Classes

Choir

TCHA offers several choir classes each semester for a variety of ages ranging from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Fall 2024 Semester

Classes for this semester (unless otherwise noted) are held at South Suburban Church in Apple Valley on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024 except for Nov 27, 2024.

Classes

  • Music Explorers
    Music Explorers
    Dylan Sauder
    Choir and Drama
    Class Times
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Grades K - 1st
    Tuition Fee 147

    Music Explorers

    Music Explorers
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Class Times
    Grades K - 1st
    Tuition Fee 147

    Through singing, games, movement, and more, students in Music Explorers will build a strong musical foundation, including keeping a steady beat, creating simple rhythms, and singing in a healthy and artful way. All Music Explorers will perform in TCHA’s Choir Concert at the end of the semester.

    Instructor

    Dylan Sauder
    Dylan Sauder
    Choir and Drama

    Dylan Sauder is a Twin Cities music educator and performer. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education in Vocal and Classroom Music from University of Northwestern-St. Paul, as well as a major in Bible and a Spanish minor. While much of his teaching experience has been PK-8th grade General Music, he has also taught choir for grades 4-12, beginning band and strings, piano and voice lessons, and musical theater classes, in addition to music directing and choreographing several elementary and middle school musicals.

    When not teaching, Dylan enjoys performing, especially on-stage in musical theater productions and singing in any number of genres. In his free time, he enjoys being outside in nature, spending time with friends and family, reading, and traveling. He is so excited to create and explore with the elementary singers of TCHA this school year!

  • Music Makers
    Music Makers
    Dylan Sauder
    Choir and Drama
    Class Times
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Grades 2nd - 3rd
    Tuition Fee 175

    Music Makers

    Music Makers
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Class Times
    Grades 2nd - 3rd
    Tuition Fee 175

    Music Makers get to experience making music together through singing rounds and folk songs, as well as expressing themselves through movement. They will continue developing a foundation in music concepts-such as note reading, dynamics, tempo, steady beats, reading rhythms, etc.-through singing and playing classroom instruments. Students will perform at TCHA’s Choir Concert at the end of the semester.

    Instructor

    Dylan Sauder
    Dylan Sauder
    Choir and Drama

    Dylan Sauder is a Twin Cities music educator and performer. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education in Vocal and Classroom Music from University of Northwestern-St. Paul, as well as a major in Bible and a Spanish minor. While much of his teaching experience has been PK-8th grade General Music, he has also taught choir for grades 4-12, beginning band and strings, piano and voice lessons, and musical theater classes, in addition to music directing and choreographing several elementary and middle school musicals.

    When not teaching, Dylan enjoys performing, especially on-stage in musical theater productions and singing in any number of genres. In his free time, he enjoys being outside in nature, spending time with friends and family, reading, and traveling. He is so excited to create and explore with the elementary singers of TCHA this school year!

  • Cantabile
    Cantabile
    Dylan Sauder
    Choir and Drama
    Class Times
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Grades 4th - 6th
    Tuition Fee 182

    Cantabile

    Cantabile
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Class Times
    Grades 4th - 6th
    Tuition Fee 182

    Cantabile Choir members focus on learning to sing as an ensemble as we prepare music, including songs in foreign languages, to be performed at TCHA’s Choir Concert at the end of the semester. They will sing music from different genres, singing unison, 2-part, and 3-part music. Cantabile is appropriate for boys with unchanged voices.

    Instructor

    Dylan Sauder
    Dylan Sauder
    Choir and Drama

    Dylan Sauder is a Twin Cities music educator and performer. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education in Vocal and Classroom Music from University of Northwestern-St. Paul, as well as a major in Bible and a Spanish minor. While much of his teaching experience has been PK-8th grade General Music, he has also taught choir for grades 4-12, beginning band and strings, piano and voice lessons, and musical theater classes, in addition to music directing and choreographing several elementary and middle school musicals.

    When not teaching, Dylan enjoys performing, especially on-stage in musical theater productions and singing in any number of genres. In his free time, he enjoys being outside in nature, spending time with friends and family, reading, and traveling. He is so excited to create and explore with the elementary singers of TCHA this school year!

  • Music Theory and Musicality
    Music Theory and Musicality
    Sarah Phillips
    Choir and Drama
    Class Times
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Grades 6th - 10th
    Tuition Fee 172

    Music Theory and Musicality

    Music Theory and Musicality
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Class Times
    Grades 6th - 10th
    Tuition Fee 172

    This class will teach the student who is at the beginning of their musical knowledge how to read notes on a staff, how to understand musical terms in a piece of music, and how to translate all of that into their singing voice. We will explore vocal ranges, matching pitch with a group, sight reading simple tunes, and following a choral part. This class is highly recommended for anyone interested in singing in the upper level choirs, especially for those with no other musical background.

