GEORGIA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION DISTRICT XII MIDDLE SCHOOL CHORAL
LARGE GROUP PERFORMANCE EVALUATION March 14th and 15th, 2019
Piedmont Church Andy Esserwein, District 12 Chairperson Holly Botella, District 12 Choral Chairperson Sonya Guerra and Kati Stewart, District 12 Middle School LGPE Organizers
Adjudicators Debbie Looney
Performance Adjudicator Debbie Looney is a retired Choral Director. She received the Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano and Vocal Performance and Music Education, Summa Cum Laude, from Brenau College in Gainesville. She also holds the Master of Music Education with Distinction from the University of Georgia in Athens. Mrs. Looney has taught at all levels, spending the last 22 years of her career at West Hall and Davis Middle Schools in Hall County, where her choruses consistently received Superior Ratings in both Performance and Sight Reading. Mrs. Looney’ students regularly participated in District Honor Chorus and All-State Chorus. Her West Hall Choruses were selected to perform at the GMEA In-Service Conference in 1996 and 2000, and the Davis Advanced Girls’ Chorus was selected in 2010. In 2014, the Advanced Girls joined the Piedmont College Choral in a performance of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana”. Mrs. Looney is in demand as an accompanist, adjudicator and clinician. She has directed numerous honor choruses around the state, including the 2006 Sixth Grade Statewide Honor Chorus and the 2009 Middle School Mixed All-State Chorus. Mrs. Looney is a GMEA Certified Adjudicator, and served on the State Choral Council as Chair for District Nine for 13 years. She holds memberships in Georgia Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference and the American Choral Directors Association. She resides in Gainesville with her husband, Doug, who is also a retired music educator.
Jeffrey Bauman
Performance Adjudicator Mr. Bauman is the Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Young Harris College. He has an extensive background in both choral and vocal music. Under his direction, choirs from Young Harris have sung in some of the greatest European venues, performed for both ACDA and GMEA conventions, and regularly tour the U.S. Professor Bauman serves as clinician for choral events throughout Georgia, and is a certified head adjudicator for performance evaluation. Jeff recently served on the national choral advisory council for NAfME, including two years as chair of that committee. Singers from his voice studio regularly win and place at singing competitions, including three NATS national semi-finalists in 2017. Jeff directs Concert Choir and Chamber Choir, teaches applied voice and conducting, and serves as co-coordinator for the Musical Theater Program.
Patrick K. Freer
Performance Adjudicator Patrick K. Freer is Professor of Music at Georgia State University and was Visiting Professor for the Fall 2018 term at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg (Austria). His degrees are from Westminster Choir College and Teachers CollegeColumbia University. Dr. Freer has conducted or presented in 39 states and 27 countries, including recent guest conducting for the 2018 NW Division ACDA Youth Honor Choir, the 2017 choral symposium of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra (Colombia), and the spring 2019 concert of Voces LGTB de Madrid (Spain). His 2018-19 guest conducting and lecturing take him to Austria, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, and Sweden, and to the US states of Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, and Utah. Dr. Freer is incoming Editor of the International Journal of Research in Choral Singing, past editor of Music Educators Journal and is an Editorial Committee member for Update: Applications of Research in Music Education. He is a member of the ACDA National Standing Committee for Research & Publications. He has authored 3 textbooks, a DVD series for teachers, an extensive internet video series for middle school singers, 19 book chapters/sections, and over 130 articles in most of the field's leading national and international journals.
Doug Looney
Sight Reading Adjudicator Doug Looney is a retired music educator, and has taught band, chorus, orchestra, and general music in Dekalb and Gwinnett public schools for thirty-two years. Mr. Looney is a graduate of Georgia State University and the University of Georgia. Mr. Looney has also held numerous church choir director positions and was music director of the Gwinnett Civic Chorus for eight years. Mr. Looney is a strong advocate for the teaching of sight-reading and regular practice in a choral program. He believes the best choirs are made up of well-rounded musicians. Mr. Looney is a native of Stephens County and resides in Gainesville, Georgia with his wife Debbie who is also a choral music teacher.
