<p>Just a question about something that has been bothering me.
My D is consistently passed over at school for the elite vocal groups and opportunities because the choir directors tell her that her "intonation is too young" and doesn't blend with the other voices. I searched on this forum and most references to intonation have to do with pitch, but she has very good relative pitch. She is almost 16 and a rising junior. Is this something that is going to change with age and maturity, or is this something she needs to work on going forward?
Thanks!</p>
<p>It sounds like they mean resonance, timbre, or tone (usually interchangeable terms) rather than “intonation”. We can all do create different kinds of resonance and do when we mimic different TV characters or professions - think of contrasting The Nanny (that old gem) or Adelaide with Snow White with the sports announced who says “Let’s get ready to RUMMMMBLLLEEEE”. 
Resonance is based on some factors which a singer can’t control because she is born with them (size of vocal folds and shape and internal makeup of your throat and head) and some that she can control, primarily shape of her throat and oral cavity as well as the amount of muscular squeeze used to help produce vocal fold vibration (generally not a good thing, that squeeze). </p>
<p>Choral singing and solo singing are often counter endeavors, unless students are actually arranged voice by voice in the seating/standing arrangement of the choir, b/c choral singing is about creating a blended/unified sounded. But a “covered” sound that is not “pingy” in a healthy way is not generally a good solo sound, and also is often created from throat and tongue muscle tension. </p>
<p>A knowledgeable voice teacher can help your D explore different resonances within what is healthy and natural for HER voice. Teachers who are great vocal technicians can hear and understand what is happening physiologically but also communicate it in a way that helps the singer understand the physiology and produce different sounds without being overwhelmed with highly technical concepts, b/c that can put the singer too much “in her head”.</p>