    Instructor

    Sarah Phillips
    Sarah Phillips
    Choir and Drama

    Sarah Phillips majored in Piano Performance, with a vocal minor, at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, has taught numerous piano students music theory, including her own 8 kids, whom she homeschools. She also leads the children’s choir at her church and accompanies the TCHA choirs for their performances.

    Sarah enjoys spending time in her kitchen baking numerous treats for special occasions as well as providing treats for TCHA production concessions and for Wednesday classes; she’s known by some as “the cookie lady”.

    Her favorite thing about homeschooling is teaching her children to have a passion and love for their Savior, encouraging them to dig deeper for spiritual insights, and pointing them to the Truth.

  • Gloria Voce
    Gloria Voce
    Michelle Whalen
    Choir, Drama, Private Lessons, and Theatre
    Class Times
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Grades 7th - 9th
    Tuition Fee 175

    Gloria Voce

    Gloria Voce
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Class Times
    Grades 7th - 9th
    Tuition Fee 175

    Gloria Voce is a mixed choral group for students to grow together in learning to read music, sing harmonies, and apply vocal techniques of breath, blend, pitch, and resonance at the junior high level. In this season, students will find their voices are changing and we will adapt to their new “instrument” as that occurs. Along with two concerts in December and May, Gloria Voce may also perform at the Mall of America during the Christmas season. No audition required.

    NOTE: due to the time required to order music, a late fee of $25 for all who register less than two weeks before classes begin.

    Instructor

    Michelle Whalen
    Michelle Whalen
    Choir, Drama, Private Lessons, and Theatre

    Michelle has been a seeker of creativity & wonderment since childhood. Raised in Madagascar and Minnesota, as a young girl Michelle fell in love with the internal landscape of books and story, and the external narrative of nature and the outdoors, with music woven throughout both worlds. As a teenager she filled her days with theater, choir, speech, and music and found in those spaces both her strengths and gifting, as well as her people and belonging.

    Michelle received a BA in Music Performance with a vocal emphasis from Colorado Christian University, and spent the following years touring with various groups and working as a studio musician and vocalist for commercial and corporate events. Michelle has also led worship for over 25 years, recorded on various worship albums featuring her original music, and released two solo albums as a singer-songwriter.

    Teaching voice and piano from her home studio, Michelle has also taught and mentored songwriting for several summers at The Junior Composer’s Institute, and directed four years of Christmas choir and orchestra performances of Handel’s Messiah.

    In 2013 Michelle joined the founding board of Twin Cities Homeschoolers for the Arts and is passionate about providing faith-based quality performing arts opportunities to the homeschooling community. Michelle has a special love for working with teens, enjoying the role of music director for TCHA musical productions since 2018, and is now thrilled to be directing the TCHA teen mixed choirs and female select ensemble. She has two college-age children, Kenoy and Paris, and lives in Eagan, MN.

  • Concordia
    Concordia
    Michael Hunt
    Choir and Theatre
    Class Times
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Grades 7th - 12th
    Tuition Fee 123

    Concordia

    Concordia
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Class Times
    Grades 7th - 12th
    Tuition Fee 123

    Concordia is an ensemble of the most vocally skilled male participants drawn from Gloria and Divino Voce choirs. For students not previous accepted into Concordia, an audition is required to participate in this ensemble (registration will be opened to those who are selected to participate). For more information on the audition process, please contact Michael Hunt <[email protected]>.

    Instructor

    Michael Hunt
    Michael Hunt
    Choir and Theatre

    With 30+ years as a professional singer with the Christian a cappella quartet The Penny Loafers, and 30+ years as a professional actor & director, Michael is no stranger to the performing arts. His singing career took him across the U.S. and Canada sharing the stage with Southern Gospel music greats like The Gaither Vocal Band, Sandi Patty, Larnel Harris, Mark Lowry, Greater Vision, The Martins, The Hoppers, and Contemporary Christian artists like DC Talk, Audio Adrenaline, Todd Agnew, Cindy Morgan, and many more. But his favorite celebrity to work with was actor/comedian Tim Conway.

    Michael has sung with and directed numerous choirs in schools and churches, sung with several church praise & worship teams, taught private voice lessons, recorded several albums, sung on local and national radio and television, and traveled as a solo artist doing music & drama. His love for acting started in the 3rd grade as the Irish Tenor in the St. Patrick’s Day play, and has led him to professional theater, commercials, and film work.

    Michael has a BA in Vocal Music from Berea College (KY) and an AS in Physical Therapy from Vincennes University (IN). He & his wife Carol and their 4 children (Joanna, Jaben, Jocelyn, and Josiah) are MN transplants from KY, now making their home in Savage since 2016.

