This is
Grissom Choir
Executive Board
- President: Amy Boyle
- Vice President: Kenneth Newton
- Treasurer: Amanda Francis
- Secretary: Jennifer Rice
- Fundraising Committee: Amanda Magonigal
- Uniform Committee: Brett Palmer
- Events Committee: Jessica Spinoso & Erica Cottingham
Leadership Team
- President: Katelyn Engel
- Vice-President: Lydia Lemons
- Secretary: Lucy Cottingham
- Librarians: Rei Palmer & Ansley Rice
- Social Chairs: Lisa Beth Coble & Owen Dean
- Recruitment Chair: Charlotte Hubbard
- Choir Committee: Andrew Boyle, Ivy Hillis, Jacob Magonigal, & Jordan Terry
Top-right: Grissom Concert Choir.
Middle-left: Grissom Women's Choir
Middle-right: Grissom Men's Choir.
Bottom: Grand Chorus.
Our Mission
As part of the Huntsville City School's School System, our mission is to provide an all-inclusive choral music education, and provide it's stakeholders with choral music opportunities of the highest calibre.
What we do
Grissom Choir has held a standard of excellence for the vast majority of its active years at Grissom High School. The program is consistently known for its dedication to classical choral singing, as well as its inclusion of vocal jazz/pop repertoire. Every year, each choir in the department scores (Straight & Overall) Superior & Excellent Ratings at both the State Choral Performance Assessment, as well as at the Alabama Solo & Ensemble Festival. Many of our students are involved in Huntsville's All-City Choral Festival, as well as Alabama's All-State Choral Festival each year, with students being selected as Huntsville City, District V, and Alabama State Outstanding Choral Students. Over the past 7 years, Grissom Choir has risen to be one of Alabama's premier high-school choral programs, receiving invitations to perform across the state, nation, and world. Under Mr. Ratcliff's direction, Grissom Choir has performed alongside the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra ('19), on the Carnegie Hall Stage ('18), in the Alabama Music Educators Association In-Service Conference ('22), at the ACDA Collegiate Choral Festival (’23) and at the State Capitol ('23, ’24). After years of preparation, Grissom Choir made its international, Costa-Rican debut last summer (’23), sharing music with the citizens of San José and Arenal.
Tucker Ratcliff, Choral Director
Tucker Ratcliff was appointed Choral Director at Grissom High School after receiving his Bachelor of Music degree in Choral Music Education from the University of Montevallo (’17). Presently, Ratcliff works with the Women’s and Men’s Choirs, along with the Concert Choir and top auditioned ensemble, the Chamber Choir. During his tenure as director, Grissom Choir has risen to be one of Alabama's premier high-school choral programs, consistently being awarded Excellent & Superior Ratings at State Choral Performance Assessments, as well as receiving invitations to perform across the state, nation, and globe. His choir's have performed alongside the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra ('19), on the Carnegie Hall Stage ('18), in the Alabama Music Educators Association In-Service Conference ('22), at the ACDA Collegiate Choral Festival ('24), and at the State Capitol ('23, '24). After years of preparation, Grissom Choir made its international, Costa-Rican debut last summer (’23), sharing music with the citizens of San José and Arenal.
Outside of the Choral Department, Ratcliff has served as both Music and Orchestra Director for not only Grissom Musical Theatre, where he has conducted shows such as “Tuck Everlasting“, “The Addams Family”, and “Cinderella” but also as Orchestra Director & Chorus Director for Ars Nova School of the Art’s productions such as “The Light in the Piazza“ & “The Tales of Hoffman”, an opera in 5-acts.
As an active member of many regional, state, and national organizations, including: NAfME, AMEA, and AVA, Ratcliff currently serves as the Webmaster & Newsletter Editor for the Alabama chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), as well as Treasurer for the Huntsville Choral Directors Association (HCDA). Most recently, Ratcliff has become a founding member of the Alabama Choral Society (ACS), a state-wide professional choir whose mission is to inspire audiences through rich and diverse repertoire.
Mr. Ratcliff gets his zest for life and his inspiration for music from nature & family. His favorite ways to fulfill this need include biking, camping, & spending quality time with his friends, wife, & sons. He finds that this cycle of taking in the natural world and putting it into the music he loves continuously propels him towards new heights.
Men's and Women's Choir
The Men’s and Women's Choirs are primarily for rising 9th graders who wish to continue singing from middle school into high school, however, it is open to 10th-12th graders who are looking to join choir for the first time. As many of these singers have just been through a voice change, we spend a lot of time focusing on vocal technique, so singing is a comfortable activity for them. This ensemble works on singing 2-3 part choral literature, while learning proper vocal technique, music theory, and sight-singing. At the end of each year, all are auditioned for Concert Choir, and have the opportunity to audition for Chamber Choir.
Concert Choir
The Concert Choir is the auditioned, intermediate level ensemble open to students in 10th-12th grade. This ensemble focuses on learning 3-4 part SA(T)B repertoire. They perform at concerts, assessments and other events. Students take the fundamental concepts learned in Women’s & Men’s Choir to grow their musicianship skills. These students are not only involved in choir and other fine arts, but other areas of our school community, such as sports, AP courses and more. At the end of each year, these students are re-auditioned for the Concert Choir, and have the opportunity to audition Chamber Choir.
Chamber Choir
The Chamber Choir is an auditioned, advanced ensemble open to students in 10th-12th grade. This ensemble focuses on learning 4-8 part SATB repertoire. They perform at concerts, assessments, and other events throughout the Huntsville area and the state of Alabama. These students are not only involved in choir and other fine arts, but other areas of our school community, such as football, basketball, AP courses and more. Each year, students are selected based upon their execution of a self-prepared song, sight-reading, scales, work ethic, and attitude during the previous school year. Students must maintain a level of music proficiency that would enable them to be a contributing member of this premier, collegiate-level ensemble.