Thomas Baty
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Student Musicians,
Welcome back! It is time for another great year of music-making, and there have been a lot of changes!
I have returned to Capital High School full-time and am once again directing the choirs and guiding the modern bands. It promises to be a busy year with concerts, lunch performances, tours, our musical theater show, “Mean Girls”, song-writing, and solo singing.
Music is such a valuable commodity in the world we live in, and I can’t wait to celebrate a joy of music-making with each and every student in choir and modern band. I look forward to working with you all!
Please contact me if you have questions or concerns throughout the year.
All the Best,
Thomas Baty
He/Him/His
Capital High School Choirs and Modern Band
Choir Concert Schedule
October 7 – 7:00 – CHS Auditorium
October 16-18 – MMEA (All-State) – Billings
November 11-12 – AA Festival – Helena
December 10 – 7:00 – CHS Auditorium
December 16 – Afternoon – Capitol Rotunda
February 9-11 (tentative) – Saturday’s Children Tour
February 13-16 – NAfME NW – Spokane
March 3 – 7:00 – Concert with CRA – CHS Auditorium
March 10 – 7:00 – CHS Auditorium
March 18-22 – ACDA National – Dallas
April 10-12 – District Music Festival – Solo/Ensemble @ Helena
April 21-22 – Jazz Choir Tour to Elementary Schools
May 2-3 – State Music Festival @ ???
May 19 – 6:00 – CHS Gym (Dessert Show)
May 23 – 7th Grade Festival – HMS
Modern Band Performance Schedule
October 2 – Lunch performance – CHS Auditorium
November 20 – Lunch performance – CHS Auditorium
December 20 – Holiday Assembly – CHS Gym
February 19 – Lunch performance – CHS Auditorium
March 13-14 – Tour around Helena
April 16 – Lunch performance – CHS Auditorium
May 8 – Final Modern Band Concert – CHS Courtyard (Evening)
May 19 – Choir Pop concert and Dessert Show – CHS Gym (Evening)
About Capital High School Choirs and Modern Band
Jazz Choir
This is a select choir of up to 16 voices. Membership will vary based on ability and voicing. This class emphasizes repertoire in pop and jazz styles, and requires a skillful ear to hear and maintain close harmonies. Students will study music theory, sight reading, and music appreciation through class participation, performances and District Music Festival. Prerequisite(s): Audition and selection required -AND- Concurrent enrollment in a music class.
Saturday’s Children Choir
This is the most advanced large ensemble at Capital High School. Members are required to have taken Tenor-Bass Choir, Jubilettes, or Treble Choir or show exceptional ability. This group is a touring choir. Members should be prepared to fund-raise for tours and traveling opportunities. Students will study music theory, sight reading, and music appreciation through class participation, performances and District Music Festival. Prerequisite(s): Audition and selection required.
Jubilettes Choir
This is a select treble choir. Members are required to have at least one year in Treble Choir, or show exceptional ability. This group is a touring choir. Members should be prepared to fund-raise for tours and traveling opportunities. Students will study music theory, sight reading, and music appreciation through class participation, performance and District Music Festival. Prerequisite(s): Audition and selection required
Tenor-Bass Choir
This class is an opportunity for any male student or student with a voice in the tenor or bass range, grades 9-12, who has a special interest in singing. No student will be refused admittance. Students will study music theory, sight reading, and music appreciation through class participation, performances and District Music Festival. Prior choir experience is helpful, but not necessary. No audition is required.
Treble Choir
This class is an opportunity for any female student or student with a voice in the treble range, grades 9-12, who has a special interest in singing. No student will be refused admittance except where there is limitation in space facilities, or good vocal balance dictates otherwise. Students will study music theory, sight-reading, and music appreciation through class participation, performances, and District Music Festival. Prior choir experience is helpful, but not necessary. No audition is required.
Modern Band
This is a unique class designed to teach the skills required to create and maintain a modern music ensemble (i.e. rock band). Students will have exposure to guitars and keyboard instruments as well as drums and auxiliary percussion. The goal is to create an engaging musical experience in which students are encouraged to try new things, make mistakes and learn by doing.