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RAACHE Choir Opportunities for 2026-2027

 

 

Welcome to our online registration!  Questions/Problems?  Contact Susan Kludtke sdkudtke1981@gmail.com

 

Thinking about having your children join?  Please take a moment to read the information below and complete online registration.

 

Registration Deadlines:

Staccato, Arioso and Cantabile: July 28 

Con Brio: August 15

 

Please try to meet the deadlines so that we may order music in a timely fashion.  If for some reason you miss the dates, contact Susan Kludtke at sdkludtke1981@gmail.com to check about registering. 

 

Participating in choir offers a child the chance to experience the joy of singing and the opportunity to sing to God's glory with a group of excited and disciplined homeschool children.  In addition, your child learns about different styles of music and some basic musical concepts as they pertain to the selections we work on.  Lastly, children will have the privilege of standing up in front of an audience and bringing to fruition all of the hard work and energy they have put forth.  Think of the great memories!  We hope that choir will be an enjoyable experience for all families that are involved, and to ensure this, we will have a set of guidelines that will be sent along with the schedule by August 31 to those who sign up.  

 

Choir draws students together as a group to share in God's gift of music and fulfill an arts component in our homeschools.  Cantabile, Con Brio and Staccato rehearse at Calvary Evangelical Free Church (5500 25th Ave. NW, Rochester and Arioso rehearses at Calvary Baptist Church (5905 Silas Dent Rd. NW, Rochester) on Thursday afternoons.  

 

As you consider whether choir is the right for your family during this season, please consider whether you have the capacity to commit to help in some way.  This could include finding a grandparent or close friend to serve in your place, or supervising an older teen in one of the roles.  We hope that if you sign your children up for choir, you are making that experience a priority for your family, and willing to help to make it a success for all.  What we hope for is that you feel comfortable communicating with the Directors or Secretaries on how we can make this work for your family.  

 

If families do not fulfill their commitment to help, it may jeopardize their child(ren)'s opportunity to participate in choir the following semester. 

 

First Session

Arioso's Retreat Day:  August 17

Arioso, Cantabile, Con Brio, weekly rehearsals start September 10

Staccato weekly rehearsal starts October 1

Dress rehearsal: November 17 (ALL Choirs)

Fall Concerts:  November 19 and 20  (ALL Choirs) 

 

Second Session

Arioso, Cantabile, Con Brio weekly rehearsals start January 7

Staccato weekly rehearsals start Jan. 28

Con Brio and Cantabile drama and full choir rehearsal: March 8

Spring musical and concert: (Con Brio, Cantabile, Staccato): March 12 and March 13

Arioso local choir tour: April 9

Arioso and Cantabile Accelerando! Concert:  April 15 

 

    Arioso only dates

    Sunday April 11, 3:00-4:00 pm with the Pops at Bethel Lutheran

    Sunday, April 25, 6:00-7:00 pm with the Pops at Bethel Lutheran

    Sunday, May 2, 3:00-4:15 pm with the Pops at Bethel Lutheran

    Sunday, May 9, 3:00-4:15 pm with the Pops at Bethel Lutheran

    Friday, May 14, 7:00-8:30 pm with the Pops - dress rehearsal at Bethel  Lutheran

    Sunday, May 16-Concert at 7:00 pm at Bethel Lutheran (Call time-5:30 pm) 

 

Detailed information, including the rehearsal and performance calendar, will be emailed to participants by August 31.  We look forward to working with students who desire to improve their voices and group singing skills in our 30th year!

 

For RAACHE Choirs,

Stephanie Rauh

 

Please note:  There will be a brief mandatory Arioso, Cantabile, and Con Brio parent meeting on September 17.  Staccato parents are invited to attend, but it is not mandatory. 

 

 

Arioso:  

Arioso is our high school audition choir for ages 14 and up.  Young men (under 14 years) whose voices have changed can also audition to sing with this group.  The choir performs a wide variety of music, with a focus on "classic" choral music (folk, classical, sacred, hymns, international, Broadway, spirituals.)  Most of what we perform is at least four parts, soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.  This choir is under the direction of Stephanie Rauh.  Singers will participate in the November and April concerts, as well as a local nursing home spring tour in early to mid-April.  In the spring of 2028, Arioso singers will have the opportunity to tour the Branson, MO area.  Rehearsals are from 2:00-3:30 pm.  Arioso auditions have been held.  If you missed the auditions and would like to sign up, please contact Amanda Elo at amanda.elo@hotmail.com .

 

Cantabile:

Cantabile is our non-auditioned choir for boys ages 11 and up (this starting age of 11 depends on the boy's voice, and families whose boys have auditioned in May will be informed of their choir status prior to the beginning of registration) and girls 12 and up.  (The birthdate we are using for deciding which choir your child is in is Sept. 1)  This choir is under the direction of Alissa Kludtke and sings a wide variety of music that is more challenging than Con Brio, but not as difficult as Arioso.  Participating in Cantabile is critical as it builds the skills needed to sing with Arioso.  We strive to cultivate an encouraging environment that focuses on learning about singing and music by doing just that--singing and making music!  Though most of the singers will have a higher (treble) voice, when a boy's voice starts to change, he will be allowed to sing lower or transition to Arioso may be considered.  For the fall session, Cantabile will sing in the November concerts.  For the winter/spring session, Cantabile will join Con Brio for the musical drama in early to mid-March IF we have adequate volunteer support coordinating all of the aspects of the musical (including costume coordinator, prop coordinator, set coordinator, and choreographer). Cantabile will continue their session for the April concert.  Rehearsals are from 2:00-3:15 pm.  Each singer will need to sing for Alissa to help her select music that fits the capabilities of the singers who will be participating.  If you want to register your child, but they have not sung for Alissa yet, contact Amanda Elo at amanda.elo@hotmail.com.

 

Con Brio:

Con Brio is our non-auditioned choir for boys ages 8-11 and girls ages 8-11.  (The birthdate we are using for deciding which choir your child is in is Sept. 1.)  This choir is under the direction of Irissa Ryant.  Singers will sing a variety of songs in the November concerts.  The choir presents a musical drama with Cantabile in early to mid March IF we have adequate volunteer support coordinating all of the aspects of the musical (including costume coordinator, prop coordinator, set coordinator, and choreographer).   Rehearsals are from 2:00-3:00 pm. 

 

Staccato:

Staccato is the non-auditioned choir for boys and girls ages 5 through 7.  This choir is under the direction of Rebecca Walters.  Students must be 5 years old by September 1.  A student who is 7 years old on October 1 and soon to be 8 when joining Staccato in the fall, remains in Staccato for the whole calendar year.  He or she does not move to Con Brio until the following fall.  Singers will participate in the November and mid to late March concerts and only rehearse for 6-8 weeks prior to these concerts.  Rehearsals are from 2:00-3:00 pm.  There is a limit of 30 students so make sure to register promptly.  

 

In order to register, please complete all online registration steps.

 

AND

 

Save the date for the mandatory parent meeting on September 17 at 2:00 pm.

 

NOTE:  If you aren't able to pay tuition all at once, contact our choir treasurer, Phillip Quelle, at choirsraache@gmail.com to discuss other options.  

 

Please note that you will want to give yourself time to complete all of the registration steps at one time.  It will not work to leave and come back.