Chorus Student Handbook
and Resources 

Welcome!

The Deland High Chorus is excited to welcome you to our musical family! We have an exciting, action-packed year ahead of us. This handbook is designed to help you and your family become familiar with the operations of the Deland High Chorus. Please keep a copy of the handbook handy throughout the year.

Fall Tune Up: Wednesday, September 11th at 7pm

Please plan to join us for performances by all of our singers and a parent meeting in the Deland HS Auditorium. Chorus students will be taking part in activities from 2:30pm until the concert at 7pm.

Parent involvement

Parents, we need YOU! We are always on the lookout for volunteers to help our program run efficiently. By volunteering, you will get to be close to your child as they have great choral experiences.

There are a couple of ways you can support the Deland High Chorus:

  • Apply online at https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/MTYxOmVuLVVT

    Field trip chaperones must be approved VCS volunteers. This includes non-overnight trips such as District MPA, Stetson Choral Festival, etc. If you think there is any chance at all that you will want to chaperone or help out with a choral event, we encourage you to apply. We host and perform at District MPA, and it is an ‘all hands on deck’ event!

  • We will happily accept donations of gently used black dress pants and black dress shoes.

    Additionally, check out our Amazon wishlist here.

  • DCPA (Deland Chorus Parents Association) is a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide assistance to the Deland HS Choral Department students and faculty. This organization serves to further and support the quality of music education for all of our students. The DCPA has open board meetings once a month. There are also two annual General Meetings (Fall Tune-up in September and Annual Meeting in May) for all parents. See calendar on the Event page for dates.

Uniforms

Chorus students are expected to adhere to our strict uniform guidelines for every performance. This promotes uniformity and assists the audience with focusing on our sound more than our individual look.

At the beginning of the year, students will be assigned uniforms. We offer both Dress and Tuxedo options. These are the responsibility of each individual student. They are to be returned May 6th, or earlier if a student leaves the class for any reason.

Uniforms that are not returned (or that are returned damaged) at the end of the year will be submitted to the school as a financial obligation. The student will be responsible for paying the replacement price of lost or damaged items. See the Uniform Rental Agreement for more information.

Uniform details

Dress Option: We will provide our black chorus dress. It is short sleeved and made of a comfortable (washable) knit. [Laundry instructions: Machine wash in cold water. Hang dry.]

Tuxedo Option: We will provide a black tuxedo jacket and black long tie. (Tie will be issued and returned at each performance.) Tuxedo jackets are dry clean only.

Other Uniform Tips & Expectations

  • When returning your uniform or bringing it to school for a performance event, please label all pieces with your name in a non-permanent way.

  • If alterations are necessary, please don’t cut any of the material. Damage to the rental garments will result in a fine.

  • Dresses must be hemmed to the appropriate length. Unaltered garments can provide a safety hazard as we are often climbing up and down off risers/steps. Long dresses, especially, can cause a student to trip and fall. If you are able to take care of alterations on your own, please use black thread and DO NOT CUT any of the material.

  • Please shower and wear deodorant to all performances. Please do not use heavily scented soaps, perfume, etc. as other students may be allergic/asthmatic.

  • Jewelry: Should be limited. Earrings should be small. Please do not wear necklaces.

  • Hair: Long hair should be pulled back out of the face neatly. (In the event of shorter haircuts, all hair must be pulled back out of the face with barrettes or headbands.) Natural hair colors only, please.

  • Make-up: May include basic day-to-day makeup so as not to be washed out by stage lighting. “Stage make-up” such as one might wear for a dance or theatrical performance is not necessary.

TO BE PURCHASED BY CHORUS MEMBERS PRIOR TO FIRST FORMAL PERFORMANCE:

Dress wearers: Black shoes with closed toe/closed heel. Flats are highly recommended. Ballet flats would be appropriate.
Tuxedo wearers: Completely black shoes, Long Black Socks, Black pants (not jeans), Long-sleeved black button-down shirt.

