Singing Girls of Texas

Singing Girls of Texas is a professional-level young women’s choir program with three core ensembles and two community choirs.

Founded in 2001 as a sibling organization to the Grammy award-winning Texas Boys Choir, Singing Girls of Texas (SGT) is a premier treble choral program of Texas Center for Arts + Academics (TCA+A). Singers in SGT Training, SGT Chamber Choir, and SGT Tour Choir attend school and rehearse at the public charter school, Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts (FWAFA). 

Once a singer is accepted into FWAFA, they can audition for SGT Training beginning in 7th grade. As singers grow in their musicianship and self-confidence, they may continue to move through the organization by participating in SGT Chamber Choir (7th through 12th grade) or audition for SGT Tour Choir beginning in 9th grade, both of which provide further opportunities to learn and perform. Chamber Choir is for students who wish to continue their choir training, but are also interested in other artistic disciplines while the Tour Choir is an advanced performance-based ensemble that gives high-quality concerts in regional, national, and international tours. 

SGT and respective members have received superior accolades from University Interscholastic League (UIL) Concert and Sight-Reading Contest and District and State Solo and Ensemble Contest, have performed at National and Regional American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conferences, have received superior ratings at National Associate for Teachers of Singing (NATS) contests, have toured to New York, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, Utah, and Minnesota, were selected to present a student-led presentation at New Mexico Music Educators Association in January 2023 on “Connection”, and are traveling to participate in the Winter Park Ski Music Festival in Colorado in March 2023. 

Additionally, SGT has entered into its first year of a composer-in-residence program with Sarah Quartel. Over the next two years, Mrs. Quartel will be writing a masterwork for SGT to premier in 2024. In collaboration with Mrs. Quartel, SGT will also record a CD of her treble works and will sing on the showcase concert of the new Treble Choir Symposium, “Songbird Symposium”, in June 2023, where Mrs. Quartel and Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer will clinic treble singers and provide mentorship opportunities for directors and students. 

SGT TOUR CHOIR

Open to 9th through 12th graders, SGT Tour Choir is the advanced performance-based 9th through 12th grade ensemble for Singing Girls of Texas (SGT). Singers in this ensemble are working at a collegiate level of artistic achievement and are expected to maintain academic excellence alongside their musical pursuits. Members of Tour Choir perform locally, nationally, and internationally while also learning advanced musical skills, a passion for the choral art, and life skills to support them in their journey at FWAFA and beyond. SGT Tour Choir has been nationally recognized for their commitment to artistic excellence, passionate performance, and incredible family dynamic. Members of SGT Tour Choir have been participants of the TMEA All-State Mixed and Treble Honor Choirs, ACDA National Honor Choirs, Southwestern ACDA Honor Choirs, and State and District Solo and Ensemble Contest. As an ensemble, SGT Tour has received Sweepstakes at UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest since 2021, was named Grand Champion of Concert Choirs at Winter Park Ski Music Festival in 2023, and is currently working on a new masterwork with Composer-in-Residence, Sarah Quartel, for its European Premiere in Finland and American Premiere in Ft. Worth, Texas in 2024. 

Members of SGT Tour Choir will have the opportunity to audition for the TMEA All-State Honor Choirs as well as ACDA National and Regional Honor Choirs and will participate in three large SGT Concerts throughout the year and will perform locally, nationally, and internationally at contracted events or conference performances. Members of SGT Tour Choir will also have an opportunity to audition and perform for UIL District and State Solo and Ensemble Contest in addition to performing annually at UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest as an ensemble.

SGT CHAMBER CHOIR

Open to 9th through 12th graders, SGT Chamber Choir is the intermediate performance-based 9th through 12th grade ensemble for Singing Girls of Texas (SGT). Singers in this ensemble are working at a high level of artistic achievement and are expected to maintain academic excellence alongside their musical pursuits. In SGT Chamber Choir, members are training to become passionate musicians with a lifelong love of the choral art, build friendships that last a lifetime, and learn musical and life skills to support them in their journey at FWAFA and beyond. 

