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Invitation from the Director

Please join us for the 31st annual All New England Choral Festival at Plymouth State on Thursday, November 6th, 2008!  The festival is designed for serious high school music students (grades 10-12) who are committed to the art of choral singing.  Spend the day with me, the PSU Chorale, and 180 singers in the Silver Center for the Arts, culminating with a performance in Hanaway Theatre.  I am very pleased to welcome as guest conductor for this year’s festival Kristofer Johnson (see his bio below), director of choral activities at Proctor Academy.  Directors enjoy a morning workshop, choral music reading session with Scott Lounsbury, and optional conductors’ luncheon.  Students will be selected for the festival through on-line teacher recommendations. These will be evaluated immediately following the September 12th deadline to create a balanced ensemble.  Recommendations should be based on the following prioritized criteria:

• Motivation; dedication; skill level
• Year in school
• No more than 10% of your choir
• Even distribution of voices

NOTE:      We will begin this year’s festival with sectional rehearsals.
Random preparation checks will take place throughout the morning to encourage advance preparation.

Student invitations will be e-mailed to directors. Once you have accepted or declined for each student via  e-mail, music, rehearsal instructions, and rehearsal CDs will be mailed immediately.  The registration fee of $25 per participant (including directors) offsets the cost of the music, rehearsal CD, orchestra, clinician, workshop and music reading session for directors.  Meals are not included.  This fee is payable once you have received your invitation.  The festival concert is open to the public, however seating will be reserved.  Tickets may be obtained by calling the Box Office at (603)535-ARTS (Order early, the concert always sells out!).
 

If you have any questions, I can be reached at danp@plymouth.edu or (603) 535-2367. I look forward to working with you and your students!

Sincerely,

Dr. Daniel R. Perkins
Director of Choral Activities

* * * *

Kristofer Johnson, Guest Conductor
Kris holds the Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and the Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.  He is director of vocal and choral music at Proctor Academy in Andover, NH where he teaches studio voice and conducts the choral ensembles.  The Proctor choirs have been heard on tour in the eastern United States and Great Britain.  Singers from Kris’ studio have been accepted into the nation’s leading universities and schools of music.  Kris is also assistant music director for the New Hampshire Master Chorale.

Before moving to New Hampshire, Kris taught at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, Oberlin’s Vocal Academy for High School Students (where he is currently assistant director), and Canterbury School.  In 2006, he was awarded an internship with the National Association of Teachers of Singing Intern Program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Kris is an active chorister, recitalist, tenor soloist and choral/vocal clinician.  He lives on the Proctor campus with his wife Janine.