Policies and procedures

Code of conduct

Good conduct choices are expected (and demanded) from all chorus members. Each student must represent their choir, the Performing Arts Department, and DeLand High School in the best way possible always. In addition to the expectations of conduct stated in the DHS Handbook, chorus students are expected to display proper conduct and respect of the highest caliber during dress rehearsals, performances, festivals, adjudications, field trips, or any activity associated with choir. Respect toward peers and all adults is a must in all circumstances. Unacceptable conduct from a DHS chorus student may result in disciplinary action and/or removal from chorus.

Classroom policies

For the chorus to meet its goals, there must be a structured and safe environment in the classroom. The following policies are merely a way to organize and discipline ourselves so that we will efficiently accomplish our goals. Working together in this way will bring a sense of satisfaction, unity, and enjoyment to our rehearsals.

  1. Show up! Be on time. Be in your seat, prepared to sing and learn before the bell rings. Arrive early to performances so that we can start on time.

  2. Be kind. Respect the rights and property of yourself and others. Treat others the way you'd like to be treated. Celebrate successes of yourself and others. Use appropriate language.

  3. Participate. You don't know what you're capable of until you give it a try. If you don't know, ask. If you need help, reach out. Chorus is a team sport!

Grading policy

Chorus is a co-curricular performing arts credit and thus students enrolled in the class are required to participate in rehearsals and performances, occasionally outside of school hours. Students will also be assessed on vocal skills and techniques, music theory skills, sight-reading, and other musical knowledge.

Performance and Rehearsal Conflicts: Conflicts are often avoidable and must be addressed as soon as they arise. Parents/students must notify the Chorus Director in writing a minimum of two weeks prior to the rehearsal or performance date. Unavoidable conflicts such as sickness, family emergencies, and scheduled vacations require the student to complete an alternative assessment no later than two weeks after the rehearsal/performance date (or sooner if we are nearing the end of a grading period). It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for an alternative assessment with the director.

I am thrilled that chorus students are involved in a rich variety of activities both within chorus and without! With proper planning, students should easily be able to facilitate participation in their extra-curriculars. However, waiting until the last minute to compare schedules often results in frustrating situations that could easily be avoided with a little planning.

The most updated version of the chorus calendar is accessible on the Events page of our website.

Chorus fees

For our program to run as effectively as possible, we must have adequate funding to support our students throughout the year. Expenses include, but are not limited to, sheet music for each choir, accompanist fees, entry fees, travel expenses, instrument maintenance, wardrobe costs, and equipment. Although our administration does the best they can to support the chorus program, our expenses for the year far surpass our school budget allotment. Our booster budget is voted on each year at our annual May meeting and is available for viewing upon request.

To help with costs, students will be assessed an $80 fair share fee. Students in multiple choir classes will only be assessed one fee. Fees may be paid as a one-time up-front payment, or they may be paid according to the schedule below.

Payments are due as follows:

  • Friday, October 4th: $20

  • Friday, November 1st: $20

  • Thursday, December 5th: $20

  • Thursday, February 6th: $20

In addition to payments, students are expected to participate in fundraising to benefit the entire choral program. The amount students pay in Chorus Fees is not sufficient to cover the overall budget expenses of the choral program.

Fundraising events will include:

Chorus Apparel orders, Crowdfunding, Small community performance gigs, concessions at Choral MPA, etc. If you have fundraising ideas for our chorus, please communicate them to DCPA or the Chorus Director. We are always looking for new ideas and new volunteers to help us reach our financial goals.

If you need payment flexibility or assistance, please communicate with Ms. Rathbun in writing. This may be indicated in the paperwork at the beginning of the year. Financial assistance (payment plans, forgiveness, etc.) may be possible and will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the DCPA executive board. Please rest assured that your name will remain confidential and will only be communicated to the directors/treasurer as needed to accommodate individual need.

