Arts

Performing Arts

Drama

List of 2 items.

  • Middle School

    The Middle School Players put on two full-length productions per year. A fall play or musical, which is open to the entire school and a spring performance chosen by the 8th grade production class.

    6th Grade drama
    Improvisation and basic acting techniques and terminology.

    7th grade drama
    Intermediate improvisation and advanced character creation techniques.

    8th grade drama
    Production class, and training for the stage. Students learn advanced acting techniques and full-length production at the end of the year.

  • High School

    Director of Drama Program
    Yvette L. Bishop, MFA, M. Ed.
    ybishop@chaminade.org
     
    Drama I- Introduction to Theatre Arts
    Students will explore drama and build their acting skills in a variety of styles such as: improvisation and theatre games, contemporary plays, monologues, scene construction and character development. They will be taught theatrical terminology, be introduced to theatre history, Greek drama, playwriting, Meisner acting technique, Shakespeare, musical theatre, and audition technique, while growing in their understanding of the collaborative nature of theatre.
     
    DRAMA II-1: Acting Workshop II, III, IV
    Students will continue to develop in and focus on their acting skills through monologue work and scene study from contemporary plays. This course will focus on three acting teachers and their techniques; Eric Morris, Sanford Meisner, and Uta Hagen. Students will learn to bring their own authenticity to their work. Drama III/IV will also delve deeper into the direction of scene work for class and DTASC fall festival.
     
    DRAMA II-2: Musical Theatre Workshop II, III, IV
    Through song interpretation, scene study, vocal technique, acting exercises and coaching, students will have an opportunity to craft multi-layered performances. Time will be devoted to developing skills on acting while working on scenes and songs from musical theatre, singing in duets and trios, as well as audition techniques, including self-taping. Throughout this process, students will be building a repertoire of musical theatre songs. The course will culminate in a required performance before a panel of invited guests, selected by the instructor to provide feedback within a master class setting.
     
    The Chaminade Players (website)
    This extracurricular drama program is guided by real world industry professionals and made up of actors and technical crew members. The Players present two mainstage productions each year; one in fall and one in spring, DTASC Fall and Spring Showcases, 48 Hours of Madness, and an occasional Drama Under the Stars production.

    All Chaminade students are eligible to audition for the productions and may sign up to work on technical crews.

    Technical Crews
    The student centered technical crews include: producers, stage managers, technical directors, carpentry, rigging, scenic, electrics, props, sound, wardrobe, hair/makeup, box office, and media. The student leaders on these crews also serve as the Tutor Center Crew providing technical support for all events that take place in the Tutor Family Center for the Performing Arts.

    For more information, please visit The Chaminade Players website www.chaminadeplayers.org



The Chaminade Players have received Jerry Herman Awards for The Wizard of Oz, Guys and Dolls, and Beauty and the Beast and National Youth Arts Awards for The Wizard of Oz, The Crucible, Guys and Dolls, and Macbeth. The critically acclaimed Players have received accolades in DTASC festivals each semester and the YoungArts Foundation as well.

Choral

List of 2 items.

  • Middle School

    C-Notes Concert Choir
    Open to all boys and girls who wish to learn and perform all genres of choral music.

    Chaminade Middle School Choral Website

    NO AUDITION NECESSARY. 

    All members will strengthen existing sight-reading skills and learn proper vocal technique, which will enable students to meet the demands of accelerated ensembles in high school. Please visit the C-Notes site here for more information.
     
    “C7” is an auditioned a cappella group of seven or eight singers. This has been a wonderful tradition of collaboration and mentorship over these past years.  
     
    This vocal ensemble is open to boys and girls in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. The students in this group must be a members of the Chaminade C-Notes and expressive singers who are able to solo and blend harmonies well in a group.
     
    “C7” performs in Christmas and Spring Concerts, Open House, Holly Berry Luncheon at the High School, La Dame Luncheon, Mt. St. Mary’s concert as well as other Chaminade events and assemblies throughout the school year.  Auditions take place during the first week of C-Note rehearsals.
     
    Chaminets (Barbershop girls)
    “Sweet Adelines” quartet of four singers (soprano, lead, baritone and bass).  This vocal ensemble is open to girls in grades 6,7 and 8.  Students receive placement into this ensemble BY AUDITION ONLY.  These auditioned singers learn and perform this a cappella style of music and learn to blend and sing in close harmonies.  The ensemble performs pieces in the traditional “barbershop” style as well as in a “contemporary popular” style.  These students are all members of the Chaminade C-Notes and perform in the Christmas and spring concerts as well as other Chaminade events throughout the year.
     
    Chaminotes (Barbershop boys)
    Barbershop quartet of four singers (Tenor, Lead, Baritone and Bass). This vocal ensemble is open to boys grade 6,7 and 8.  Students receive placement into this ensemble BY AUDITION ONLY.  These auditioned singers learn and perform this a cappella style of music and learn to blend and sing in close harmonies.  The ensemble performs pieces in the traditional “Barbershop” style as well as in a “contemporary popular” style.  These students are all members of the Chaminade C-Notes and perform in the Christmas and Spring Concerts as well as other Chaminade events throughout the year.
     
    Liturgical Choir (Ensemble of musicians and singers)
    Open to all students in grades 6,7 abd 8, who would like to sing or play an instrument in school liturgies throughout the year. 
    NO AUDITION IS NECESSARY.
    This is a serious commitment for students who wish to help lead their fellow students and share their gifts in music ministry.  Students are given opportunities to be a cantor, soloist or instrumentalist during liturgical services.  All students will receive one hour of apostolic works for participating in each mass or service.  Rehearsals take place each Tuesday during X-Block in the music room starting in August and continue through May.
     

