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MassACDA High School Honor Choir Festival |
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| Kimberly Dunn Adams | Stuart Younse | Tony Thornton |
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An exciting day for outstanding high school choral singers and their directors. No auditions required; an opportunity for directors to honor their finest singers and network with colleagues from throughout the region. |
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Separate SSAA and TTBB HS choirs, directed by Kimberly Dunn Adams (Choral Director, Mount Holyoke College) and Dr. Stuart Younse (Hartt School, Simsbury HS, Connecticut Children’s Chorus). |
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Participation in UMass Choral Spectrum evening concert, Fine Arts Center; Honor Choirs and UMass ensembles combine in a final number under the baton of Dr. Tony Thornton (Director of Choral Activities, UMass Amherst). |
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Students must be accompanied by a teacher or parent chaperone—at least one
for each school or organization represented—available on site throughout the
day. Students may not drive themselves to or from the Festival. |
REGISTRATION
Directors may register up to two outstanding singers per voice part (SSAA/TTBB).
Register online only:
click here. Registration fee: $45 per student registered by September 24
($50 late registration until October 1) covers stipends for conductors and
accompanists, music, students’ lunch and dinner. No registrations accepted
after October 1. Payment due on the day of the Festival; checks payable to
MassACDA. Directors/schools will be charged for any no-shows or withdrawals
once music is mailed out.
| STUDENTS’ SCHEDULE | |
| 8:30-9 am | Registration/Check-in |
| 9-9:50 am | Required sectional rehearsals. Any ill-prepared singer will not be allowed further participation in the Festival, with no refund of fee. |
| 10 am-12 noon | Rehearsal I with guest conductors. |
| 12-1:30 pm | Students eat together in Berkshire Dining Commons |
| 1:30-2:30 pm | Rehearsal II |
| 2:30-3:30 pm | Women’s Chorus on stage; Men’s Chorus Rehearsal III |
| 3:30-4:30 pm | Men’s Chorus on stage; Women’s Chorus Rehearsal III |
| 4:30-5:15 pm | Combined ensembles Rehearse The Awakening |
| 5:15-6:30 pm | Dinner in Dining Commons/Change to concert attire |
| 6:30 pm | Warm-up (and clean up!) |
| 7-9:30 pm | Choral Spectrum CONCERT |
| DIRECTORS’ SCHEDULE | |
| 8:30-9 am | Registration/Payment/Refreshments in directors’ room |
| 9-9:50 am | Designated conductors lead sectional rehearsals |
| 10-10:30 am | Observe beginning of Honor Choir rehearsals |
| 10:45-11:45 am | Workshop: Dr. Tony Thornton, “The Anatomy of Conducting and Singing” |
| 12-1:30 pm | Directors are guests of MassACDA for private luncheon on campus |
| 1:30-2:30 pm | Directors reading session: Bring 35 copies of a favorite piece suitable for High School choirs. You conduct, accompanist provided. |
| 2:30-4:30 pm | Observe rehearsals |
| 4:30-5:15 pm | Directors welcome to sing with Dr. Thornton & combined ensembles |
| 5:15-6:30 pm | Dinner on your own/Change to concert dress? |
| 7-9:30 pm | Choral Spectrum CONCERT |
| MUSIC will be mailed to directors immediately upon receipt of registration. | |
| SSAA: Gwyneth Walker, I thank you god; Waldemar Ahlén, Sommarpsalm (Swedish);Arr. Moses Hogan, Music down in my soul. | |
| TTBB: Younse/Voth, Laudamus Te; Vincent Persichetti, sam was a man; George Mead, Down in the Valley; Arr. Wendell Whalum, Betelehemu. | |
| COMBINED ENSEMBLES: Joseph Martin, The Awakening (p. 9 to the end) | |
CONCERT TICKETS, CONCERT DRESS, DIRECTIONS, PARKING, CONDUCTORS’ NOTES and other updates will be provided to directors upon receipt of registration.
WHAT WE ALL HOPE FOR:
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Participation from many high schools and community youth choirs across Massachusetts (and neighboring states?) |
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All participants representing themselves and their institutions at the very highest level musically and personally |
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Singers very well prepared by directors in advance of the Festival |
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An uplifting, memorable musical and social experience for everyone involved! |
Questions? Contact Catherine Connor-Moen, MassACDA R&S Chair for High School Choirs (cmoen@norwood.k12.ma.us) or Cathy Melhorn, Mass ACDA Pres-Elect (cmelhorn@mtholyoke.edu).
Planning committee:
Tony Thornton
Michelle Graveline
Catherine Connor-Moen
Catharine Melhorn
Last revised August 31, 2010 .
