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Invitation from the Director

Please join us for the 32nd annual All New England Choral Festival at Plymouth State on Thursday, November 5th, 2009!  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 Sandra Howard Ph.D., assistant professor of music at Keene State College (see her bio below).  Directors enjoy a morning workshop, choral music reading session with Scott Lounsbury (this year’s featured publisher is earthsongs), and optional conductors’ luncheon.  Students will be selected for the festival through on-line teacher recommendations. These will be evaluated immediately following the September 14th 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 on-line rehearsal file information will be mailed immediately.  The registration fee of $25 per participant (including directors) offsets the cost of the music, rehearsal files, 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

* * * *

Sandra Howard, Guest Conductor
Sandra A. Howard is an assistant professor of music education at Keene State College in New Hampshire. She earned a bachelor degree of music education and master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Maine and doctorate of philosophy in music education/curriculum and instruction from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her research interests include: biases in vocal performance evaluation; body mapping techniques in choral rehearsals; music educators’ interpersonal skills; and female music educators’ research contributions. She is an active choral clinician and has presented workshops at state, regional, and national ACDA, MENC, and SRME conferences. Her scholarship has been published in the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education and Teaching Music and she is an active member of ACDA, MENC and CMS.

Festival Repertoire

• Hallelujah from Mount of Olives     - Beethoven
• Salvation is Created        -  Chesnokov (sung in Russian - "Spasyeniye sodyelal")
• If Music Be the Food of Love        - Dickau
• Ain’t No Grave            - Caldwell/Ivory