The SDCC Ensemble Program offers six age- and skills-based choir levels, with Intermediate Choir sitting in the middle as the most advanced training ensemble. This choir level is comprised of middle schoolers in 6th to 8th grade who rehearse at two different locations.
Our esteemed Intermediate Choir Lead Director Marielena Teng has led this choir for three years, including last season where she taught a record number of students. Ms. Teng is known for being knowledgeable, patient, and having a great command of managing a range of personalities in her choir. Her dynamic style brings out the best in each of our choristers and creates a cohesive and high-performing ensemble.
Beyond her work with SDCC, Ms. Teng is also the Choir Director at SDUSD's Mira Mesa High School and Challenger Middle School. She was recognized as VAPA's (Visual and Performing Arts) Rising Star in 2022 for her exceptional work with those schools.
We asked Ms. Teng to go a little further into detail about the Intermediate Choir level and what’s ahead for the upcoming season.
Tell us about the Intermediate Choir and what the program entails.
Intermediate Choir is a fun and inclusive space for students ready to advance their choral education. Stepping forward to reading octavos and developing their music theory skills, Intermediate is the best level for students that are ready to take some ownership in their learning. We encourage students to start using their literacy skills to answer questions that they may encounter when learning music and through a mix of movement we bridge elementary level learning tools to traditional ensemble rehearsal etiquette. Students who grow with us can see their potential to be in the higher level older groups and find their place in advanced choral ensembles. It is always a treat to see how much the students grow into their secondary level learning and find pride in themselves as a chorister.
What does it take to be successful as a chorister and as a choir as a whole?
You definitely need to care and have a love for singing to start to be a successful chorister. That's how everyone starts doing choir but there's always a turning point. I find that my best students are the ones that truly appreciate the skills and discipline needed to be in choir. They recognize the importance of putting in the extra work of studying the music and translating what they're singing into their own words to use their voice in the ensemble. Young people have so much power in what they do and choir is a medium that allows them to see that power early in their life. With this, they naturally build confidence in themselves and it's the reason why music teachers tend to see the best of their students all of the time when they're in their class. The best choristers are the ones who recognize the power and impact they can make with their young voices and really use them for purpose or cause.
With that being said, a successful choir is a product of having successful choristers. We are like a sports team and our common goal is to have a good game. That doesn't mean we have to win every game to be considered good but we have to put in the care and effort to have an honest and good exchange. An experienced athlete can acknowledge when a loss is a loss but can still walk out of the game feeling fulfilled and challenged. We are the same. When everyone is being brave and putting their voices out there in the discussion that in our case, is music making then no matter the outcome, we can cultivate a successful choir and enjoyable choral experience.
What do choristers learn?
They learn so much! You can say they learn life skills through music making or you can say they learn and develop music literacy and vocal technique. It's a full package that is unique to every chorister depending on how they apply themselves in the medium. If we're talking about successful choristers, then they are definitely learning how to read music, how to study music independently, how to translate different languages and poetry into conversation, how to harmonize and how to listen to multiple parts at once, how to include their audience in the performance, how to act and entertain, how to be young professionals, how to be more open to their emotions and feelings and the list can go on and on. For Intermediate, I find that they learn what it means to be accountable for their actions and that they have the power to shape their experience. If they play too much then they don't actually have fun when they find themselves underperforming. If they're too scared to push themselves then they won't see any progress. It's like what I said before. The students learn life skills through music making and with these experiences, they can improve their academic lives and develop music literacy and skills at the same time.
They just need to take ownership of their learning and Intermediate provides that big step forward. Once they show they're ready to learn on their own and they're really applying themselves then they can be recommended to the next level.
Any Performance Highlights for Intermediate Choir in 2024-25?
We have an exciting schedule planned for this season! For the first time ever, SDCC’s Intermediate Choir will participate in the Music in the Parks festival during our mini-tour and performance at Knott’s Berry Farm in the Spring of 2025. This experience will improve choristers’ ability to learn music faster, polish a longer set and be mini professionals as they prepare to be judged and graded by choral music educators and professionals. The ensemble will be rewarded with a ranking of Good, Excellent or Superior which for our competitive friends, can be a fun challenge! Plus, choristers get to enjoy a fun-filled day at Knott’s Berry Farm. In addition, the Intermediate Choir has been invited to join North Coast Singers for a Children's Choral Festival in Escondido. As a Choir Teacher I always bring my students to these opportunities because it ends up being fun for everyone and a major motivator for learning and ensemble community.
Above and beyond what we have planned for the Fall semester, we have much to do to start preparing for the best Spring season experience yet. We will be learning some of our festival music in the Fall and it will be essential to join now if your student is excited to experience these performances.
Learn More. Fall semester enrollment for Intermediate Choir is open now through early September. Weekly rehearsals begin September 2. If you know a middle schooler who loves to sing, your first step is to schedule an audition today.