Keystone State Boychoir Group Overview
Candidates for Concert Choir

Candidates for Concert Choir are young men who have made it known to the KSB music directors their intention of singing in a professional boychoir throughout their treble years and are working towards becoming full-fledged members of the Keystone State Boychoir. Candidates rehearse with the Concert Choir on Saturday mornings from 9:00am – 12:30pm, learning the new repertoire for the current semester. They also rehearse on Wednesdays from 4:00 – 5:30 pm, during which time they work on passing Candidacy requirements: learning and memorizing both the music and movement of the KSB “Standard Repertoire” (or “Jacket Repertoire”) and showing proficiency in all areas of KSB Singer-Musicianship. Once a Candidate passes the KSB Standard Repertoire and his Singer-Musicianship Evaluation (SME), he is inducted into KSB as a Jacketed member, earning the right to wear the coveted green KSB Jacket. A young man typically spends one semester as a Candidate, although two semesters are possible depending on progress. Each candidate class is assigned a Greek letter as its official KSB name.

Induction: At the end of the semester the Candidate receives his Jacket at a special Induction Ceremony with the other members of his class as part of a major KSB performance (Holiday or Spring concerts, depending on the semester.) Family members and friends are invited to this special occasion, and the Candidate chooses someone special to put the KSB Jacket on him for the first time.

Big Brother-Little Brother: Candidates are assigned Big Brothers: a Jacketed member of KSB who is the same voice part as the Candidate. The Big Brother sits next to the Little Brother on Saturdays, guiding him throughout the rehearsal.

Parent Mentor: The parents of the Big Brother serve as a Mentor Parent to the parent of the Little Brother. The Parent Mentor has been through the process and can serve as a resource.

Rehearsals: Candidates rehearse every Saturday from 9:00 am until 12:30 pm. Candidates also rehearse every Wednesday from 4:00 pm until 5:30 pm in the Choir Room on the second floor of FPCG (home of KSB). Please enter the church from the Germantown Avenue entrance on Wednesdays.

Performances: In general, Candidates perform at the major KSB Holiday and Spring concerts, the annual CY Treble Concert, and a few other non-CY concerts. Once they are Jacketed members, they perform more often annually. However, as Candidates, they are expected to attend as many public KSB performances as possible so they can learn through observing the KSB Concert in action.

Absence/Make-up Policy: Each Saturday rehearsal consists of two sessions: the first runs from 9:00am to 10:45am and the second runs from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. A missed session requires one Sunday night make-up rehearsal. If a boy misses an entire Saturday rehearsal (both sessions), two Sunday night make- up rehearsals are required. Please see the KSB Attendance Policy addendum for further details. Missing the “extended” part of a Second Saturday rehearsal (12:30 – 2:00) also requires one make-up rehearsal.

Concert Tour: Once a Candidate has earned his Jacket and becomes a member of the Concert Choir, he is eligible to be considered for participation in the annual KSB concert tour. However, factors such as seniority and age are heavily considered. Therefore, the newest members of the Concert Choir are the last Trebles to be considered for tour.