    Michael is excited to make his TCHA debut this year (2023) as the Assistant Director of the Fall musical “Hello, Dolly”, and as the Director of the Boy’s Select Choir (Concordia).

  • Auria
    Auria
    Michelle Whalen
    Choir, Drama, Private Lessons, and Theatre
    Class Times
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Grades 7th - 12th
    Tuition Fee 123

    Auria

    Auria
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Class Times
    Grades 7th - 12th
    Tuition Fee 123

    Auria is an ensemble of the most vocally skilled female participants drawn from Gloria and Divino Voce choirs. For students not previously accepted into Auria, an audition is required to participate in this ensemble (registration will be opened to those who are selected to participate). For more information on the audition process, please contact Michelle Whalen <[email protected]>.

    Instructor

    Michelle Whalen
    Michelle Whalen
    Choir, Drama, Private Lessons, and Theatre

    Michelle has been a seeker of creativity & wonderment since childhood. Raised in Madagascar and Minnesota, as a young girl Michelle fell in love with the internal landscape of books and story, and the external narrative of nature and the outdoors, with music woven throughout both worlds. As a teenager she filled her days with theater, choir, speech, and music and found in those spaces both her strengths and gifting, as well as her people and belonging.

    Michelle received a BA in Music Performance with a vocal emphasis from Colorado Christian University, and spent the following years touring with various groups and working as a studio musician and vocalist for commercial and corporate events. Michelle has also led worship for over 25 years, recorded on various worship albums featuring her original music, and released two solo albums as a singer-songwriter.

    Teaching voice and piano from her home studio, Michelle has also taught and mentored songwriting for several summers at The Junior Composer’s Institute, and directed four years of Christmas choir and orchestra performances of Handel’s Messiah.

    In 2013 Michelle joined the founding board of Twin Cities Homeschoolers for the Arts and is passionate about providing faith-based quality performing arts opportunities to the homeschooling community. Michelle has a special love for working with teens, enjoying the role of music director for TCHA musical productions since 2018, and is now thrilled to be directing the TCHA teen mixed choirs and female select ensemble. She has two college-age children, Kenoy and Paris, and lives in Eagan, MN.

  • Divino Voce
    Divino Voce
    Michelle Whalen
    Choir, Drama, Private Lessons, and Theatre
    Class Times
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Grades 10th - 12th
    Tuition Fee 185

    Divino Voce

    Divino Voce
    Schedule Weekly on Wednesdays from Aug 28, 2024 to Dec 4, 2024
    Class Times
    Grades 10th - 12th
    Tuition Fee 185

    Divino Voce is a mixed choral group for students who desire to continue growing their vocal and musical skills while singing exciting and increasingly challenging choral works at the high school level. Along with two concerts in December and May, Divino Voce may also perform at the Mall of America during the Christmas season, and participate in a high school choral festival in January.

    For students not previously accepted into Divino Voce, an audition is required* to participate in this ensemble (registration will be opened to those who are selected to participate). For more information on the audition process, please contact Michelle Whalen <[email protected]>.

    NOTE: due to the time required to order music, a late fee of $25 for all who register less than two weeks before classes begin.

    *If a student is not vocally prepared to sing in this choir but would like to grow in their singing skills, we encourage vocal instruction from one of the many voice coaches connected to TCHA.

    Instructor

    Michelle Whalen
    Michelle Whalen
    Choir, Drama, Private Lessons, and Theatre

    Michelle has been a seeker of creativity & wonderment since childhood. Raised in Madagascar and Minnesota, as a young girl Michelle fell in love with the internal landscape of books and story, and the external narrative of nature and the outdoors, with music woven throughout both worlds. As a teenager she filled her days with theater, choir, speech, and music and found in those spaces both her strengths and gifting, as well as her people and belonging.

    Michelle received a BA in Music Performance with a vocal emphasis from Colorado Christian University, and spent the following years touring with various groups and working as a studio musician and vocalist for commercial and corporate events. Michelle has also led worship for over 25 years, recorded on various worship albums featuring her original music, and released two solo albums as a singer-songwriter.

    Teaching voice and piano from her home studio, Michelle has also taught and mentored songwriting for several summers at The Junior Composer’s Institute, and directed four years of Christmas choir and orchestra performances of Handel’s Messiah.

    In 2013 Michelle joined the founding board of Twin Cities Homeschoolers for the Arts and is passionate about providing faith-based quality performing arts opportunities to the homeschooling community. Michelle has a special love for working with teens, enjoying the role of music director for TCHA musical productions since 2018, and is now thrilled to be directing the TCHA teen mixed choirs and female select ensemble. She has two college-age children, Kenoy and Paris, and lives in Eagan, MN.