Conductor, Haley Gibbons

Bio: Valley Singers is one of several auditioned choirs at Valley High School in West Des Moines, IA. The thirty-six member ensemble has a 60 year history; they regularly participate in local concerts, appearances at community events, and performances with some of the finest Midwest collegiate choirs. Outside of Valley Singers, members are involved in drama, band, orchestra, athletics, volunteer organizations, and various clubs, often while maintaining part-time jobs and rigorous academic schedules. The Valley Choral Department maintains a tradition of excellence in music education with an emphasis on the solo voice in classical and contemporary settings, vocal jazz, and a strong ensemble-based music literacy program.

Ensemble Statement: Valley Singers are part of a large fine arts program in an increasingly diverse and growing district in central Iowa. The choral department has a history of not only musical excellence, but also service and broader community engagement. The core values of Valley Singers specifically are independence in music literacy, a commitment to programing wide varieties of repertoire from across the globe, and involvement in community performances. Members of Valley Singers are dedicated to becoming independent, literate musicians. Through the consistent use of literacy tools, such as solfege, students become autonomous and self-reliant singers. They lead their own sectionals and rehearsals, encouraging one another to utilize solfege hand-signs and to sing expressively from the first read-through of a piece. Too, Valley Singers routinely present music that spans the breadth of choral possibilities. By focusing on tonal flexibility, Singers produce timbres and use textual treatments appropriate to different styles, cultures, and traditions. Repertoire is chosen to honor and represent the backgrounds of students, as well as to introduce the community to music of different cultures, particularly under-represented voices of the past and present. Through engaging in class discussions with guest composers and community members, students develop the tonal flexibility and responsiveness necessary to authentic, passionate, and respectful performance. Finally, Valley Singers perform for not only school-sponsored concerts; they also offer music to local events, charity breakfasts, convention openings, and other local ceremonies and vigils. Members of the Valley Singers ensemble are committed to building community through choral art, and through the work of this ensemble, they learn to be part of the greater “chorus of humanity.” A current member reflected, “I’ve learned about family here and have been lifted up by these people so many times.” Valley Singers truly is a family, where each member is heard and understood.