Synergy 9th-12th Grade Auditioned A cappella Treble Voice Group
|
Synergy is the treble a cappella ensemble from the Oregon Children’s Choir, made up of treble singers from surrounding high schools in Eugene/Springfield, OR. Founded in the fall of 2012, Synergy was created by Evynne Hollens, co-founder of Divisi, the University of Oregon’s premier women’s a cappella group.
Synergy has established a reputation as a tight musical group with a bold sound! In just their first year, Synergy placed third at the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) Northwest Region Semifinals and Madison Kettwig brought home the award for outstanding soloist. They then won the 2013 ICHSA Wild Card Round which sent them to NYC, where they competed as ICHSA Finalists. |
|
In 2015 Synergy placed 4th in the NW ICHSA Competition, and Arielle Ward received the award for outstanding student arrangement for “Sang Sang." In 2016 Synergy placed 4th in the NW ICHSA Competition; Arielle Ward received the award for best soloist and Kyra Siegel received the award for best choreography.
Under the leadership of Lauren Kahn, the group continued to win accolades: In 2020, they took 1st place in the ICHSA West Quarterfinals, where senior Jane Brinkley won the best choreography award for the second year in a row. In 2022, Synergy took 1st place in the ICHSA West Quarterfinals again, and senior Karysa McMahan won best choreography.
Brought together through their love of music and the desire to sing songs of strength and empowerment, these singers share a unique bond both onstage and off. Synergy is looking for singers with a strong sense of musicianship, who have good intonation, are able to pick up basic choreography, and are interested in creating powerful and inspiring performances.
Under the leadership of Lauren Kahn, the group continued to win accolades: In 2020, they took 1st place in the ICHSA West Quarterfinals, where senior Jane Brinkley won the best choreography award for the second year in a row. In 2022, Synergy took 1st place in the ICHSA West Quarterfinals again, and senior Karysa McMahan won best choreography.
Brought together through their love of music and the desire to sing songs of strength and empowerment, these singers share a unique bond both onstage and off. Synergy is looking for singers with a strong sense of musicianship, who have good intonation, are able to pick up basic choreography, and are interested in creating powerful and inspiring performances.
About the Director
Lauren Kahn, the director of Synergy, has an extensive background directing, arranging, and singing a cappella music. She grew up singing a cappella four-part harmony (known as “barbershop”), and has been directing the Greater Eugene Chorus, an award-winning local barbershop chorus, since 2013. She also directed the University of Oregon’s gender inclusive a cappella group, Mind the Gap, from 2013 to 2015. Lauren is a prolific arranger in both the barbershop and contemporary a cappella genres, and she especially loves to arrange music for the groups she directs, and loves arranging much of Synergy's repertoire! Lauren also grew up playing classical piano and accompanied her school choirs in middle and high school. In her “real life,” Lauren is a data engineer at a mental health startup that launched from research at the University of Oregon. She graduated from UO with a Ph.D. in Psychology in 2018, studying the science of motivation, choice, identity, and behavior change. Importantly, she believes that topics like these can also be explored through music, and she encourages singers to learn about themselves and the world through their musical stories.
Rehearsal Schedule and Events
Rehearsals begin on the Tuesday following the first week of school.
Attendance: All rehearsals are expected. (Please report absences to your director or parent helper, no more than 2 unexcused absences per term from rehearsals and or performances are allowed)
Choristers must attend all major choir events: (Calendar Dates will be set in August)
Attendance: All rehearsals are expected. (Please report absences to your director or parent helper, no more than 2 unexcused absences per term from rehearsals and or performances are allowed)
Choristers must attend all major choir events: (Calendar Dates will be set in August)
- Rehearsals for Synergy will be on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30pm at 1376 Olive St. The director may call occasional extra rehearsals.
- Preview Concert - October
- Winter Concert – December
- High School A Cappella Competition – Last Friday of January (some extra rehearsals might be needed to prepare for competition)
- Spring Concert - March
- Tour in May
- If Synergy gets 1st place in regionals they will go to NYC for finals for their trip - around the 3rd week in April
- Finale Concert – June
- Additional Festivals and performances will be decided on with the group
Financial Commitment
The Oregon Children’s Choir is a non-profit organization. Its operating expenses, which include music, conductor’s salaries, and rehearsal space, are funded by chorister tuition.
We offer sibling discounts for families with more than one child enrolled with OCC. The discount is 25% off the second child’s tuition, and 50% off per chorister for any additional siblings. Discount is taken from the lower tuition(s). Note: Pay each chorister’s full tuition and the appropriate discount will be applied towards your chorister’s trip cost.
We offer several need based scholarships. Please ask for a scholarship application with your registration materials, or tap here for a form you can print at home.
- Tuition for Synergy upcoming season, September through June, is $550 for Synergy. This amount includes a t-shirt.
- Synergy Uniform – TBA
- Trip – Synergy – approximately $500 for a festival in the NW, $800 for a performance trip to Disneyland or $1500 to compete in the High School a cappella competition finals, ICHSA, in New York.
We offer sibling discounts for families with more than one child enrolled with OCC. The discount is 25% off the second child’s tuition, and 50% off per chorister for any additional siblings. Discount is taken from the lower tuition(s). Note: Pay each chorister’s full tuition and the appropriate discount will be applied towards your chorister’s trip cost.
We offer several need based scholarships. Please ask for a scholarship application with your registration materials, or tap here for a form you can print at home.
Interested?
Questions?
Contact OCC or your conductor - CLICK HERE