MISSION
The mission of the Grant Choral Department is to instill a lifelong appreciation for vocal music and to create confident, well-learned, and healthy young adults. Through daily rehearsals, teamwork, and dedication, students will achieve a high level of musical literacy, recognize the value of ensemble music within their community, and develop healthy singing techniques.
MEET THE CHOIRS
With over 175 individual singers, the Grant Choir Program is one of the largest and most vibrant curricular programs at Grant High School. All of Grant's five choirs meet during the school day, are year long classes, and are offered for full academic credit. No matter your grade level, vocal experience, voice part, gender identity, or background, there is a place for you within the fabric of this program. The Grant Choir Program is an inclusive, welcoming, and encouraging environment dedicated to exploring, developing, and sharing the world's most powerful and prolific expression of the human spirit through communal singing.
A Cappella at the 2017 Fall Concert.
A CAPPELLA
The A Cappella Choir is the Grant Choir Program's flagship choir that represents Grant in both district and statewide festivals. The choir is an auditioned, mixed ensemble that emphasizes advanced vocal production, sight-reading skills, musical literacy, listening skills, and personal dedication. Musical selections are from all time periods, styles, and cultures around the globe and throughout music history. A Cappella is also a college prep choir, providing the skills necessary for college auditions and scholarships. While the choir performs mostly "a cappella" or without instrumental accompaniment, the ensemble does perform with instruments from time to time, including partnerships with local youth orchestras and other Grant instrumental ensembles. Previous experience in a high school choir setting is recommended but not required for an audition.
THE ROYAL BLUES
The Royal Blues are the Grant High School’s premier chamber ensemble. The ensemble, consisting of roughly 32 exceptionally talented high school singers, has been performing within the Portland community, state, country, and around the world for over 40 years. Their repertoire encompasses a wide variety of styles and eras from renaissance madrigals to jazz standards, contemporary choral selections to spiritual and folk ballads. In 2005 the Royal Blues were selected as one of three high school choirs in the country to perform at the American Choral Directors Association National Convention in Los Angeles California inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The group has also toured Canada, England, Scotland, Germany, France, Austria, and the Czech Republic in the past decade. The Royal Blues are a highly sought after performance ensemble in the greater PDX community and thus personal dedication, commitment to excellence, and scholarship are required. Students must maintain a 2.5-minimum GPA and be co‐enrolled in A Cappella. For booking information and other inquiries, please visit the Contact page.
The Royal Blues, 2019.
Intermezzo's inaugural performance, directed by student director Angel Lujan in 2017.
INTERMEZZO
Intermezzo is an audition based, chamber choir for developing soprano/alto voices. The ensemble focuses on repertoire from all styles and eras of music while catering to voices that are transitioning into a more mature, adult sound. Intermezzo typically has a senior student director who mentors the ensemble and helps select repertoire as well as leads rehearsals. The goal of Intermezzo is to develop vocal ensemble independence and foster team-based, student centered learning. Pervious choral experience is not required but suggested prior to an audition.
TREBLE CHOIR
Treble Choir is a non‐auditioned class for soprano and alto voices. Previous vocal experience is not required. The class will focus on developing vocal tone, learning to sing in an ensemble setting, becoming familiar with various vocal repertoire, showmanship and basic elements of music theory/history. Students will perform concerts throughout the year featuring pieces of many different styles such as popular, folk, classical and jazz.
Treble Choir, 2017.
Men's Ensemble dress rehearsal for the Fall Concert, 2015.
MEN'S ENSEMBLE
Men’s Ensemble is a non‐auditioned class for tenor and bass voices. Previous vocal experience is not required. The class will focus on developing vocal tone, learning to sing in an ensemble setting, becoming familiar with various vocal repertoire, showmanship and basic elements of music theory/history. Students will perform concerts throughout the year featuring pieces of many different styles such as popular, folk, classical and jazz.
WATCH
Check out the latest videos of the choirs from concerts, festivals, clinics, and more. More videos from throughout the years can be found by searching for "Grant Choir" on YouTube or following John Eisemann's Youtube Channel.
Grant High School's A Cappella Choir performing at the PIL District Festival 2018. Filmed at Central Lutheran Church on 4/10/18 1. Yonder Come Day - Paul John Rudoi 2. Ecce Vicit Leo - Peter Philips 3. Indodana - Michael Barrett 4. Gede Nibo - Sten Kallman 5. The Parting Glass - Carl Crossin
Happy Holidays from the Grant Royal Blues! Filmed at Grant @Marshall on 12/15/18.
Grant Royal Blues at the Vancouver Kiwanis Choral Festival 2018 Cariboo Hill Temple 11-14 April 2018.
LISTEN
Check back here throughout the year to hear the latest recordings from Grant Choir concerts, festivals, and recordings throughout the year.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR: JOHN EISEMANN
John Eisemann started as the Director of Choral Activities at Grant High School in the Fall of 2012 and is beginning his 8th year at Grant. John is an alum of Grant High School and graduated in 2006. He sang with the choir program for three years, two of which he was a member of the Royal Blues. John holds a BA in Music/Education from Knox College, Galesburg Illinois, and an MA in Educational Leadership/Curriculum Design from Concordia University.
Aside from his work at Grant, John is an active member in the NW choral community. He is the founder and artistic director of In Medio, a semi-professional chamber choir for young adult singers ages 21 to 30, and sings with the Nexus Vocal Ensemble. John is an avid cyclist, amateur chef, gardener, and lover of renaissance polyphony.
To contact John Eisemann directly, please email: jeisemann@pps.net
Friends of
Grant choir
Friends of Grant Choir
Friends of Grant Choir is a committed group of parents, guardians, alumni and other choir enthusiasts who support vocal music at Grant High School. We share the common goal of promoting choir events, providing financial support, and lending a helping hand to Choir Director, John Eisemann, as he continues to maintain and build Grant's outstanding choral music program. Check back here frequently to find out about upcoming FofGC events, meetings, and other information about how you can get involved.
Sign up below to join the FofGC contact list. Our email communications are very infrequent and you can unsubscribe at anytime. You can also use this form to sign up to be part of the official steering committee of FofGC. Thank you for joining and supporting the program!