Clinicians Gene Peterson
Performance Clinician Dr. Gene Peterson is the Director of Choral Studies at the Collinsworth School of Music at California Baptist University. Dr. Peterson is an internationally recognized choral conductor and clinician, whose recent appointments include Director of Choral Studies at Bethel University and Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Peterson previously held posts as music director and conductor for college, high school, church, and community choirs in California and Washington. Ensembles under his leadership have performed in venues throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, including the Sistine Chapel, the Sydney Opera House, and Chicago Symphony Hall. Due to his reputation in the international choral community, Dr. Peterson is in high demand as a lecturer, choral clinician and adjudicator for local, regional, and international choral festivals and has conducted numerous honor choirs and all-state choirs. Dr. Peterson has also served in professional leadership roles, serving as High School Standards and Repertoire Chair for the California American Choral Directors Association and as Bay Area Choral Representative for the California Music Educators Association. Additional professional posts include Men’s Chorus Repertoire and Standards Chair for the Southern Division American Choral Directors Association, the Southern Division Conference Planning Committee, the Men’s Chorus Representative for Minnesota Choral Directors Association, and the executive committee for the International Choral Festival, America Cantat. He is currently serving on the leadership team for the National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association. Dr. Peterson holds a Bachelor of Music in Choral Conducting and a Master of Arts in Education from Chapman University in Orange, California, and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, Seattle. At CBU, Dr. Peterson’s primary focus will be on the development of academically-centered choral ensembles, but his diverse and extensive background in both academic and ministry contexts will more than support his leadership across the entire choral program. He will also mentor future conductors in CBU’s graduate program in choral conducting. Dr. Peterson is a consummate choral conductor who combines engaging charisma with musical expression and studied nuance. His breadth of expertise and experience, engaging and articulate teaching, and passion for mentoring future performers and educators in the area of choral arts.
Cara Tasher
Performance Clinician Dr. Cara Tasher has served as Director of Choral Studies at the University of North Florida (UNF) since 2006. She has performed and recorded with conductors Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Christoph Eschenbach, James Levine, Robert Shaw and Sir Georg Solti. Tasher has been professionally associated with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Conspirare, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Mexico City's Opera de Bellas Artes, Portugal's Vocalizze Festival, Trinity Choir-Wall Street, Xavier University, and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. Proficient in several languages, Tasher's engagements as singer, conductor, and adjudicator have brought her to over ten states and twenty countries for concerts, competitions, festivals, and workshops. Global and cultural competency is a focal point of her teaching, and her choirs have toured to the Baltic States, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, and Spain. Her training took place in the Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus, at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, University of Texas at Austin, Paris IV-La Sorbonne, and Northwestern University. Dr. Tasher is active within the American Choral Directors Association, International Federation of Choral Music, and the National Collegiate Choral Organization in various leadership capacities. At UNF, she created the Jacksonville SINGS! Honor Chorus Festival, Refugee Chorus, Composer’s Collective, Conductor’s Studio, the MM in choral conducting, and the undergraduate conducting certificate. Tasher conducts the Chorale and the Chamber Singers, teaches the conducting curriculum, and oversees the choral department and its leadership team. At UNF, she was awarded the 2010 Outstanding Teaching Award and the 2016 Outstanding International Leadership Award, and her students continue to thrive under her mentorship in Jacksonville, Florida, and around the world.
Stefanie Cash
Conducting Clinician Dr. Stefanie Cash is Director of Music Education at Berry College. Dr. Cash is responsible for teaching methods and techniques classes, conducting the Berry Women’s Choir as well as supervising student teachers. She has previous experience conducting multiple collegiate choirs and also taught classes in conducting, choral techniques, choral pedagogy and choral methods. Dr. Cash also frequently serves as a guest clinician for various district and All-State honor choirs. Prior to joining Berry College, Dr. Cash served at the collegiate level as both Director of Music Education and Director of Choral Activities. Cash taught at the middle school level in Kentucky and both the high school and collegiate level in Georgia. Choirs under her direction have performed for KMEA and GMEA in-service conferences as well as the 2008 ACDA Southern Division Convention. Dr. Cash’s research interests include world music usage in choral ensembles, partnerships between music education programs and public schools and performance practice techniques. Dr. Cash received her Ph.D. in Music Education with a choral conducting emphasis from Florida State University, M.M. from the University of Kentucky and B.M.E. from Morehead State University. Dr. Cash studied conducting and music education with André Thomas, Jefferson Johnson, Richard Miles, Judy Bowers, Lori Hetzel and Larry Blocher. She currently holds professional membership with the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education and the Georgia Music Educators Association. Dr. Cash resides in Rome, Georgia with her husband Courtney, daughter Caroline and cat Ryleigh.