Students who fail to meet their fair share obligations (and have not secured alternate arrangements with the DCPA) will have their accounts turned over to the school as a financial obligation that may result in inability to purchase Homecoming/Prom tickets or even walk at graduation.

Students are responsible for paying their own way (including applicable accompanist fees) to extra events such as all state, solo & ensemble, All County, Stetson Choral Festivals, ACDA, etc. Specific information for each of these events will be made available closer to the registration date of each event. Scholarships may be available. Please inquire if interested.

Deadlines are essential for event success. If deadlines are not met, students run the risk of being excluded from activities.

All fees can be turned in to the white lockbox as cash or check made out to Deland Chorus Parent Association (DCPA). Envelopes will be available next to the lockbox. Please include your name, alpha code, amount, and purpose of payment on the outside of each envelope. You may also pay online at www.delandhschorus.com.

Communication

Email

A weekly newsletter with upcoming dates and reminders will be sent to student and parent emails. Please check this document for the most up-to-date chorus information each week.

Website: DelandChorus.com

The website has a portal for fee payments, donations, calendar, and past concert videos and recordings.

Instagram: @delandhighchorus

The chorus Instagram is run by Ms. Rathbun and Chorus Council Publicist teams. The IG is for fun and some reminders. Please check email for the most official information.

Facebook page: DeLand High Chorus

This page is monitored by Ms. Rathbun and is used to communicate and celebrate our many events. Check email or the website for more official information.

Handouts

Handouts/event contracts will be sent home if needed. All are available electronically, by request.

Cut Time

Cut Time is a secure payment/management system we use to streamline our Chorus payments. This program gives you the opportunity to pay online via text interface. Texts will provide you with an individualized Magic Link. We recommend bookmarking this magic link to your browser. If you’d prefer to receive emails instead of texts, reply ‘STOP’ to the first text to default to

Field trips and opportunities

In addition to our formal chorus concerts, there are many other enrichment activities available to help our students grow personally and musically throughout the school year. Most include audition or pre-registration requirements, and some include audition fees and purchase of materials. See the chorus calendar for more specific information about each event. Below, please find a sampling of some of our many events.

  • Up to 16 Deland HS students may take part in this 2-day choral extravaganza right here in Deland. This event takes place in late September/early October and gives students the opportunity to work with some amazing choral conductors and hundreds of other high school choral musicians from all over the state of Florida. It includes a final formal concert that is free and open to the public.

  • This is one of the most prestigious events a high school chorus student can take part in. To be selected, students must complete an audition process that consists of two separate auditions—a Musicianship & Sight-Reading Test, and a Vocal Quality audition. There are 4 high school all state choirs: Sight Reading Chorus, Treble Chorus, Tenor/Bass Chorus & Concert Chorus. All 4 choirs rehearse and perform as part of the Florida Music Educators Association Conference in Tampa in January. All interested Deland HS Chorus students are encouraged to audition. After school study sessions are provided to assist in preparation for this event.

  • Each Volusia County High School will have the opportunity to recommend 8-10 of their best and brightest choral students to participate in the Volusia County All County High School Honor Choir. Students who are selected for this honor will work with a highly esteemed choral conductor and other high-caliber choral students from all over Volusia County. This event typically takes place in mid-November.

  • Interested students may audition for this weekend-long, state-wide clinic held in Orlando. The American Choral Directors Association puts together honor choirs and gives them the opportunity to work with guest conductors from all over the country. This event typically occurs in late October. There is a grade 10-12 SATB choir, a grade 9 Treble choir, and a grade 9 Low Voice choir.

  • As part of our holiday season, members of the Deland High School choir are enthusiastically encouraged to join in caroling to announce the arrival of Santa Claus in downtown Deland. Upon Santa’s arrival, we carol around downtown to spread holiday cheer and ring in the holiday season on the first Friday in December.

  • All of our tenors and basses are enthusiastically invited to attend this one-day event celebrating tenor and bass voices at Stetson University in Deland. This informal event culminates with an end-of-day performance to show case the work done over the course of the day. This event typically occurs in late January/early February.

