regional or State Honor Choir are eligible to attend Idyllwild without an audition.  In addition, students recommended by the Director may not be required to submit an audition tape.

Tuition includes all meals and dormitory accommodations for two weeks. Scholarships may be available.  For more information, see the Idyllwild Arts website: www.idyllwildarts.org.