Fall 2026-27 Registration
Below are forms for Registration, Bursary Assistance, etc. Bursary assistance is available, please fill out and submit the application form. Please note that the family rate is determined by paying for two (2) oldest children the rest are free. All choristers are required to pay an annual 25.00 admin fee which is not eligible for bursary funding. Bursary requests will be considered for up to 75% of the fee.
We strive to be nut free in our spaces and at our events.
Our rehearsals are on Monday evenings at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Owen Sound (865 2nd Ave W).
For ALL levels in the GBCC organization, parents and singers MUST commit to attending every rehearsal. This is crucial as choir is a team sport and every member must be there to learn and contribute. There are a finite number of rehearsals for each concert and time cannot be spent reviewing the previous week’s material for a person who missed practice. We understand if a singer has the flu (fever, etc), but otherwise, we expect them in rehearsal to listen, observe, and, at Youth and Chamber levels, write notes in their music.
Allegretto: 5:30 – 6:20 pm $375.00 (Half Year only $225.00 )
ALLEGRETTO is our entry group and generally comprises singers aged 6 and up (grade 1) who have no choral singing experience. Skills a singer needs to be successful in Allegretto is the ability to match pitch and focus for 5-7 minutes, be respectful of others by keeping their hands to themselves, follow directions, and most of all have a willingness to learn and try new things. Kindness and community underscore everything we do at the GBCC and every member of Allegretto must show kindness to self and others.
VOICE ASSESSMENT
None required to join; required at the end of terms
- Sing scale with solfege together with Dr. MacNay
- Count and clap a simple rhythm (with assistance/support if needed)
- Match pitch
- Proper breath and posture
TO JOIN ALLEGRETTO
- Open to any child who wants to sing ages 6 & up (grade 1)
- Parents commit to child attending EVERY rehearsal
- Endeavour to learn required skills over their first term
○ Match pitch
○ Focus for 5 min reh segments
○ Keep hands to self
○ Line up
○ Follow instructions
○ Basic understanding of rhythm+
○ Sing solfege scale with assistance
○ Understand that choir is a team sport and we are always kind
Basic rhythms: quarter note/rest, eighth note/rest, half note/rest; count all eighth notes but clap rhythm in simple 3 and 4 beat patterns.
SKILLS
SKILLS to develop during time in Allegretto:
- Lining up
- Walking on and off stage
- Following instructions
- Matching pitch
- Learning solfege
- Yoo hoo call backs (matched)
- Simple rhythms: eighths, quarters, half notes and rests
- Understanding that choir is a team sport–learning what that means: support each other, positive speech, encouraging each other, helping others navigate new skills or where to move during rehearsals etc.
- Posture and breathing
- Singing in English and Latin (vowels and consonants)
- Score work:
○ Find vocal line
○ Find bars
○ Find page numbers
○ Find the text
BEHAVIOUR EXPECTATIONS
- Attend EVERY rehearsal
- Keeping hands to self
- Focus for 5-7min reh segment
- Sitting quietly in pews during dress rehearsal
- Participation in group activities
- Be kind and respectful at ALL times to other choristers, Reanne, Dr. MacNay, Mr. and Mrs. H, Lise, and any guests or audience members
Youth Singers: 6:00 – 7:15 pm $450.00 (Half Year only $285.00)
YOUTH SINGERS is the second group. In order to join, singers generally have completed a minimum of two sessions in Allegretto and have developed the musical and behavioural skill set required to sing with this group. To advance into Youth, singers must be able to match pitch, sing the major scale with solfege, read English text, and focus for 10-15 minutes at a time.
Youth singers understand that choir is a community and practice behaviour skills like refraining from talking, being respectful of others by keeping their hands to themselves, and maintaining a positive, supportive outlook. Kindness and community underscore everything we do at the GBCC and every member of Youth must show kindness to self and others.