  • High School

    Director of Choral Programs
    Conor Whalen
    cwhalen@chaminade.org

    Chorus I
    This course will explore the fundamentals of choral and solo singing, music theory, sight-reading, score study, song selection, and confidence building exercises. Members of this class will participate in two performances per school year, alongside the Chaminade Choirs!
     
    Chorus II
    This intermediate level course will expose students to advanced solo repertoire, including American Art Songs, Italian Arias, advanced music theory, sight-reading, score study, song selection, and confidence building exercises. Prerequisites for this course: Chorus I.
     
    Chorus III
    This advanced level course will expose students to a robust solo repertoire, including American Art Songs, German Arias, advanced music theory, sight-reading, score study, song selection, and confidence building exercises. Prerequisites for this course: Chorus I & II.
     
    Music Appreciation
    This is a yearlong course (Music Appreciation A & B) that will explore various aspects of music including: music theory, music history, and musicianship. This course will follow the W.W. Norton Style curriculum.
     
    Concert Choir
    The Chaminade Concert Choir is an auditioned vocal ensemble made up of students that have a passion for singing and choral music! This ensemble performs at Chaminade multiple times throughout the school year and travels yearly to participate in world renowned choir festivals and competitions. 
     
    The Spiritones
    The Spiritones is an auditioned a cappella choir that performs both individually and alongside the Chaminade Concert Choir at world renowned choir festivals and school performances. All members of The Spiritones must participate in a secondary performing arts activity such as drama, band, choir, or dance.
     
    Vocal Jazz Ensemble
    Chaminade’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble is an ensemble comprised of a multitude of performing arts students, who participate in multiple arts activities throughout the year such as drama, band, choir, and dance! This ensemble competes professionally at world-renowned choir festivals and competitions, alongside the Chaminade Concert Choir and Spiritones acapella ensemble!
     
    For more information please visit the choir website www.chaminadechoirs.org
The Chaminade C-Notes have consistently earned a “GOLD” ranking each year since 2010 at the WorldStrides Heritage Festival and have had the distinct honor of performing at Carnegie Hall NYC in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019.  During Spring Break 2020, the C-Notes will perform in Vienna and Salzburg, Austria.

Instrumental Music

List of 2 items.

  • Middle School

    Concert Band
    Performs at school events, band festivals and special events including the Soundtrack clinic at Disneyland and Universal Studios. Click here for more information

    Jazz Band
    Jazz Band performs at concerts, Family Fun Day and community events.

    Orchestra & Percussion Ensemble
    Perform at the winter and spring concerts. Click here for more information.

  • High School

    Director of Instrumental Music
    Nicholas Pulido

    Eagle Regiment I-IV (Marching Band) 
    The Chaminade Eagle Regiment is a school marching band, made up of wind and percussion instruments that performs a field show each year, as well as participates in many local parades and events. The band has traveled to England, Spain, Mexico, New York, & Washington D.C. over the past 10 years. The Band competes in the Western Band Association and the California State Band Championships each year. They have also taken first place at the Chatsworth Holiday Parade the last three years (2017-19)
     
    Jazz Band I-IV
    The Chaminade Jazz Combo is a school Jazz Band, made up of woodwinds, brass, piano, guitar, brass, and drum set/ percussion that performs at home and in various festivals and events throughout the year. The band has traveled to England, Spain, Mexico, New York, Washington D.C. & San Diego over the past 10 years. The Jazz Combo I performed as the featured artists at the Valley Jazz Club on March 1, 2020.
     
    Wind Ensemble I-IV
    The Chaminade Wind Ensemble is a school concert band that includes string instruments. The Wind Ensemble performs at home and at various festivals, events and concerts throughout the year. The band has travelled to England, Spain, Mexico, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle & San Diego over the past 10 years.
     
    Instrumental Guitar
    This course is designed to teach students how to read music and play guitar. The students also participate in school concerts at the end of each semester. No previous experience necessary.

    String Orchestra I-IV 
    The Chaminade String Orchestra is made up of violins, violas, cellos, and string bass. String Orchestra presents concerts each semester and performs at various festivals throughout the year. The ensemble focuses on developing musicianship skills through a variety of musical styles and selected repertoire. 

    For more information, please visit the instrumental music website www.chaminadebands.com

Dance

List of 2 items.

  • Middle School

    Eagle Dance Team

    Dance Club
    Performance groups

  • High School

    Director of Dance
    Jacqueline Ward

    DANCE I
    This INTRODUCTORY/BEGINNING level dance class explores ballet, modern, and additional dance style(s), plus solo choreography skills. No previous dance experience required.

    DANCE II
    This BEGINNING/INTERMEDIATE level dance class explores ballet, contemporary, and additional dance technique(s), plus duet choreography skills. At least 1 year of previous dance training required.

    DANCE III
    This INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED level dance class explores ballet, contemporary, and additional dance technique(s), plus group choreography skills. At least 2 years of previous dance training required.

    DANCE IV
    This ADVANCED/PRE-PROFESSIONAL level dance class will explore ballet (pointe optional), contemporary, and additional dance technique(s), plus group choreography skills. At least 3 years of previous dance training required. More stringent dress code (tights and leotard or unitard) enforced.
From the novice to the pre-professional, dance at Chaminade is for everyone. Students receive personalized attention from the director of dance and esteemed guest artists in various dance styles, repertory, improvisation, composition, and the creative process. The dance program provides a positive, all-inclusive environment that is extremely relevant to contemporary dance today, builds community, and helps transform the world one upstanding citizen at a time.

List of 1 items.

  • We pride ourselves in living out the charism and values

    of what makes our school distinctly Catholic.

Middle School

High School

(818)347-8300
West Hills Neighbor Complaints Line
(818) 588-4CCP (4227)
    • Marianists Catholic Chaminade

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