Thursday, March 14, 2019 9:30 AM Mount Paran Christian School Treble Chorus Julie Duncan, Director; Noel Roberds, Accompanist Flight of the Grackles
Janet Gardner
Butterfly
Andy Beck
9:45 AM Daniell Middle School 8th Grade Chorus Shelby Trotta, Director; Ira Pittman, Accompanist Benedicamus Domino
Cristi Cary Miller
Inscription of Hope
Z. Randall Stroope
10:00 AM Mabry Middle School 7th Grade Chorus Jennifer Stepp, Director; James Bennett, Accompanist Across The Sky
Vicki Tucker Courtney
Tongo
Polynesian Folk Song, arr. Greg Gilpin
10:15 AM McClure Middle School 8th Grade Chorus Emily Cannon, Director; Lynn Griffin, Accompanist Keep Your Lamps!
Victor C. Johnson
There Will Come Soft Rains
Laura Farnell
10:30 AM Simpson Middle School 7th Grade Mixed Chorus Kirstin Cagle, Director; Diane Wilson, Accompanist
Misty Morning
Carl J. Nygard Jr.
Shoshone Love Song
Roger Emerson
10:45 AM Hightower Trail Middle School Treble Chorus Suzanne Logue, Director; Ira Pittman, Accompanist Three Dominican Folk Songs, #1 & #2
arr. Francisco Nunez
Firefly
Mark Patterson
11:00 AM Mabry Middle School 8th Grade Chorus Jennifer Stepp; Director; James Bennett, Accompanist Windy Nights
Cynthia Gray
Love is Love is Love is Love
Abbie Betinis
11:15 AM Dodgen Middle School 8th Grade Chorus Chris Wittington & Chandler Scott, Directors; Laurel Harrell, Accompanist In Flanders Fields
John Jacobson, arr. Roger Emerson
A Festive Alleluia
Mary Lynn Lightfoot
11:45 AM Cooper Middle School 6th Grade Chorus Stanton Usher, Director; Choo Choo Hu, Accompanist This Shall Be For Music Homeward Bound
Mark Patterson Marta Keen, arr. Jay Althouse
Thursday, March 14, 2019 12:00 PM Floyd Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Chorus Kati Stewart, Director; Hollie Shaver, Accompanist Follow the Drinking Gourd
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Jay Althouse
A Jubilant Song
Victor C. Johnson
12:15 PM Hightower Trail Middle School Mixed Chorus Suzanne Logue, Director; Ira Pittman, Accompanist A Jubilant Song
Victor C. Johnson
There Will Come Soft Rains
Ruth Morris Gray
12:30 PM Durham Middle School Seventh Grade Chorus Susan Campbell, Director; Mandy Kirkpatrick, Accompanist The Moon
Andy Beck
Gloria Deo
Mary Lynn Lightfoot
12:45 PM Lost Mountain Middle School Eighth Grade Chorus Jay Champion, Director; Jonathan Crutchfield, Accompanist Come, Live With Pleasure
George Frideric Handel, arr. Patrick Lieberegen
I Dream a World
Andre Thomas
1:00 PM Campbell Middle School 7th Grade Chorus Brittani Clark, Director; Erin Palmer, Accompanist
Zum Gali Gali
Israeli Folk Song, arr. Dan Schwartz
The River Sleeps Beneath the Sky
Mary Lynn Lightfoot
1:45 PM Tapp Middle School 6th Grade Chorus George Evans, Director; Kelly Westberry, Accompanist This Shall Be For Music
Mary Lynn Lightfoot
Ching-A-Ring-Chaw
Aaron Copeland
2:00 PM Garrett Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Mixed Jacob Furse, Director; Brian McLeod, Accompanist Set Down Servant
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Roger Emerson
The Turtle Dove
Folk Song, arr. Linda Spevacek
2:15 PM Barber Middle School Men’s Chorus Lisa Reeves Davidson, Director; Pamela Lundgren, Accompanist Rain Music
Laura Farnell
The Dawn’s Awake
Laura Farnell
2:30 PM Dickerson Middle School Eighth Grade Chorus Sonya Guerra, Director; Paul Stevens, Accompanist Deux Petites Chanson Set Down Servant
Jerry Estes Traditional Spiritual, arr. Roger Emerson
Thursday, March 14, 2019 2:45 PM McClure Middle School 6th Grade Chorus Emily Cannon, Director; Lynn Griffin, Accompanist Jubilate Deo
Cristi Cary Miller
The Skies Can’t Keep Their Secret
Cynthia Gray
3:00 PM Lovinggood Middle School Seventh Grade Chorus Carla Henry, Director; Diane Wilson, Accompanist Sound the Trumpet
Henry Purcell, arr. Earlene Rentz
Set Down Servant
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Roger Emerson
3:30 PM Lindley Middle School 8th Grade Choir Cedrick Hayward, Director; John-Michael D’Haviland, Accompanist Every Night When the Sun Goes In
