2007 National Conference Session

2007 National Conference Interest Sessions - Miami, Florida

General Interest

A Kirke Mechem Retrospective presented by Kirke Mechem, composer with participating choir: The Western Illinois University Singers, James C. Stegall, conductor
This session will provide a fifty-year chronological retrospective of Kirke Mechem's choral works, beginning with his first publication (1957) to his most recent (2007). The session will concentrate on the shorter works, both accompanied and unaccompanied: madrigals, motets, and selections from choral cycles and operas. The University Singers of Western Illinois University will perform these twelve pieces. The composer will introduce each piece and will answer questions following the program. The session will conclude with audience participation in the singing of one of the composer's most popular works, Blow Ye The Trumpet.

The Conscious Choir: Developing Awareness and Ownership in Choral Ensembles presented by Elizabeth Schauer, University of Arizona
Singers of all age and ability levels have tremendous capacity to develop knowledge and skills in a broad spectrum of areas vital to the success of a choral ensemble (vocal technique, rehearsal discipline, ensemble awareness, performance practice, etc.) and to learn when and how to apply them. In this session, Elizabeth Schauer will present techniques for creating responsible and responsive singers who are engaged in the learning process throughout the rehearsal, performance and post-performance experience.

Developing Tonal Memory - Calibrating the Earpresented by John Goldsmith, University of Pittsburgh
This sixty-minute workshop is designed for choirs and/or conductors. John Goldsmith, an Alumnus of Chanticleer, teaches a method of unaccompanied vocal warm-ups that expand the tonal memory by developing and calibrating the ear’s ability to discriminate between half-steps and whole-steps. Conductors who adopt the method can train their choirs to learn and retain parts much more quickly, sing accurately in tune, have beautiful unisons, and maintain stable key centers. The entire workshop audience will be the demonstration group.

Keeping the Conductors Voice Healthy or “Speak as You Sing!”presented by Kathryn Smith, Cosumnes River College
Using healthy singing technique as a guide, participants in this interactive session will explore the similarities in vocal production for speaking and teaching. Exercises, techniques and strategies for a healthy use of the voice will be developed.

The Rehearsal Techniques of Robert Shaw: Probing the Mind of a Master presented by Norman MacKenzie, conductor with participating choir: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus, Norman MacKenzie, conductor
This session will explore the unique, efficient and amazingly productive rehearsal methods perfected over a lifetime by the late choral genius Robert Shaw. With the help of a small ensemble from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus, conductor Norman Mackenzie will demonstrate the use of warm-up exercises and specific techniques for improving essential disciplines such as ear training and intonation, enunciation, metrical integrity and vitality, and issues of balance, unification of sectional sonority and dynamic control that are critical to establishing first class ensemble disciplines in any serious chorus. The techniques will be taught within the structure of a rehearsal situation, using repertoire recently rehearsed or performed by the ASOC/CC, as well as some new repertoire, and will be a window into the weekly training of these groups. Whether you stand in front of 20 or 200 singers, these disciplines, when properly and diligently applied, can be key to your choir’s progress and musical advancement. Director of Choruses for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Norman Mackenzie worked closely with Robert Shaw in Atlanta for fourteen years, as principal keyboardist for the ASO, principal accompanist for its choruses, musical assistant, and finally as assistant choral conductor.

Boychoirs

Starting a Satellite Choir Program presented by Georg Stangelberger, Phoenix Boys ChoirThis session will discuss how the Phoenix Boys Choir increased its enrollment and outreach to the community by adding choirs at different geographical locations of the Valley of the Sun making it one of the largest Boychoir programs.

Children’s Choirs

Ear-training and Sight-singing in the Context of the Rehearsal presented by Jean Ashworth Bartle with The Toronto Children’s Chorus
This session will demonstrate effective and proven pedagogy that develops strong sight-singing skills and solid ear training in structured, cumulative and satisfying ways during the context of a dynamic rehearsal. This session is not only for children’s choir directors, but also for all choral directors who need to re-energize their rehearsals and save precious time. The Acappella Choir of the Toronto Children’s Chorus can sight-read just about anything. Come and discover how it’s done!

