Sunrise Drive Elementary School

Sunrise Drive Choir

Click here to register for the Sunrise Choir for the 2025-2026 School Year

The Sunrise Choir is open to 3rd-5th grade students who enjoy singing and would like to continue to develop their vocal skills and musicianship through ensemble performance of fun and engaging songs.

Sunrise Choir Highlights…

• The choir contains a large number of boys and girls and has grown to over 100 students.
• Songs are performed in 2, 3, and 4-part harmony.
• Students enjoy adding choreography, and it enhances the songs.
• The music selected represents a variety of genres and cultures.
• The choir has performed songs in multiple different languages including Mandarin, Latin, Spanish, and American Sign Language.
• Each spring a song is performed that features student accompaniment on instruments learned in the music classroom such as: Ukulele, Steel Drums, African Drums, Percussion, and Boomwhackers.

The choir has around 5 performances each year and makes some unforgettable memories together. Due to its size, the Sunrise Choir is divided into 2 sections for rehearsals. Students have the choice of attending on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 3:00-4:00 p.m. For more information about the program or how to join, please contact Mrs. Flores at kristineflores@cfsd16.org.

Mrs. Flores is a passionate music educator and choral conductor who believes music and singing are vital parts of student growth and development. In addition to improving music skills and abilities, active music making and instruction have been shown to assist with cognitive development and provide opportunities for creativity, expression, and collaboration.

Mrs. Flores earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree with a choral conducting emphasis from the University of North Texas, which is consistently considered to be one of the top music schools in the nation. During her time at UNT, Mrs. Flores studied under some world-renowned directors and music educators such as Dr. Jill Trinka, who is known for her published and recorded work that has made significant contributions to elementary music education. Mrs. Flores then pursued graduate studies at UNT where she received a Kodály Certification and at the University of Notre Dame where she studied leadership and administration and was employed to write exemplary music lesson plans.

Mrs. Flores is very proud of her 2 award-winning choir students who received a Superior rating on their solos at the 2025 Solo and Ensemble Festival.

Mrs. Flores has been teaching a range of music classes including General Music, Choir, Piano, Guitar, and Jazz Combo in Arizona and Texas since 1996. During that time, the music programs under her leadership experienced great growth and development. She directed several middle school and high school choirs and soloists who have earned the highest rating of Superior in the Texas UIL Festival, Arizona Solo and Ensemble Festival, and the NAU Jazz Madrigal Festival, and her elementary and high school choirs were featured at local conferences held at the Tucson Convention Center from 2015-2017. In 2025, 2 students from the Sunrise Choir received a Superior rating at the Solo and Ensemble Festival. Mrs. Flores loves teaching at Sunrise and has been teaching General Music and Choir here since 2019.

Rehearsals

• Start Date: August 26/27, 2025
• Students choose to attend on Tuesday or Wednesday and come the same day each week.
• Students attend class on their selected day once a week from 3:00-4:00p.m.
• Because these are sectional rehearsals where half of the choir attends on each day, we will occasionally have full choir rehearsals that may fall on a different day. Please make every effort to have your child attend.
• Questions? Email Mrs. Flores - kristineflores@cfsd16.org

Common Questions and Answers for the Sunrise Choir

Common questions are listed below. If you have further questions regarding the choir program, please contact Mrs. Flores through Parent Square or by email (kristineflores@cfsd16.org) and she will get back to you soon. Thank you!

Where does the choir meet for rehearsal?

• Weekly sectional rehearsals are held in the Music Studio.
• When applicable, full choir rehearsals will be held in the outdoor amphitheater.

Does my child need to bring anything to rehearsal?

• Choir members will bring their backpacks and place them on the hooks outside the Music Studio until the end of rehearsal.
• They are also encouraged to bring a snack each week to enjoy during their 10- minute break between dismissal and the start of choir class.
• Nothing else is needed. Music will be provided and remain in the classroom.

Where do I pick up my child after rehearsal?

• After rehearsals conclude at 4:00, the students will be walked up to the front parking lot for pick-up between 4:05-4:10.
• Prompt arrival to pick up your child is greatly appreciated.

What if my child has a conflict and can’t attend a concert or rehearsal?

• Please make great effort for your child to attend all scheduled rehearsals and performances.
• In the event you have an unavoidable conflict, please provide advance notice to Mrs. Flores (kristineflores@cfsd16.org) and your child’s homeroom teacher so he/she heads to the correct place at dismissal.

What if my child needs to leave early from rehearsal for an appointment?

• Please plan appointments around rehearsals as much as possible.
• If an occasional situation arises where your child needs to be picked up early from rehearsal, please provide advance notice to Mrs. Flores and call the direct Music Studio line at (520) 209-7947 upon your arrival so your child can meet you at the CARE gate (west side of campus past the kindergarten playground) for pick-up.

What should my child wear to the choir concerts?

• All choir members should wear his/her current Sunrise Choir shirt with long black pants for all the choir performances.
• Solid black leggings, joggers, or jeans would work. No shorts or skirts please.

When will my child get his/her choir shirt, and when and how do I pay for it?

• The choir students help select a design for the choir shirts, and they will be ordered asap so they can be received and distributed prior to the first concert…hopefully by October at the latest. Please indicate your child’s size on the choir registration form.
• Families will be notified of the payment options and due date after the shirts have been ordered and the prices have been set. After the shirts arrive and your payment is received, your child will receive his/her shirt to bring home.