  • Students who are interested in receiving direct feedback and adjudication on solo/small ensemble/large ensemble/student-conducted performances may wish to participate in this event in early February. Accompanist rehearsals will be scheduled as we approach the event. All solos and duets must either be coached by a private voice instructor or must attend Thursday afternoon prep sessions with Ms. Rathbun. Students who are participating in this event are also required to take part in a recital at the end of January to showcase their hard work to their biggest fans, their families and friends.

  • This adjudicated concert event will allow Deland High School’s Choirs to showcase their skill in both choral performance and sight-reading. We will receive ratings and immediate feedback from some of the most qualified choral adjudicators in central Florida. This event takes place at First Baptist Church of Deland in the beginning of March each year. There are rehearsals leading up to this event. (Specific performance schedules will be released a few weeks before the event.) We also host this event.

    *Required for ALL members of the Deland High School Chorus.*

  • These concerts serve as an opportunity for Deland’s Chorus students to showcase what they’ve learned each semester. Required rehearsals will accompany each of these concerts.

    *Required for ALL Deland High School Chorus Members.*

  • Entries that receive superior ratings at the district level are eligible to also participate in this event at the state level at the end of March/beginning of April. These events will receive additional ratings and critique from highly-qualified judges.

  • Choirs that receive superior ratings at the district level are eligible to also participate in this event where we will perform and receive feedback from collegiate clinicians. This event typically takes place at the end of April.

  • At the end of May, DHS Chorus students perform a pop concert, where they get to showcase their talents as solo/duo performers with music we don’t typically perform on our other concerts throughout the year. Audition is required.

    This is our only ticketed performance event. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door.

  • These students are selected in the spring to serve as the leaders within each chorus class. To be selected, students will apply and complete an interview process with the director, who will select the Council Members for the following year before the end of the school year. Beginning choir classes will select representatives in the fall.

  • Tri-M is a student-led service and honors organization designed to support the music programs at Deland High School and recognize the scholarship and integrity of our fine musicians. Inductions are held as part of the Full-School Induction ceremony in October each year. We traditionally hold a spring Tri-M Recital whose proceeds go to benefit a charity every year. Ms. Rathbun is the club sponsor.

  • At the end of the year, we get together to celebrate our school year together as a chorus family with food, slide shows, awards and fellowship.

  • Every other year, our chorus takes on a travel experience.

    In March 2025, we will be going on a Florida College Tour, featuring stops at Florida Southern, UNF, FSU & FAMU. If you're interested in traveling with us, please contact Ms. Rathbun for more details.

Audition information

Toward the end of each school year, the audition process for the next year begins. The following items will be assessed and considered:

  1. Sight Reading Ability

  2. Vocal Tone

  3. Reliability and Coachability

Audition process specifics will be announced in the spring of each year. Students may be asked to re-audition to be considered for advanced ensembles. Students who do not audition will be placed in Non-Auditioned Ensembles: Coro Verde, Treble Singers or Varsity Singers.

Calendar

Paper copies of our calendar will be sent out each 9 weeks. Our most updated calendar is available on the Event page.

Chorus forms

Please fill out and return the following forms NO LATER THAN Wednesday, September 18th:

  • Medical Release

  • Uniform Rental Agreement

  • Media Release

  • Information Form

  • Accountability Form

  • Financial Form

These forms will be available at our Fall Tune Up performance and by request from Ms. Rathbun.

Cell phone usage

In accordance with the current Florida Legislation regarding student cell phone usage in schools, it is expected that cell phones will remain put away and out of sight for the duration of each class period/rehearsal.

Parents, you can assist us with this by not texting or calling your children during class time.

Violators of this expectation may be asked to either put their phone away, or place it in the Phone Jail located in the front of the classroom for the duration of the period. Parent contact and further disciplinary actions may be pursued for repeat offenders.