Vocal Music
Welcome to the Eagan High School Choral Department!
- About Us
- Directors
- Curricular Choirs
- Co-Curricular Choirs
- Calendar
- Booster Club
- Resources
- Choir Tour
About Us
The choirs at Eagan High School offer opportunities for students in grades 9-12 to study and perform in a choral setting. The music performed spans all styles from the 15th to the 21st centuries. The choirs perform throughout the year inside and outside the school. Home concerts include the Fall, Holiday, Showcase, and Spring Concerts. Festival performances for certain ensembles are also scheduled.
Additional experiences for choir students to participate in include:
- ISD196 Solo and Ensemble Festival
- EHS Masterclass
- EHS Musical Theater Masterclass
- 9th & 10th grade state honor choir
- Minnesota Music Educators’ All-State Choruses
- Statewide festival/honor choirs
In-school tuition-based private voice lessons
OUR PHILOSOPHY
We believe every child can learn and extend that belief to the certainty that every child is musically expressive and deserves the opportunity to explore that capability. To that end, our program offers opportunities for the less experienced music learner as well as the highly skilled, gifted musician. We will all learn and perform together to create beautiful choral music regardless of gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, and economic status.
Throughout the year, we will address the individual singer by developing vocal skills, increasing knowledge of his/her own voice, developing music literacy, and providing opportunities for solo performances. In addition, we will address “ensemble” by developing group cohesiveness, building choral skills and fostering pride in participation.
Why is it so important for your child to be in choir?
Choral music can:
- Provide a unique way of thinking.
- Act as a link between the past and the present.
- Lift the self-esteem of participants.
- Bring joy to both singer and audience.
- Provide a means of expressing thoughts, values and emotions through singing that otherwise may be difficult to express through words.
Choir Pictures
Directors
Amy Jo Cherner
Amy Jo Cherner has been teaching since 2007, and is in her 5th year at Eagan High School.
Previously she taught at Apple Valley High School, Valley Middle School, and South View Middle School in Edina Public Schools. At Eagan, Amy Jo directs three curricular treble choirs, three co-curricular ensembles, and co-directs their Musical.
She holds a B.M. from Drake University and a Master’s Degree in Music Education with a Choral Conducting emphasis from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. She is an active member of MMEA and ACDA, where she held the post of registrar during 2011, has presented at ACDA-MN’s summer dialogue, served on the MN Sings committee, and served as a section lead (2018) and section coach (2017 Minnesota All-State SSAA Choirs. In 2015, her non-auditioned 9th grade women’s choir from South View were chosen to perform at the North Central American Choral Directors Convention in Sioux Falls, SD, and in 2013, her choir performed at Minnesota Music Educators Associations Mid-Winter Clinic.
She and her husband Dave reside in Eagan and their proudest accomplishments are their three children, sons Eli (11 years old) and Avi (9 years old), and daughter Ayla Rose (4 years old).
Jim Cox
Jim Cox received his Bachelors in K-12 Music Education from Luther College and a Master’s Degree in Arts in Education from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Beginning in 2001, Jim’s teaching experience has included 5th grade-12th grade mixed choirs, soprano/alto choirs, tenor/bass choirs, show choirs, jazz choirs, a cappella groups, madrigal ensembles, AP Music Theory and music history, piano, guitar, and composition in the Zumbrota-Mazeppa, Bloomington, Lakeville, and Eagan (ISD196) School Districts.
Jim began teaching at Eagan High School in 2011 where he now directs three curricular choirs, three co-curricular choirs, and teaches voice lessons. In addition to ensembles, Jim is vocal director of the Eagan Summer Community Theatre musical and co-director and vocal director of the school musical extravaganza, ENCORE!.
Jim is a frequent judge and adjudicator at choir, show choir, vocal jazz, and solo competitions throughout the Midwest. He has been a section coach for all-state and honor choirs and presenter at conferences for ACDA-MN and MMEA and is currently a co-chair for the ACDA-MN 9-10th grade TBB Honor Choir. Throughout his career, Jim’s choirs have been selected to perform at a variety of festivals and have been fortunate to premiere new works by American composers. Jim is also the choir director for the Hosanna Church Christmas Production. In his free-time, Jim loves spending time with his wife Megan, who is a middle school choir director, and four daughters: Ashlyn (17), Aubrie (14), Sabrina (12), and Kadence (12). Jim also has two adorable pups… a 10-pound Shih-Poo named Stella and a 43-pound Golden Doodle named Millie Rose.
Adam Giebner
An active member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Adam currently serves as the R&R Chair for Senior High Choirs for Midwestern ACDA. He has previously held roles as Northeast District Chair and State Student Representative for ACDA-MN. He has presented at ACDA-MN’s Summer Dialogue workshops, collaborated with esteemed conductors Sigrid Johnson and Matthew Mehaffey, and coached sections for MMEA All-State Choirs and ACDA-MN Honor Choirs. During his tenure at Grand Rapids High School, the jazz choir Harmonic Blend performed at the 2023 ACDA-MN State Conference. At Prince of Peace, he is the Artistic Director of Reconcile, a choral consortium exploring themes of reconciliation and healing, which performed at Carnegie Hall in 2025.
As a performer, Adam has sung tenor with a variety of vocal ensembles and was a finalist in NATS competitions in Minnesota and North Dakota. He has music-directed over 30 musicals and operas, and as a jazz pianist, has performed with groups alongside artists including Wayne Bergeron, Denis DiBlasio, and Rex Richardson. He has also held leadership positions with the Itasca Choral Society, Lake Superior Youth Chorus, and various school and church ensembles.