VOICE ASSESSMENT
Required to move into Youth and each year after
- Sight read simple solfege melodies
- Simple rhythms and counting
- Explain staff, clef, note names
- Sing solfege scale on own
- Ear sing/clap back
- Posture and breathing
- Pitch matching
- Demonstrate basic vowel shapes
- Reading aloud a given passage with expression in English
TO ADVANCE TO YOUTH
SKILLS required to advance to Youth:
- Match pitch
- Sing scale using solfege independently
- Proper LATIN vowels
- Breath support/posture
- Read simple 3 and 4 beat rhythms of eighth, quarter, 4 sixteenths, rests
- Read solfege off hands
- Know treble staff lines and spaces
- READ text/lyrics of a song in the score
- Point out vocal line in a score and find bar and page numbers in score
- Show through behaviour that choir is a team sport; work together, support each other, help younger choristers, always show kindness
*Interval song: D-R, major 2nd, D-M, major 3rd
SKILLS
SKILLS to develop during time in Youth:
- Reading treble staff
- Sight read simple solfege melodies (no accidentals)
- Simple part singing (2 parts)–holding own
- Simple rhythms
- Simple time sigs 2/4, 3/4, 4/4
- Learn basics of intervals (start with interval song*)
- Comfort with scores–how to navigate, how to follow vocal lines, how to mark instructions in scores, using pencil, not bending or folding
- Proper posture and holding scores when singing
- Apply vowel shapes/instructions to other songs
- Apply consonants ACROSS songs and not just on specific words
- Singing in languages other than English and Latin
- Score work:
○ Find vocal line
○ Find bars
○ Find page numbers
○ Find the text
○ Read text/verse IN score
○ Roadmap–with repeats, second endings, DS al capo
BEHAVIOUR EXPECTATIONS
- Attend EVERY rehearsal
- Able to focus for 10-15min rehearsal segments
- Maintain positive outlook
- Open to trying new things
- Do not run around
- Hands kept to self
- Do not talk during rehearsal–you are there to sing
- Follow instructions without challenging
- Not bending or folding scores and always using a pencil
- Be kind and respectful at ALL times to other choristers, Reanne, Dr. MacNay, Mr. and Mrs. H, Lise, and any guests or audience members
Chamber Ensemble: 6:45 – 8:15 pm $525.00 (Half Year only $325.00)
CHAMBER ENSEMBLE is the third group in the organization and generally requires an invitation. This advanced group is composed of mature young adults who understand how important being a member of a community is and are serious about studying music. The bare minimum to advance to Chamber is the ability to match pitch and hold their own part in harmony. Required skills are a knowledge of the treble staff, the ability to read simple melodies and rhythms, a comfort navigating scores, and the capacity to focus for 15-20 minute rehearsal segments. Kindness and community underscore everything we do at the GBCC and every member of the Ensemble must show kindness to self and others.
VOICE ASSESSMENT
Required to move into Chamber and each year after.
- Sight read
- Read rhythms and counting
- Explain score
- Sing solfege scale on own
- Demonstrate their knowledge of intervals
- Ear sing back/clap back
- Pitch matching
- Reading aloud a given passage with expression in English
TO ADVANCE TO CHAMBER
SKILLS required to advance to Chamber:
- Match pitch
- Sing scale using solfege independently
- Sing the interval song
- Proper LATIN and common English vowel shapes
- Breath support/posture
- Sight read simple solfege melodies (no accidentals)
- Simple part singing (2 parts)–holding own
- Read simple rhythms
- Simple time sigs 2/4, 3/4, 4/4
- Know how to mark instructions IN score and not make same mistakes
- Proper posture and holding scores when singing
- Demonstrate knowledge of HOW choir is a team sport through kindness, support, leadership, model choir expectations
^Interval relationships: able to hear/name AND/OR sing intervals of major scale, ascending or descending
SKILLS
SKILLS to develop during time in Chamber:
- Knowledge of keys and key signatures
- Understand how keys relate (major/minor)
- Larynx anatomy and how it works
- Vocal health
- Breath support
- Interval relationships
- Sight reading fluidity outside of tonic/solfege (simple)–accidentals
- Part singing–2, 3 or more
parts - Part sight reading
- More complex rhythms–triplets, sixteenths, changing metre
- Complex time sigs 6/8, 5/4, 5/8, 7/8
- Willingness to explore new languages
- Consistency of consonants and vowels across songs–not just in specific places or when reminded (apply skills across music)
- Score work:
○ Everything for youth
PLUS
○ Understanding complex scores
○ Finding way through parts
○ Understanding SATB scores
BEHAVIOUR EXPECTATIONS
- Attend EVERY rehearsal
- Able to focus for 15-20min rehearsal segments
- Curiosity and openness
- Serious approach–what we create and do is important
- Bought into the idea of choir as community–you are a team player
- Want to be a musician of the world and act accordingly
- Be kind and respectful at ALL times to other choristers, Reanne, Dr. MacNay, Mr. and Mrs. H, Lise, and any guests or audience members
Young Singers Journey – Music Literacy Program
This is a program of 5 workbooks designed to develop both listening and sight reading skills for young singers. Choristers will receive individual workbooks as part of their music package (no additional charge) and are encouraged to go through them both at home and during the time provided at choir. Awards are given at the end of each year for each workbook completed. Marking of the books will be done each week during rehearsals.
Annual performances include 2 family concerts, community events, anthems at Attack games, seniors homes (when permitted), church services. We are always looking for special opportunities to showcase our young singers. Total performances each year approx 8 – 10.