College and University Choirs

It is Contrasts that Move Men’s Minds: Text and Expression in Lauridsen, Brahms, and Monteverdi presented by Joan Conlon, University of Colorado
This session deals with the many ways that text influences choral performance. Works to sing and examine include Brahms O schöne Nacht, Lauridsens Io piango and Monteverdis Ohime, se tanto amate, for affective influence of the text upon the overall composition, on compositional techniques and on performance.

Discovering Samuel Barbers Recently Published Motet on the “Words of Job presented by Harold Rosenbaum, Canticum Novum Singers and New York Virtuoso Singers
The purpose of the interest session is to introduce conductors and singers to a recently published major choral work by Samuel Barber entitled Motetto on Words from the Book of Job, edited by Harold Rosenbaum. Scores will be handed out, and Mr. Rosenbaum will rehearse those present, striving to bring out the richness and beauty of this beautiful three-movement work for double chorus. At the conclusion of the session, a live recording of a performance by The New York Virtuoso Singers will be played. The final Amen is “to die for!”

Community Choirs

Choral Conductors Today: A Profile presented by Ann Meier Baker, President and CEO, Chorus America
Chorus America launched a one-of-a-kind online survey to gather information from nearly 700 conductors about their background, education, the number and type of choruses they lead, their compensation and benefits, level of job satisfaction, and a variety of other topics. The findings from this study will help choral conductors understand more about their profession and will inform music educators in conservatories, colleges, universities, and other settings in guiding the career planning of future conductors. The findings have also led to the development of two new Chorus America resources to be released early in 2007—an online seminar on music director transitions, as well as a new book about working with choral conductors.

Tandem Teaching: Collaboration and the Training of Aging Singers presented by Sangeetha Rayapati and Jon Hurty, Augustana College
This session highlights a team approach between voice teachers and choral directors to teaching aging singers in community choirs. As the number of aging singers in our musical communities grows, knowledgeable guidance of these singers will improve the artistic experience for all involved. Physiological changes, techniques for maintenance of healthful singing in the older adult, and the benefits of participation in voice studies in tandem with the choral experience are among the topics that will be discussed.

Ethnic & Multicultural Choirs

Interpreting and Internalizing Global Rhythms:Breaking Open the Beat presented by Francisco J. Núñez, Young Peoples Chorus of New York City and Jim Papoulis, composer with participating choir: Hamilton High School Chamber Singers, R. John Hamilton, conductor
In this demonstration session, award winning composers/conductors Francisco Núñez and Jim Papoulis will present techniques that will help you and your choirs decipher complex global rhythms so that you can perform multicultural pieces with confidence and flair.

High School Choirs

The Choral Repertoire Selection Dilemma: A New Approach for the High School Director presented by Allison Harbeck Beavan, Nauset Regional High School
This session is a presentation of a four-year repertoire cycle of high quality choral literature designed to facilitate the high school choral curriculum. Discussion will include repertoire sources.

Non-stuffy Assessment in the Choral Classroom presented by Vernon Huff, Wando High School
You taught it, but did they get it? This session is designed to familiarize high school and middle school teachers with practical methods to assess student learning. Practical techniques to be presented will include teacher- and student-designed rubrics, the use of video and audio recordings, creative feedback methodologies, and positive reinforcement strategies. Audience members will participate in hands-on demonstrations and walk away with a multitude of new assessment strategies to use in the classroom.

Teaching Literacy Through Concert Literature presented by Robert J. Ward, The Ohio State University
The first thing a conductor must do in rehearsal is to establish a secure learning environment for the singers. To achieve this, the singers must come to trust the process, and they do this by sensing that the conductor has a plan, and that he or she is qualified to execute that plan. Throughout the rehearsal process singers must be able to perceive a pattern or sequence where every new step is a logical extension of something previously learned. Teaching in this manner guarantees that the singers experience a modicum of success at every stage of the learning process. Lesson plans must be creatively extracted from the literature to be performed in order that, as the process unfolds, the singers understand how the whole is put together. Successful rehearsals must also provide a balance between learning repertoire and providing singers the skills they need in order to learn and read music on their own. For this session, audience members will be presented a series of creative ideas for introducing the first thirteen measures of Harry Somers Feller from Fortune.

Teaching Musicianship in the Choral Rehearsal presented by Steven Demorest, University of Washington with participating choir: Norman North High School Chorale, Tony Gonzalez, conductor
We often teach sight-singing and other aspects of musicianship through exercises that are separate from the rehearsal. There are a number of strategies for integrating musicianship training gradually into the rehearsal of literature that is too difficult for the choir to sight-read. In this way, pieces that might otherwise be taught purely by imitation can be used as a basis for continuing to develop student musicianship. Rehearsal strategies for different types of choral pieces will be presented using the Norman North High School Chorale.

