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RAACHE Choir Opportunities for 2025-2026

Welcome to our online registration!  Questions/Problems?  Contact Susan
Kludtke sdkludtke1981@gmail.com.
 
Thinking about having your children join?  Please take a moment to read the information below and
complete online registrations Steps 1-4. 

Registration Deadlines
Arioso and Cantabile: July 19 

Con Brio and Staccato: August 9 

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 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 home schools.  All of the ensembles rehearse at Calvary Evangelical Free Church (5500 25th
Ave. NW, Rochester) on Thursday afternoons.  

 

                  As you consider whether choir is the right fit 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.  

New this year: If families do not fulfill their commitment to help, it could jeopardize their child’s opportunity to participate in choir the following semester.

 

             

First Session

              Arioso's Retreat Day: August 18 

              Arioso, Cantabile, Con Brio weekly rehearsals start September 4

Staccato weekly rehearsals start Oct. 9
Dress rehearsal: November 18 (ALL Choirs)
Fall performances:  November 20 and 21

Second Session
Arioso, Cantabile, Con Brio weekly rehearsals start Jan. 8
Staccato weekly rehearsals start Feb. 5.  
Con Brio and Cantabile drama and full choir rehearsal: March TBD
Spring concert/musical (Con Brio, Cantabile, Staccato): March TBD
Arioso local choir tour: April 10

Arioso & Cantabile Accelerando! Concert: April 16
 
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 29th year!
 
For RAACHE Choirs,
Stephanie Rauh
 
Please note: There will be a brief mandatory Arioso, Cantabile, and Con Brio parent meeting
on September 11.
 
ARIOSO:
Arioso is our high school audition choir for ages 14 and up.  Young men (under 14) 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. This spring Arioso singers
had the opportunity to tour the Black Hills in SD. 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-audition choir for ages 12 and up.  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 higher (treble)
voices, 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 which will be presented in
mid-March.  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 and girls ages 8-11.  (The date we are using for
deciding which choir your child is in is Sept. 1.)  This choir is under the direction of Kate Sanders.
Singers will sing a variety of songs in the November concerts.  The choir presents a musical drama
in mid to late March if we have adequate volunteer support.  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-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 Steps 1-4.

 

AND

Save the date for the mandatory parent meeting on September 11 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.  If you make a mistake, and need to redo parts of the registration, contact Phillip Quelle at 507-216-8993.