BONITA HIGH SCHOOL

CHORAL

MUSIC

Choirs

Concert Choir is a year-long ensemble course open to female and male singers in grades 11-12. Entrance to this ensemble is by audition only. The course emphasizes vocal production, choral techniques, musicianship, ear-training, sight-reading, and performance skills at a highly advanced level. The course satisfies the University of California “F” subject area requirement, the visual and performing arts requirement for the California State University system and the arts graduation requirement for Bonita High School. Outside performances and events are required including the Fall Concert, Holiday Concert, Spring Concert, SCVA Choir Festival, Pop Show, Invitational Choir Festivals, and possible Performance Tour.

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Prerequisites: All students are selected by audition according to their musical proficiency, vocal ability and motivation. Must have instructor’s approval.

THIS COURSE MEETS THE UC/CSU "VPA" REQUIREMENT.

Concert

Choir

Women’s Choir is a year-long ensemble course open to female singers in grades 10-12 with director permission. The course emphasizes vocal production, choral techniques, musicianship, ear-training, sight-reading, performance skills, and SSA choral literature for the intermediate women’s ensemble. Students will learn to sing in a variety of vocal styles, including classical, broadway, spirituals, jazz, folk, and contemporary The course satisfies the University of California “F” subject area requirement, the visual and performing arts requirement for the California State University system and the arts graduation requirement for Bonita High School. Outside performances and events are required including the Fall Concert, Holiday Concert, Spring Concert, SCVA Choir Festival & Pop Show.

THIS COURSE MEETS THE UC/CSU "VPA" REQUIREMENT.

Women's

Choir

Faculty

Mr. Ryan Yoder joined the faculty of Bonita High School as the Director of Choral Music in 2021. He ​currently conducts BHS Choral Music's five major ensembles; Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Women's ​Choir, Men's Choir, and Chorale.

He is a graduate of Vanguard University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Music in Music ​Education and the University of Redlands with a Master of Arts in Learning and Teaching. As an ​educator, Mr. Yoder is passionate about every student feeling valued and having access to quality music ​education. Throughout his education career, his choirs have consistently received highest ratings at ​Southern California Vocal Association festivals. He has additionally led ensembles to participate multiple ​years in Disneyland Resort’s Candlelight Processional & Ceremony and perform in New York City. Yoder ​was honored with the opportunity to present twice for the Grammy Museum (Los Angeles) in 2017 and ​2021, where he shared about integrating music and the humanities in the classroom.

He is an active member of the Bonner Institute for Choral Advancement, California Music Educator's ​Association, Southern California Vocal Association (Board Member), and the American Choral Director's ​Association. Mr. Yoder has conducted multiple choral ensembles and musical theatre productions ​throughout Southern California. Currently, he additionally serves as Director of Sunday Morning for St. ​Mark Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach.

Mr. Yoder looks forward to continuing the tradition of excellence in the Choral Music Department at ​Bonita High School!

Mr. Alexis Ohmar was born in Yogyakarta, Indonesia to a musical family. He began playing piano ​at the age five, studying with Magda Dailamy Hassan, Ellen Mulyo Santoso and Henoch Kristianto. Mr. ​Ohmar was an Indonesian National Swimmer from 2010-2016.

In 2015, He was recruited to swim at California Baptist University (CBU) where he completed his ​Undergraduate degree in Piano Performance under Dr. Angela Brand Butler in 2018 and his Graduate ​degrees in Piano Performance and Instrumental Conducting in Spring 2022 under Dr. Jennifer Cruz, Dr. ​Andres Jaramillo, Dr. Mary Vanhoozer, and Dr. Gene Moon. During his studies, Alexis was the ​rehearsal pianist for the CBU Opera Production, participated in the University Wind Ensemble, ​performed with several Chamber Ensembles, and was involved in the Symphony Orchestra as a pianist ​and conductor.

Alexis is a first prize winner of the MTAC Diamond Bar Winterfest Festival in fall 2020 and the ​Spring Festival in 2021. He has been teaching piano for the last five years, and began accompanying at ​several high schools around Southern California in the fall of 2022.

Besides music, he enjoys swimming, rock climbing, paddle boarding, fishing, and cooking. Mr. ​Ohmar is looking forward to joining Bonita High School as the Assistant Director of Choral Music for the ​2024-2025 school year!

Mrs. Tawnia Kisaka has been involved with Bonita Unified School District (BUSD) choir programs for ​over 35 years, both as a student and parent. She and her husband, Michael, have four children who ​have all participated in Bonita High School’s (BHS) award-winning choir program.

Mrs. Kisaka has served as a volunteer in BUSD for thirteen years for its elementary and secondary ​choir programs, eight of those years at BHS. Most recently, she has diligently served as BHS Choral ​Music’s Parent Board President. Throughout our community Mrs. Kisaka is known as our resident “Choir ​Mom.”

She is excited to continue investing in our students through this new role as Program Coordinator for ​the 2024-2025 school year. In this new role, Mrs. Kisaka will be coordinating operations and provide ​administrative support for our thriving choir program.

Outside of her role at BHS, Mrs. Kisaka enjoys traveling around the world, volunteering at her ​church, spending time with family, and cheering on her children in all their activities.

Season

Media

@bonitachoralmusic

Connect

Document Links

-- Choir Handbook

-- 24/25 Calendar

-- 24/25 Ensemble Lists