WELCOME TO HALLIE WELLS CHORUS
About Mr. Tilkens
Mr. Tilkens is incredibly excited to be opening the choral music department at Hallie Wells Middle School. His exceptional choral experiences in school inspired him to become the teacher he is today, dedicated to providing a fun and challenging music education to all his students.
Mr. Tilkens graduated from the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at the Catholic University of America with a bachelor of music degree and K-12 music certificate in Maryland and Washington, DC. He has spent over 10 years now teaching and working to improve himself as a performer and an educator.
A list of his favorite vocal music includes Frostiana, Earth and Air and Rain, the Songs of Travel, and the amazing Cantique de Jean Racine. His favorite instrumental pieces include The Planets and First Suite for Military Band in Eb. His favorite piano piece is Chopin's Nocturne in Eb.
NOV 12 - JR. ALL-STATE CHORUS AUDITIONS
Students who have registered to audition for the Maryland Jr. All-State Chorus must audition on November 12. Please bring the original octavo sheet music of Handel's "Praise the Lord" given to you by Mr. Tilkens. You will not be able to audition without it. Students will also sing "The Water is Wide" from memory and complete rhythmic and melodic sight reading as part of the audition process.
Our audition location is Oakdale High School, Frederick County, Maryland.
UPDATE: Tuesday November 1 I received a letter from MCEA that I will copy and distribute to students tomorrow. All of our students at Hallie Wells have been assigned the 1-2pm time slot. Any changes must be submitted immediately, so please email me as soon as possible if we need the change anything.
NOV 15, 16, 17 - MCPS HONORS CHORUS AUDITIONS
Students who have registered to audition for the Montgomery County Middle School Honors Chorus must audition the evening of November 15, 16, or 17. Students will sing "The Water is Wide" accapella from memory, as well as complete rhythmic and melodic sight reading as part of the audition.
Tuesday November 15 is at Loiederman Middle
Wendesday November 16 is at Ridgeview Middle
Thursday November 17 is at Martin Luther King Jr Middle
DEC 21 - HALLIE WELLS WINTER CONCERT
December 21 is our winter chorus and instrumental concert at Hallie Wells. Students should arrive at 6pm in their all black concert attire and report directly to the choir room. The concert will begin at 7pm and last approximately one hour.
Practice Videos by Mr. Tilkens
I have dedicated a Youtube channel to the practice of my choral students. These videos are not searchable through Youtube and can only be accessed through this website or from my homepage here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU8c8QxQDJyAUanty_3zpYA
MP3 files to pracice for Jr. All-State and Honors Chorus auditions are located in the next section below my videos section. I can also provide you with audio-only mp3 versions of any of my Youtube videos if you would like.
TOP PART
RHYTHM OF LIFE
MIDDLE PART
RHYTHM OF LIFE
BOTTOM PART
RHYTHM OF LIFE
ACCOMPANIMENT
RHYTHM OF LIFE
TOP PART
WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES
BOTTOM PART
WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES
DESCANT
WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES
ACCOMPANIMENT
WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES
UNISON
PAINLESS OPERA
TOP PART
KEEP YOUR LAMPS
BOTTOM PART
KEEP YOUR LAMPS
ACCOMPANIMENT
KEEP YOUR LAMPS
TOP REFRAIN
OYE!
MIDDLE REFRAIN
OYE!
BOTTOM REFRAIN
OYE!
SPANISH PRONUNCIATION
OYE!
ACCOMPANIMENT
OYE!
MELODY (TOP)
SIYAHAMBA
HARMONY (BOTTOM)
SIYAHAMBA
Practice Materials
Here I will post media students can use to practice from home. You will find videos or mp3s of concert music, as well as audition materials for honors chorus and all-state.
MARYLAND JR. ALL-STATE AUDITION MATERIALS
Please click the links below to stream or download mp3 practice tracks.
Soprano - Praise the Lord
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzxJ8TbsN464eVN4eEFjcFlKRnc
Alto - Praise the Lord
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzxJ8TbsN464djFpUVJhaVRKM3M
Tenor - Praise the Lord
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzxJ8TbsN464ZWhzMjVWVUU2UG8
Bass- Praise the Lord
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzxJ8TbsN464V0pRQmZLdnhzdTg
Full accompaniment
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzxJ8TbsN464LU9hMTlKb1duOW8
MCPS HONORS CHORUS AUDITION MATERIALS
Please note: Students will sing the same arrangement of “The Water is Wide” both accapella and memorized for the Honors Chorus and All-State auditions.
Soprano – The Water is Wide
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzxJ8TbsN464b3o5TDBibVhJRjA
Alto – The Water is Wide
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzxJ8TbsN464cGdDWmYzQmhjdmM
Tenor – The Water is Wide
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzxJ8TbsN464REllTmFwYkVNR28
Bass – The Water is Wide
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzxJ8TbsN464eVYwakp6NmUyZFk
“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent”
– Victor Hugo
Contact Me
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns, or comments.
11701 Little Seneca Pkwy, Germantown, MD 20876