Junior High / Middle School Choirs

Group Vocal Techniques for Changing Adolescent Voices presented by Patrick Freer, Georgia State University with participating choir: The King Philip Middle School Singers, Marc L. Kaplan, conductor
Participants in this activity-based session will explore creative, research-supported techniques for warm-up and voice building sessions with young adolescent voices in all stages of change. Included will be suggestions for easing the fears of reluctant singers, specific exercises for singers who don’t match pitch, and differentiated instructional strategies for choirs containing both advanced and novice singers. Repertoire will be provided.

Need More Rehearsal Time? Try E-Rehearsal! presented by Tim Fredstrom, Illinois State University
It seems that choral directors never have enough rehearsal time to get everything done; this is particularly true for choirs who meet only once or twice each week. This session will present ways directors can use web-based resources to compliment their face-to-face rehearsals. Some of the strategies covered in this session include using podcasts and video streams, creating on-line audio (and visual) practice tracks, and using online discussion forums to give feedback. E-rehearsal strategies provide another way directors can maximize time and promote choral artistry.

Male Choirs

Unpublished Gems for Male Chorus Panelists: Jameson Marvin, Harvard Glee Club and Steven Sametz, Lehigh University
A number of fine works written for male chorus often never see publication. This session will introduce a number of unpublished works for male voices through recorded performances played in the session and partial reproductions of scores in a packet that conductors may keep. Composer contact information will be included in the score packet. There will also be a panel of composers, conductors and publishers to discuss various aspects of commissioning, composition, performance and publishing.

Music in Worship

Cast Your Nets: Strategies for Establishing High School Choral Programs in Worship presented by Michael Zemek, Augustana College, Illinois
This session examines effective strategies for establishing dynamic church choral ensembles for high school youth. From recruitment to organization and implementation, topics will focus on best practices for meaningful involvement in worship and the life of congregations using a variety of repertoire and resources.

Research & Publications

The Past is a Foreign Country: Challenges for Performers and Editors presented by Christopher Hogwood, conductor and musicologist
On its journey from composer’s manuscript to concert hall performance, a musical work passes through the hands of editor and interpreter. Both make decisions, often based on personal choices, and both have to satisfy the tastes and needs of a changing public. Christopher Hogwood compares the options open to an editor, and the expectations of the modern performer, and measures these against the evidence available to the interpreter today, and the range of choices to be made. He draws examples from editing music ranging from the 17th to the 20th century, and includes the evidence of historical recordings of well-known vocal and choral masterpieces, in addition to documentary sources on performance practice.

Show Choirs

Show Choirs from A to Z, Seriously!

This panel discussion offers tried and true methodology of starting and maintaining a quality show choir that complements the traditional choral program. The panel includes choir directors, choreographers, and arrangers discussing and exploring the best concepts and ideas to fit your choral program.

Vocal Jazz

Under the Musical Microscope: Precision in Jazz Rehearsals

This session deals with the finer points of effective vocal jazz rehearsal tips and techniques. Focusing on style, skill building and dealing with complex harmonic integrity, Kunz, along with the ensemble, Groove for Thought, share tricks of the trade for successfully adapting charts to the individual group and for developing high quality vocal jazz ensembles year after year.

Women’s Choirs

The Venus Factor

High school women’s choirs, even when auditioned, often seem to consider themselves “the other choir.” This session will include strategies devised in an effort to convince girls everywhere that, yes, their choir can be more musical, be held in even higher esteem, have more fun, and sing amazing choral literature constructed especially for them. Also included will be activities that speak to girls through their hearts, their heads, and their sense of humor, as well as choral music that speaks to their emotional and musical intelligence.

Score Analysis and Your Pedagogical Plan

This workshop will teach you how to use quality treble-voiced literature as a tool to build fine singing and artistic thinking in your choir. Marie Stultz will show you how each piece can be evaluated and assigned to one of ten pedagogical areas. Teaching the singer to read the score is only the beginning. Learning to evaluate the pedagogical merits of the score and using those attributes to teach your singers is the skill this workshop will provide.

2007 National Conference Session

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