Northwest High School is home to four different choirs: Mainstream, Aria, Freshmen, and Viking Choir.
Freshmen Choir Un-auditioned – Grade 9 Freshmen Choir is a mixed group of ninth grade students with varying abilities. This choir is an un-auditioned choir that is open to all first year freshmen who are interested in singing regardless of their abilities or previous singing experience. This class serves as the next step for our middle school students who were involved in choir as a middle schooler and those students who long to be involved with other vocal ensembles at Northwest High School. Freshmen choir is a perfect starting point to developing skills early in their high school career that will help them with with participating in either an auditioned ensemble or the upper classman Viking Choir. This choir performs in four concerts throughout the school year and encourages participation in various competitions and adjudications that become available to them. Viking Choir Un-auditioned – Grades 10 through 12 Viking Choir is a mixed group of sophomore through senior students. This choir is an un-auditioned choir that is open to all who are interested regardless of ability. This choir is not merely just a class offered in order to fill a slot on a schedule, but is rather meant to provide a starting point for those who are interested in simply singing in a choir, learning about how to operate in a musical ensemble, or for those students who have singing experience and are looking to advance that experience in the group setting. This choir performs three concerts throughout the school year and encourages participation in various competitions and adjudications that become available to them.
Aria Vocal Ensemble Audition Only – Grades 9 through 12 The Aria Vocal Ensemble is a female only group of freshmen through seniors. This ensemble is an auditioned ensemble that seeks strong female voices capable of performing various genres of music. Aria traditionally performs in four programs throughout the school year including a show choir program alongside the Mainstream Vocal Ensemble in the Spring. All of those who participate in Aria are expected to participate in Mid-state/All-state auditions, Middle Tennessee Vocal Association adjudications and competitions, Choir Fest through Austin Peay State University, Quad State Choral Festival and the National Orpheus Vocal Competition, as well as various other festivals, competitions and adjudications deemed appropriate by the director.
Mainstream Vocal Ensemble Audition Only – Grades 10 through 12 The Mainstream Vocal Ensemble is a mixed group of sophomores through seniors. This ensemble is an auditioned ensemble that seeks competent voices of various singing abilities, mainly those voices with music reading, performance, dance, and singing experience. Mainstream traditionally performs in four programs throughout the school year including a show choir program alongside the Aria Vocal Ensemble in the Spring. All of those who participate in Mainstream are expected to participate in Mid-state/All-state auditions, Middle Tennessee Vocal Association adjudications and competitions, Choir Fest through Austin Peay State University, Quad State Choral Festival and the National Orpheus Vocal Competition, as well as various other festivals, competitions and adjudications deemed appropriate my the director.
About Mr. Johnson
Michael Patrick Johnson is the Director of Choral Activities at Northwest High School and is a Tennessee native whose performance ventures have led him all across the United States as well as Europe. He is a pianist and vocalist who has benefited from the mentorship and instruction from a wide array of performers and educators. Some of Michael's excellent instructors include Dr. Patricia Halbeck, Dr. Stanley Warren, Dr. Terry McRoberts, Dr. Thomas King, Jonathan Carle, Dr. Kore Foster, and the incomparable Dr. Sharon Mabry who helped him to become competent in the art of performance and understanding the life of a healthy performer. In his spare time, he enjoys writing, and collaborating with other artists and going hiking on the many wonderful trails found in the hills and valleys of Tennessee. He also works as a private piano and vocal coach where he has taught students as young as 3 and as old as 90. Additionally, Michael serves as the minister of music at his local church.
Mr. Johnson is currently working on his doctorate in education. He lives by the mantra of never settling for mediocrity which was instilled in him by his very own high school choir director, Dr. Brian Russell. Music means so much to so many people and Mr. Johnson strives to help each of his students to understand his or her strengths and abilities as musicians. He also hopes to equip them with the skills necessary to attain their highest potential both as musicians as well as successful human beings who contribute to a well balanced society.
Syllabi
Here are links to the syllabi for each of Mr. Johnson's classes.