Vocal Music

Every student in the Totino-Grace choir program receives small group lessons throughout the school year, allowing instructors to ensure musical progress while providing a personal connection. This is a key asset to the strength of the program.

The Vocal Music Department hosts four concerts throughout the year which feature a variety of music from classical to pop. There is something for everyone!

Each year, the choirs perform a major choral masterpiece accompanied by professional instrumentalists. 

Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and Company of Singers Show Choir have been featured ensembles at state, regional and national levels. Company of Singers have been nationally ranked for over a decade, winning the title in 2010. 

For over 25 years Totino-Grace students have participated in MN All-State Choirs, an auditioned and highly select ensemble from vocal students throughout the state. 

At the State Solo and Ensemble Contest, Chamber Singers have received a Superior Rating for 25 consecutive years. Individual performers have received numerous Excellent and Superior ratings including many "Best-At-Site" awards.

The choirs have performed in such esteemed venues as the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and locations internationally in Poland, Costa Rica, Italy, Puerto Rico and the Portugal.

Vocal directors are frequent adjudicators, clinicians, and working professionals in the field at locations nationally.

Through active participation in both classroom study and group ensembles, Totino-Grace students have the opportunity to learn and grow as vocalists. Our curricular offerings include Chorale and Concert Choir, as well as an honors level Concert Choir, and the department features a number of co-curricular opportunities for performance and competition. 

Chorale
This is a non-auditioned curricular choir made up of freshmen and sophomores. The students in this class will learn music (in three and four parts) to be performed at the four major choral concerts. In addition, they learn how to sight-read music, count rhythms, learn intervals by ear, and other basic music theory.

Concert Choir
This is the top curricular choir, made up of juniors and seniors.  They perform at the four major choral concerts in addition to a few other performances (i.e. the North Suburban Choral Festival, Graduation, as well as often leading music ministry at the school masses).

Honors Concert Choir 
This group rehearses and performs with Concert Choir but is comprised of senior students who wish to have more advanced studies in music (including theory, history, critical listening, advocacy, and other varying topics).

Additional information can be found in the music section on the academic departments webpage.

This award winning show choir is made up of sophomores, juniors and seniors selected through an audition and interview process. The show choir combines singing and dancing in a 20-minute set that will be performed in competition. Company of Singers rehearses Mondays and Thursdays from 6-9pm in addition to a couple extensive choreography weekends. It is a full year commitment, as rehearsals begin in August and the performance season continues throughout the year (the competition season generally runs Jan-April). Students in “Company” must be a member of one of the curricular music ensembles (instrumental or vocal).

Performances for 2023-24

Jan. 20 New London Singstock Festival

Jan. 27 Altoona Lcoopalooza

Feb. 10 N. St. Paul Rock the North

Feb. 24 Hastings Swingin' on the River

Mar. 2 TG Spectacular

Mar. 9 FAME Orlando

This award winning show choir made up of all grades (including freshmen) is also selected through an audition process. Like Company of Singers, this group prepares a 20-minute set of singing and dancing to be performed in competition. Unlike “Company”, however, this group doesn’t require as much of a time commitment - rehearsing just once a week (with a couple extra choreography rehearsals). The season is similar to that of “Company” only starting a bit later with auditions in the fall. Involvement in one of the curricular music ensembles, although not mandatory, is strongly encouraged and definitely increases one’s chances of being selected for the group.

This is a non-auditioned men’s show choir made up of all grade levels. They prepare a set of singing and dancing to be performed at one competition as well as a few school concerts and functions. It requires quite minimal time commitment and involvement in other activities at the same time is common. They rehearse once a week and the season begins mid-fall and continues through the spring.

A group of junior and senior men and women selected through audition from the Concert Choir, this ensemble performs at the choral concerts and performs music that is more challenging or more appropriate for a smaller ensemble. They generally rehearse once a week - occasionally more often before the concerts.

A group similar to Chamber Singers but for freshmen and sophomores.

Members of the choirs are often asked to help lead worship at school masses and prayer services. We also provide the opportunity for individuals to cantor.

There are three theatrical productions throughout the school year for which any students may audition: a fall musical, a non-musical in February, and a spring children’s musical which is performed for local elementary kids who are bussed to T-G for the performances.