Members of SGT Chamber Choir will have the opportunity to audition for the TMEA All-State Honor Choirs as well as ACDA National and Regional Honor Choirs and will participate in three large SGT Concerts throughout the year. Members of SGT Chamber Choir will also have an opportunity to audition and perform for UIL District and State Solo and Ensemble Contest. 

SGT CADET CHOIR

Open to 7th and 8th graders, SGT Cadet Choir is the intermediate performance-based 7th and 8th grade ensemble for Singing Girls of Texas (SGT). Singers in this ensemble are working at a high level of artistic achievement and are expected to maintain academic excellence alongside their musical pursuits. In SGT Cadet Choir, members are training to become passionate musicians with a lifelong love of the choral art, build friendships that last a lifetime, and learn musical and life skills to support them in their journey at FWAFA and beyond. 

Members of SGT Cadet Choir will have the opportunity to audition for the Region 5 JH/MS Honor Choir as well as ACDA National and Regional Honor Choirs and will participate in three large SGT Concerts throughout the year. Members of SGT Cadet Choir will also have an opportunity to perform in our new Middle School Solo and Ensemble Contest to help prepare them for UIL Solo and Ensemble in High School.

SGT TRAINING CHOIR

Open to 7th and 8th graders, SGT Training Choir is the advanced performance-based 7th and 8th grade ensemble for Singing Girls of Texas (SGT). Singers in this ensemble are working at a high level of artistic achievement and are expected to maintain academic excellence alongside their musical pursuits. Members of Training Choir also have a chance to do small tours and performances around the DFW area while also learning the foundations of advanced music literacy, a passion for the choral art, and life skills to support them in their journey at FWAFA and beyond. Singers in Training Choir also build friendships to last a lifetime while pursuing their artistic goals. Members of SGT Training Choir have been participants of Region 5 MS/JH Honor Choirs, ACDA National and Divisional Honor Choirs, and have been featured on SGT professionally recorded albums. 

Members of SGT Training Choir will have the opportunity to audition for the Region 5 JH/MS Honor Choir as well as ACDA National and Regional Honor Choirs and will participate in three large SGT Concerts throughout the year. Members of SGT Training Choir will also have an opportunity to perform in our new Middle School Solo and Ensemble Contest to help prepare them for UIL Solo and Ensemble in High School.

Whole SGT Group at Wedding

Support the Choir

Your generous support allows us to provide these unique musical opportunities for students. We hope you will join us as a supporting member of Singing Girls of Texas.

Singers at Wedding
5stars

Singing Girls of Texas wove an uplifting and incredibly moving story through their performance. The beautiful singing, blend, and musicality were second only to the clear connection and community evident within the ensemble. Kerra Simmons has done an amazing job of fostering the growth of these young women, and it shows in both their performance and their interactions on and off of the stage. We hope to have them back again soon!

Jason GallardoDMA Student - Choral Conducting and Literature at CU Boulder College of Music

The performance of Singing Girls of Texas was breathtaking and moving.  The pieces within the concert performance provided a medium for the wonderful singers in the choir to display a breadth of styles and techniques.  The choir sang with an immersive sense of musicality and phrasing, and displayed excellent vocal technique and beautiful singing.  I was particularly moved by the obvious engagement of the singers in the music-making that they were experiencing.  This engagement drew the audience in to bridge the gap between choir and audience in a way that created an intimate and life-changing musical experience for everyone.

Alan ZabriskieDirector of Choral Studies at Texas Tech University

The Singing Girls of Texas is such a wonderful group for your girls to be a part of. They will grow in musicality, mutual respect, and build confidence.

Jessica CreedonFWAFA Teacher & SGT Parent

SGT was a group where I always felt at home and comfortable expressing myself. Through SGT I learned how important sisterhood is and I will carry that with me for the rest of my life.

Julia Hill
SGT Singer 2012-2018