About the Choirs at John Burroughs High School

Founded in 1979, the JBHS Vocal Music Association has cultivated one of the top public school music programs in the country. Since 2006, the program has been under the direction of Brendan Jennings, a Burroughs choir alum himself, and has grown to national prominence under his leadership.

The JBHS VMA is dedicated to providing high quality performing arts training for our students. Students focus on vocal technique, dance fundamentals, music theory and performance skills through directed technique classes as well as the mastery of performance material.

We believe that by achieving excellence in the performing arts, students can and will strive for excellence in all areas. We are committed to making the productions at John Burroughs High School exciting, professional and most of all, entertaining.

Students learn to expect a lot from themselves, to set goals and work hard to achieve them. Focused studies in vocal training, music theory, dance, and performance are designed to make students marketable and successful in many areas of the arts and in life.

The Burroughs HS choir program features four curricular choirs, three extra-curricular ensembles and a Tech Theater program that is one of the most advanced in the country.

Annually, the JBHS VMA presents four big shows:

  •  Burroughs On Broadway – musical theater fundraising cabaret
  •  Holiday Spectacular – a celebration of the season
  •  Pop Show – Burbank’s premier entertainment extravaganza
  •  Spring Concert – year ending finale

Our strong partnerships with the Burbank community and consistently expert teaching staff have created a legacy of excellence, year upon year since inception forty years ago.

The JBHS show choir has represented the genre across numerous media outlets (The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dancing with the Stars, The Voice, CBS Evening News and several documentary style programs.) Our innovative style has been influencing and inspiring choirs across the U.S. and around the world for the past decade.

Powerhouse

Powerhouse is the advanced mixed choir at JBHS. Founded by Mary Rago in 1979 and renamed by Jen Oundjian in 1998, Powerhouse has a long history of excellence in all genres of performance. Now under the direction of Brendan Jennings with artistic direction by Jen Oundjian, this ensemble has set the standard for show choirs everywhere. Recognized as one of the top choirs in the US, Powerhouse has appeared on stages and screens across the world.

Sound Sensations

Sound Sensations is the advanced women’s choir at JBHS. Choreographed by Corey Hidalgo and Emily Depauw, Sound Sensations is consistently one of the top few women’s show choirs in the country winning numerous local and national grand championships. Sound Sensations also performs as a concert choir and closes the first act of Burroughs On Broadway and Pop Show.

Sound Waves

Sound Waves is the intermediate mixed choir at JBHS. Originally started as a non-competitive concert choir, Sound Waves began competing in the 1996-1997 season and remains one of the top choirs in their division today. Choreographed by Dominic Matas and Shannon Ary, these young singers always make a splash with their innovative and entertaining shows.

Decibelles

Decibelles is the intermediate women’s choir at JBHS. Founded in 1999, they have become a hugely successful addition to the choir program and excellent training ground studying vocal, dance, and performance technique. Choreographed by Shannon Ary and Ashley Borgese, Decibelles participates in all of the home shows and is a mainstay of the competitive show choir circuit in Southern California.

Men @ Work

Men @ Work is the high energy men’s choir at JBHS. Directed by Dominic Matas and Dan Scoville, these boys bring a unique entertainment quality to the Burroughs stage. For over 25 years, Men @ Work has been the favorite choir of teenage girls everywhere.

Neo Chromatics

Neo Chromatics is the mixed contemporary a cappella group at JBHS. Directed by Hannah Abrahim, this group features an elite sixteen singers from Powerhouse. Rehearsing one afternoon per week during the school year, NC accepts many performance invitations and is proud to represent the Burroughs VMA at many functions at school and throughout Southern California.

Muses

Muses is the female contemporary a cappella group at JBHS. The group is auditioned from Sound Sensations and meets once a week after school. Directed by Jonathan Byram and performing all kinds of a cappella music, Muses can be seen throughout the Burbank community and is featured in many of the shows on the Burroughs stage.

Alumni Choir

The Alumni Choir is under the direction of Dan Scoville and administration of Amanda Bloom Felchlin. This ensemble was founded in 2007 and features many talented alumni of the Burroughs choir program. Performing annually at Disney’s Candlelight Ceremony as well as other shows and functions, the alumni choir highlights the incredible legacy of this world-renowned music program.