David Waggoner
Go Down, Moses
Ruth Morris Gray
3:45 PM Dickerson Middle School Seventh Grade Chorus Sonya Guerra, Director; Paul Stevens, Accompanist Hush! Somebody's Callin' My Name
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Brazil W. Dennard
Veni Jesu
Luigi Cherubini, arr. Becki Slagle Mayo
4:00 PM Smitha Middle School 8th Grade Chorus Kate Chastain, Director; Harris Wheeler, Accompanist
River, Sing Your Song
Eugene Butler
Old Dan Tucker
Pat Willet
4:15 PM Griffin Middle School 8th Grade Chorus Sarah Rabun, Director; Angela Topper, Accompanist Every Night When the Sun Goes In
African American Spiritual, arr. Ruth Elaine Schram
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burnin’
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Greg Gilpin
4:30 PM East Cobb Middle School 8th Grade Chorus Vanessa Helms, Director; Tracey Phillips, Accompanist The Tiger
Sherri Porterfield
Shoshone Love Song
Roger Emerson
4:45 PM Palmer Middle School 8th Grade Choir Marla Baldwin, Director; Steve Coleman, Accompanist Bonse Aba Remember My Song
Traditional Zambian Folk Song, arr. Victor C. Johnson Sally Albrecht and Jay Althouse
Friday, March 15, 2019 9:30 AM Marietta 6th Grade Academy Chorus Maya Keiser, Director; Greg Thompson, Accompanist Three Dominican Folksongs
arr. Francisco Nunez
‘Cross the Wide Missouri
Nancy Price & Don Besig
9:45 AM Palmer Middle School Intermediate Choir Marla Baldwin, Director; Steve Coleman, Accompanist Wade in the Water
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Roger Emerson
Snow
Kenneth Riggs
10:00 AM Simpson Middle School 8th Grade Mixed Chorus Kirstin Cagle, Director; Diane Wilson, Accompanist Gratias Agimus Tibi
Lon Beery
Why Does the Willow Tree Weep?
Andy Beck
10:15 AM Dodgen Middle School 6th Grade Chorus Chris Wittington & Chandler Scott, Directors; Laurel Harrell, Accompanist Sanctus
Franz Schubert, arr. Donald Moore
Follow the Drinking Gourd
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Jay Althouse
10:30 AM McClure Middle School 7th Grade Chorus Emily Cannon, Director; Lynn Griffin, Accompanist
Festival Cantate
Victor C. Johnson
The Tiger
Sherri Porterfield
10:45 AM Daniell Middle School 7th Grade Chorus Shelby Trotta, Director; Ira Pittman, Accompanist Ubi Caritas
Mary Lynn Lightfoot
Windy Nights
Kirk Aamot
11:15 AM Palmer Middle School 6th Grade Choir Marla Baldwin, Director; Steve Coleman, Accompanist Come Closer
Daniel & Christine Kallman
Sarasponda
Dutch Spinning Song, arr. Ruth Boshkoff
11:30 AM Cooper Middle School 8th Grade Chorus Stanton Usher, Director; Choo Choo Hu, Accompanist I Dream a World
Andre Thomas
O Clap Your Hands
Julie Knowles
11:45 AM Lindley Middle School 7th Grade Beginning Choir Cedrick Hayward, Director; John-Michael D’Haviland, Accompanist The Clouds Jubilate Deo
Cynthia Gray Mary Lynn Lightfoot
Friday, March 15, 2019 12:00 PM Tapp Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Mixed Chorus George Evans, Director; Kelly Westberry, Accompanist The Tiger
Sherri Porterfield
Jubilate Deo
Jay Althouse
12:15 PM Campbell Middle School 8th Grade Chorus Brittani Clark, Director; Erin Palmer, Accompanist Antiphonal Kyrie
Susan Thrift
The Tiger
Sherri Porterfield
12:30 PM Lindley 6th Grade Academy PRIDE Roxanne Mungin, Director; Harris Wheeler, Accompanist The Moon
Brett Silverman
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning
Greg Gilpin
12:45 PM Cooper Middle School 7th Grade Chorus Stanton Usher, Director; Choo Choo Hu, Accompanist Shoshone Love Song
Roger Emerson
Gratias Agimus Tibi
Lon Beery
1:30 PM Griffin Middle School 7th Grade Chorus Sarah Rabun, Director; Angela Topper, Accompanist She Sings
Amy Feldman Bernon
Wade in the Water
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Roger Emerson
1:45 PM Dodgen Middle School 7th Grade Chorus Chris Wittington & Chandler Scott, Directors; Laurel Harrell, Accompanist Dreams
Audrey Snyder
Vive!
