This interactive repertoire session responds to the challenge of co-creating artistry with elementary singers while managing behaviors, accomplishing goals, and building community. The presenters of this session will offer a values-based framework that harnesses the creativity of young singers and their artistic agency in the rehearsal process. Through engaging directly with repertoire, this interactive, responsive, and singer-led approach to rehearsal will be modeled and explored collaboratively. Though it can be challenging to identify meaningful and developmentally-appropriate repertoire for young voices, this session’s repertoire will uplift worthy unison and two-part treble voicings by historically-marginalized composers. Presenters will offer strategies for finding lesser-known works and unpublished works to demonstrate the possibilities of selecting sophisticated repertoire for young singers. Participants will leave this session with innovative strategies to access and enliven creativity in young singers, along with supplemental lists of both quality treble repertoire, and provide additional resources for rehearsal activities and games.
Connect and Co-Create: Engaging Singer-Led Artistry with Young Singers
Nicky Manlove
Tucson Girls Chorus
Nicky Manlove (they/them) is the Community Engagement Director for the Tucson Girls Chorus, where they also serve as associate conductor and accompanist. Nicky is a committed advocate of equity-centered and liberatory choral practice, and supports a number of justice-focused choral initiatives nationally. Nicky’s research on gender diversity has been featured on The Choral Commons podcasts, as well as at choral and music education conferences around the country. Nicky holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts with an emphasis in Music from Seattle University, and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona.
Krystal Morin
Boston Children's Chorus
Krystal Morin (she/her) is a New England based conductor, singer, and educator who is passionate about leading singing experiences rooted in empowerment, co-creation, culturally responsive pedagogy, and interdisciplinary storytelling. Krystal's background includes ten years as a public high school choir and music teacher, designing and implementing music curriculums in varied settings, providing artistic development and ensemble leadership, multi-modal artistic work in incarceration settings, field leadership, and experience performing in community and professional ensembles. Currently, Krystal is the Associate Director of Choirs for Boston Children’s Chorus, sings with VOICES 21C, and a teacher for Boston University's Prison Arts Initiative.
