The Choirs!
Concert Choir is an auditioned choir composed of 65 upperclassmen with at least a year of prior choral singing experience. The choir studies advanced SATB choral repertoire of various styles. This choir goes on retreat and tours every year (alternating between smaller tours and larger trips every other year for cost and experience). They also participate in local and out of state festivals. The GHS Concert Choir consistently earns Superior with Distinction ratings and has been selected several times to sing at the Arizona Music Educator’s Convention representing the highest quality choral singing and musicianship.
Advanced Vocal Ensemble is a select group of 20 singers.These students must be concurrently enrolled in Concert Choir. AVE sings a variety of music but places a special focus on Chamber Music and Vocal Jazz.They develop their own performance skills, gaining in vocal confidence, musicianship, and the ability to improvise in jazz. AVE tours with Concert Choir each year, as well as participates in the annual Northern Arizona University Jazz/Madrigal Festival in February. They also are known for receiving Superior ratings at festival and are often asked to sing at community events.
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Advanced Women's Ensemble is comprised of sophomore-senior women with at least a year of prior choral singing experience. This choir goes on retreat and sings in local and regional festivals. We sing a variety of styles specific to the women’s ensemble and voice, usually SSA or SSAA. It is a great year for vocal development and musicianship/sightreading improvement. This choir regularly participates in state and local festivals, consistently earning Superior with Distinction ratings.
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Men's Chorale is an introductory level group comprised of students new to singing at Gilbert High. They sing a variety of music in diverse styles with a focus on developing musicianship and vocal technique through TTB literature. Students in this class will learn the basics of music reading, notation, and singing technique. They perform at a local festival and are often asked to sing at the GHS Veteran’s Day Assembly.
Women’s Chorus is an introductory level group comprised of students new to singing at Gilbert High. They sing a variety of music in diverse styles with a focus on developing musicianship and vocal technique through SSA/treble literature. Students in this class will learn the basics of music reading, notation, and singing technique. They perform at a local festival and often receive Superior ratings.
The Directors!
Merry Carol "Marcy" Spencer is in her fourteenth year as director of choral music at Gilbert High School. She also serves as the performing arts department chair. The choirs at Gilbert High consistently earn superior ratings at festivals, and have been selected to perform at several AMEA conferences. Prior to teaching at Gilbert High, Dr. Spencer held positions at the University of Nevada-Reno, Oklahoma City University, and Northern Arizona University. She has been the artistic director of the Canterbury Children's Chorus (Oklahoma City) as well as the conductor for the Reno Master Chorale. Although she has taught children through adults, high school students are her favorite age group. Merry Carol Spencer received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma (where she was awarded the Ph.D. Dissertation of the Year Award - 2000), a Master of Music degree from Northern Arizona University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Northern Colorado. She is a native of Pueblo, Colorado.
Erin Wendt is in her fourth year as the assistant choral director at Gilbert High School. In addition to teaching at GHS, Erin also teaches choir at Greenfield Junior High School. Erin graduated from Northern Arizona University with degrees in both Choral Music Education and Vocal Performance. While at NAU, she sang in the Shrine of the Ages Choir and the select vocal jazz ensemble, High Altitude, in addition to studying voice with Dr. Ricardo Pereira. In 2012, Erin was awarded the Outstanding Future Music Educator award by the Arizona Choral Director’s Association and in 2014 she was awarded the Outstanding New Music Educator by the Arizona Choral Educators association. Erin is also a graduate of the Gilbert High Choral Program.