Voices of Color

Ever wondered what it’s like to sing a a select singing group? We have one right at Oak Hill! Voices of Color, also known as VOC, is a select singing group that counts as a class, but we do so much more. The requirements to get in is that the student must have been in chorus for one year, know how to read music, and know how to count music. Auditions are in the spring every year. If the student is lucky, they can be in it for three years.

Once in VOC, the student is first fitted for either a suit or the famous blue dress depending on gender. Then, the fun begins! As a select group, there are higher expectations. This includes learning music faster, doing more challenging music, learning music on your own time, hours of practicing, and sight reading music from the beginning.

Class begins, you find your seat in the correct section, and the director gives you music that you’ve never seen before and tells you to sight read the first pages. By the end of class, you know a quarter of several songs. Then your homework is to “solfege” the next page, and practice what you have learned so far. It is vital that you know and remember the music because every two weeks, you must submit a recording of a specific song and it is counted as a quiz grade.

VOC does more than just the three school concerts. We have sang at the state house, at the Franco American Heritage Center with the Androscoggin Chorale, at the memorial day ceremonies in Litchfield and Sabattus, at hockey games, and also at graduation. We have even gone to a recording studio and recorded a CD of some of our songs! Also, last year, we had our 25 reunion where all alumni came and learned music  in a day, and then had a concert that night.

It is very important to us on our presentation, hence the blue floor length dresses and suits, and how professional we look. We really take practice seriously to get it how we like, but also have fun in class. VOC is such a wonderful experience. We are just one big family, but like any family there are some clashes and we work through it. We would love to welcome you into our family, and show you our crazy ways! VOC has made a dent in my life, and I know it would make a dent in yours.