Adam graduated summa cum laude in 2020 from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in K–12 Vocal Music Education. He lives in Eagan with his wife, Rachel—also a music educator—and their son, Thomas.
Curricular Choirs
There are six curricular choirs that meet during the school day at Eagan High School.
- Cavaliers – Non-auditioned 9-12th Grade Tenor/Bass voices (Conducted by Mr. Cox)
- Choraliers – Non-auditioned 9-12th Grade Soprano/Alto voices (Conducted by Mrs. Cherner)
- Aurora – Non-auditioned 10-12th Grade Soprano/Alto voices (Conducted by Mr. Giebner)
- Sonos - Non-auditioned 10-12th Grade Tenor/Bass voices (Conducted by Mr. Giebner)
- Bel Canto – Auditioned 10-12th Grade Soprano/Alto voices (Conducted by Mrs. Cherner)
- Concert Choir – Auditioned 11-12th Grade SATB (Conducted by Mr. Cox)
Co-Curricular Choirs
CO-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES
Participation in these vocal music ensembles will require 10-12th grade students pay the ISD 196 required Activity Fee of $80.00 (9th grade- no fee). This is a one-time fee for the entire year for any Vocal Music Co-Curricular Ensemble. Students in multiple co-curricular vocal ensembles will only need to pay a one time fee. Families unable to afford the fee should speak to your director or seek funding through Dr. Reikowski, EHS Principal.
VOX: is a Tenor/Bass a cappella ensemble comprised of 11th through 12th graders. VOX will perform at the Fall Concert, Holiday Concert, Cabaret, Solo and Ensemble Festival, Spring Concert, as well as various community and school events. Rehearsals are Monday evenings from 6:00 to 6:45pm.
caché: is a Soprano/Alto a cappella ensemble comprised of 11th through 12th graders. caché will perform at the Fall Concert, Holiday Concert, Cabaret, Solo and Ensemble Festival, Spring Concert, as well as various community and school events. Rehearsals are Monday evenings from 6:00-6:45pm.
Chamber Singers: A small mixed ensemble comprised of 10th through 12th grade singers. This is a full year ensemble that will perform at the four home concerts and ISD196 Solo and Ensemble Festival. Rehearsals are Monday evenings from 6:00 to 6:45pm.
Freshman Select Choir: A small mixed ensemble comprised of 9th graders. This ensemble will audition in October and is open to any 9th grade student at EHS. They will perform in the Winter, Showcase, and Spring Concert as well as Solo and Ensemble. Rehearsals are Wednesday Mornings from 6:50-7:30pm.
SuperGroup: A small SSA ensemble comprised of 11th and 12th graders who audition in October. They perform at all choir concerts and rehearse Monday Evenings from 6:50-7:35pm.
bNats: A small SATB ensemble which focuses on acapella vocal jazz music. They are comprised of 11th-12th graders and perform at all concerts. Rehearsals are Monday Evenings from 6:50-8:20pm.
Calendar
2025-2026 Concert Schedule
Sept. 8/9 Frozen Auditions After School
Sept. 12 Bel Canto anthem at FB game 6pm
Sept. 13 Art House Event (select soloists) 1-4pm
Sept. 17 Twins Game (open to all choirs) 7:10pm game
Sept. 23 Gertens Winter Plant Sale Begins During School
Sept. 29 Co-Curricular Auditions 5pm
Oct. 3 Concert Choir anthem at Homecoming Game 7pm
Oct. 23 Gertens Winter Plant Sale ENDS During School
Oct 24 9/10 State Honor Choir Due 12:00pm
Nov. 11 Veterans Day Performance (Sonos/Concert Choir TBs) During School
Nov. 17 Early Holiday Concerts (all choirs) @AVHS 6:30/7:30pm
Nov. 24 Gertens Winter Plant Sale Delivery TBD
Dec. 5 Musical opens 7pm
Dec. 17 VOcaBn Caroling Day (VOX, caché, B-Natural) During School
Jan. 9 196Sings! (Bel Canto, Concert Choir) During School
Jan. 15 Tenor/Bass Festival (Sonos) During School
Jan. 20-22 ENCORE! Auditions After School
Jan. 29 Dakota Valley Choral Festival Rehearsal Day (Concert Choir) During School
Feb. 1 Dakota Valley Choral Festival Performance (Concert Choir) 7pm
Feb. 4 Masterclass Day (open to all students) During School
Feb. 6 All State Choir Recording Day During Day
Feb. 10 South Suburban Conference Treble Festival (Bel Canto) During School
Feb. 17 Spring Gertens Fundraiser begins During School
Feb. 23 Trip to Gustavus Adolphus (Bel Canto) During School
Feb. 24 South Suburban Conference Concert Choir Festival (Concert Choir) During School
Mar. 2 Showcase Concerts (all choirs) 6 and 7pm
Mar. 5 Jazz Night (bNatural) 7 pm
Mar. 31 Spring Gertens Fundraiser ends During School
April 8 Solo & Ensemble Festival (co-curr. groups and individual singers) After School
April 24 ENCORE! opens 7pm
May 6 World Language Honor Society 7pm
May 6 EHS Treble Festival (Aurora) During School
May 6 Spring Gertens Delivery Time TBD
May 13 Musical Theatre Masterclass (individual students) After School
May 17 Cabaret (VOX, caché, B-Natural @ Eagan Community Center) 5pm
May 26 Spring Concerts and Awards (all choirs) 6 and 7pm
May 30 Graduation (Concert Choir @ U of M) TBD
June 4 Last Day for Students
Booster Club
The EHS Choir Booster club was created to provide support for all aspects of the Eagan Choral Program and to promote the value of choral music at all levels. They will support and encourage all students in the choir program, regardless of gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, and economic status.