Frog Choir

Frog Choir
Organisation information
Founded	In or after 1928 (possibly)
Leader(s)	Filius Flitwick
Known members	Celestina Warbeck (possibly) Merula Snyde's mother Chester Davies Merula Snyde (possibly) Dennis (toad) Jacob's sibling (possibly) Dennis (toad) Unidentified Frog Choir member (I) Unidentified Frog Choir member (II) Trevor Kaliope Lottie Turner
Headquarters	Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle
Affiliation	Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

The Frog Choir was a singing group of Hogwarts students conducted by Professor Filius Flitwick. They usually practised in the Great Hall. The choir was able to both sing fluently in Latin as well as polyphonically. The Frog Choir also had a uniform, which they would wear for special performances.

The Hogwarts orchestra, also conducted by Filius Flitwick, played alongside the Frog Choir sometimes. It played waltz music at the Yule Ball of 1994 before the Weird Sisters came rocking on stage. It also played The Hogwarts March before the beginning of the third task of the Triwizard Tournament that year.

History

1890s

The Frog Choir hall at Hogwarts

During the 1890s, the Frog Choir was known to practice in a hall at the top of the northernmost Bell Tower.

1920s

The Frog Choir did not appear to be active when Celestina Warbeck started Hogwarts in 1928, as her mother sent frequent letters to the school demanding, among other artistic pursuits, a choir.

1980s

At some point during the 1986–1987 school year, Professor Flitwick announced in the Great Hall that there would be auditions for the Choir, as two members had left.

Tulip Karasu felt her toad Dennis to be depressed, and that joining the Choir might cheer him up; since Tulip admitted to be a terrible singer, she asked Jacob's sibling to audition with her toad. Jacob's sibling agreed to do so and after bonding with Dennis over several events, one of which was playing pranks on Madam Pince, practised with the Weird Sisters. Flitwick announced that there was only one spot left, which put Jacob's sibling in competition with Merula Snyde who wanted to be on the choir since her mother had been on the choir. Eventually Jacob's sibling was offered the position, however it is unknown if they chose to accept the honour or turned it down in favour of Merula.

1990s

Professor Flitwick and the choir performing

On 1 September 1993, the choir led a presentation of Something Wicked This Way Comes during the Start-of-Term Feast after the Sorting Ceremony. The choir members sang while carrying toads (one of which was Trevor, Neville Longbottom's toad) which croaked during the song, and were accompanied by a harpsichord, a drum, a harp and flutes. While Filius Flitwick joined the feast, the choir retreated from the Hall after the song.

Flitwick and the choir's inspection

In 1995, Dolores Umbridge was put in charge of observing teachers and their lessons and inspected one of Flitwick's choir practices in the Great Hall. As she watched, Flitwick turned and smiled at her while conducting, as though waiting for her to praise the Frog Choir and though she seemed pleased and impressed, she embarrassed Flitwick with a measuring tape.

In early October 1996, the choir had an emergency practice that forced Professor Flitwick to retreat from Hogsmeade Village back to Hogwarts Castle; it is unknown if there actually was a choir practice or if Flitwick was merely using it as an excuse to avoid Slughorn. At the end of the school year, Flitwick had a rehearsal with the choir in the Great Hall late in the evening. As they sang the English and Latin song, In Noctem, clouds rolled in around the school and the Battle of the Astronomy Tower was soon to begin. Midway through the session, Minerva McGonagall interrupted and told Flitwick to wake the incumbent Potions Master, Severus Snape.

Known songs

• Double Trouble
• In Noctem
• Christmas at Hogwarts
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas
• The Most Magical Yule Ball of All
• I Cast a Spell on Father Christmas

Known members

• Filius Flitwick (conductor)
• Celestina Warbeck (possibly)
• Merula Snyde's mother
• Chester Davies
• Merula Snyde (possibly)
  • Dennis (toad)
• Jacob's sibling (possibly)
  • Dennis (toad)
• Unidentified Frog Choir member (I)
• Unidentified Frog Choir member (II)
• Trevor
• Kaliope
• Lottie Turner

Behind the scenes

• The name is a bit of a misnomer in that the students hold toads, which are similar to, but not the same as frogs.
• The choir does not appear in any of the books, making its first appearance in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It was added by director Alfonso Cuarón and J. K. Rowling admitted that she simply loved the idea.
  • Cuarón considered having little people play an organ in the Great Hall along with the choir but J. K. Rowling ultimately rejected this idea.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the non-canon character Bem is part of the Frog Choir.
• In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, during a time-limited event to complete "The Frog Choir" Achievement, if the player reached Task 3 of the 4th Side Quest in time, they would be offered to be the new Choir member by Flitwick, having the option to accept or recommend Merula Snyde instead.
• In the GBC video game versions of Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets, there is one Music Classroom featured on the Fifth Floor of Hogwarts. Aside from used for classes Music and Muggle Music, it may be a possible place for the Choir to practise, though the choir is also known to practise in the Great Hall, as shown in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

The choir performing at the Theme Park

• During the opening celebrations of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, there was a performance of The Hogwarts March and Something Wicked This Way Comes by the Choir, directed by Warwick Davis, just like in the films.
• During festive season, the Frog Choir performs a bunch of special Christmas songs, in the theme park, Hogsmeade.
• Pottermore's article about Celestina Warbeck seems to indicate that a school choir had not been founded by the time she enrolled in 1928. Hogwarts Legacy, which is set in 1890, shows the choir as having been active, which can be seen as canonically questionable. However, her Muggle mother may have been unaware of the choir's existence, deemed it unfit for her daughter, or the choir may have been inactive at the time.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (First appearance) (Non-canonical appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Non-canonical appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (Non-canonical appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) (Mentioned only) (Non-canonical appearance)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Pottermore (Possible appearance)
• Harry Potter (website) (Possible appearance)
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Hogwarts Legacy (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened