Keystone State Boychoir Group Overview
Baritones

The Baritone is a young man who is in the voice change and unable to successfully sing in his treble voice any longer or a high school student who can, but does not wish any longer to, sing in his treble voices.

Most boychoirs ask a young man to leave once he is unwilling or unable to access his treble voice. At KSB we believe that a young man can successfully sing through voice change if he is willing and is guided carefully. In fact, singing through the onset of the voice change results in wide-ranged tenors and basses. So, the music directors create vocal lines for selected pieces of the standard and new repertoire tailored specifically to the Baritone voice. A young man typically becomes a Baritone in the 9th grade, but could be placed in this group as early as 8th grade and as late as 10th grade. Voice assessments are done periodically throughout the semester to monitor a Baritone's progress.

Rehearsals: : Baritones rehearse on Saturdays from 10:00am – 1:30pm. It is generally understood that a young man will spend two semesters as a Baritone, although less or more is possible depending on progress. A typical Saturday rehearsal schedule is:

TIME

ACTIVITY

FPCG LOCATION

10:00 - 11:00am

Voice Building / Voice Checks / Standard  Repertoire w/ Grad Candidates

Choir Room

11:00 – 12:30pm

TB/SATB Rehearsals

Choir Room/Sanctuary

12:30 – 1:00pm

Snack / Social Time

Snack Room / Gym

1:00 – 1:30pm

TTBB Repertoire

Choir Room

 

Performances: The Baritones perform several times in a season, including the KSB annual Holiday and Spring Concerts, the annual KSB Grad Concert, and some "non-CY" concerts. Due to the challenges the voice change presents, Baritones perform less often than members of the Concert, Towne, and Graduate Choir. However, Baritones are full-fledged Jacketed members of the Keystone State Boychoir.

Absence/Make-up Policy: : Baritones are expected to make-up missed Saturday rehearsals. One missed Saturday rehearsal requires two Sunday night make-rehearsals. Missing half of a Saturday rehearsal requires one Sunday make-up.

Concert Tours: Baritones are generally not eligible to be considered for participation in the annual KSB concert tour. Exceptions can be made; however, tour invitations are based on a number of factors including age and seniority. Therefore, a young man is more likely to be invited to tour as a Graduate Choir member than a Baritone.