For 2023-2024, the Madrigal Singers is an auditioned group of 34 students from 7th & 8th grade. Madrigal Singers perform at a variety of events throughout the year at the school and off campus. Transportation is required to some events. Participation in Madrigals is an honor and a privilege that must be earned and maintained through exemplary citizenship throughout the school and community. Members of Madrigals represent the choir program at large at many official and social events. Expectations are very high. Some examples of additional rehearsals & performances during the school day and outside of school may include, but are not limited to... Holiday Events, Rehearsals with EMS Chamber Singers, Artist in Residence Concert, Music Booster's Benefit Concert, Honors Ceremony, and more. All events will be posted on the WMS Vocal Music Calendar at the beginning of the school year with the possibility of a few additional events being added throughout the year. Students are expected to attend all events. If there are known conflicts at the beginning of the year, students and/or parents should communicate these right away for advanced planning purposes. Events that are added less than 4 weeks out will be optional. Additional social events may be added and will also be optional. Students who are heavily involved in additional activities will need to make sure that they understand the commitment needed to participate in Madrigals. If this is not possible, then it would be best for the student to opt out of Madrigals and enjoy the experience of singing in their grade-level choir with a much shorter list of events and obligations.

Madrigal Singers will also be responsible to demonstrate advanced music literacy skills, vocal technique, musicality, and exemplary leadership in their ensembles while maintaining academic excellence! Students should be willing to commit 1 hour each week outside of school to work on these skills. Ideally, this would be about 15 minutes a day / 4 days a week. Madrigals meets during Advisory every M/W/F from 1:59-2:35 and students earn a grade for this as a class. Therefore, attendance is very important and students/parents should try to avoid any unnecessary absences. Students will be strongly encouraged to sing solos in class and at concerts. Students will also be encouraged to spend some of their 1 hour a week learning the basics about playing the piano as part of their music literacy skill development. They do not need to have a piano at home to do this. They don't even need a keyboard, but it would be helpful. If they don't have either, they can use a virtual piano on their Chromebooks.

Here's a video from the two-day summer camp we had at Lake Ann Camp in 2017. What a blast!