Traditional, arr. Mark Weston
2:00 PM Lovinggood Middle School Eighth Grade Chorus Carla Henry, Director; Diane Wilson, Accompanist Clap Your Hands and Sing
Mary Lynn Lightfoot
Shoshone Love Song
Roger Emerson
2:15 PM Smitha Middle School 7th Grade Chorus Kate Chastain, Director; Harris Wheeler, Accompanist Wade in the Water
Moses Hogan
Sound the Trumpet
Henry Purcell, arr. Earlene Rentz
2:30 PM Lost Mountain Middle School Seventh Grade Chorus Jay Champion, Director; Laurel Harrell, Accompanist Silver Creek Lullaby
Drew Collins
The Tiger
Lauren Bernofsky
2:45 PM Durham Middle School Eighth Grade Chorus Susan Campbell, Director; Mandy Kirkpatrick, Accompanist Deo Dicamus Gratias I’m Goin’ There!
Victor C. Johnson American Folk Song, arr. Greg Gilpin
Friday, March 15, 2019 3:00 PM Pine Mountain Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Mixed Chorus Lauren Hemmings, Director; Anita Norman, Accompanist The River Sleeps Beneath the Sky Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho
Mary Lynn Lightfoot Traditional Spiritual, arr. Pat Willet
3:30 PM Marietta 6th Grade Academy Singers Maya Keiser, Director; Greg Thompson, Accompanist Gwendete
Rosaphayne Powell
Bist Du Bei Mir
Johann Sebastian Bach
3:45 PM East Cobb Middle School 7th Grade Chorus Vanessa Helms, Director; Tracey Phillips, Accompanist The Lighthouse
Andy Beck
Playground Tunes
Earlene Rentz
4:00 PM Barber Middle School Treble Chorus Lisa Reeves Davidson, Director; Pamela Lundrgren, Accompanist Who Can Sail?
Carl-Bertil Agnestig
Fairest Lady
Nick Page
4:15 PM Awtrey Middle School 8th Grade Chorus Robin McDaniel, Director; Harris Wheeler, Accompanist On Wind On Wing
Amy Feldman Bernon
Ubuntu
Mark Hayes
4:30 PM McCleskey Middle School 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Chorus Licia Murrell, Director; Alex Pietsch, Accompanist Sing Out With Joy Charlotte-Town
Sally K. Albrecht American Folk Song, arr. Emily Crocker
Audience Etiquette A Special Note to Students: Our LGPE event gives us the unique opportunity to be listeners instead of performers. Please adhere to the following etiquette while in the performance area.
Speak in a whisper while in the performance area. It is appropriate to applaud when the first person walks on the stage, even if that person is the announcer. Your applause lets the performers know you are looking forward to the performance. While a performance is in progress, do not utter a sound. Whispering to a neighbor is distracting not only to the people around you, but also to the performers on stage. Whistling, screaming, and yelling are never appropriate in the performance area. Any devices that make sound should be turned off. Also be careful of any other potential noisemaking materials such as Velcro, jingling jewelry, or clothing that makes noise with movement. Normally, if the show is funny, one should feel free to laugh aloud. In this case, even if a song is humorous, please don’t laugh. It is important that the judges and clinicians hear the performance. Movement is very distracting to the audience as well as the performers. For that reason, no one should get up during a performance. Likewise, audience members should enter the performance area only between songs and should be seated by the time the music begins. Do not applaud until after the conductor lowers his or her hands. This may take several seconds after the piece has ended. It is appropriate to applaud at the end of every piece. Listen carefully to make sure it is really the end. It is embarrassing to start clapping before the song is over. Sometimes it seems like the end, then the music starts again. While sitting in your chair, your feet must remain on the floor. It is rude and disrespectful to our kind hosts to place dirty shoes on seats. If the show is very good, you may want to give a standing ovation at the end. This is appropriate as long as you stay at your seats.
Purpose and Process of Large Group Performance Evaluation ~ Melissa Arasi, Ph.D. ~ Music Education Coordinator, Reinhardt University Large Group Performance Evaluation is the annual assessment of student achievement by each school music ensemble. It is sponsored by the Music Educators Association and follows their rules of participation and performance expectations. Choral directors select music literature that will demonstrate the various fundamental performance standards and concepts in the curriculum. The degree of literature difficulty ranges from E for Elementary, M for Middle School and levels D to A with D representing beginning high school or upper level middle school, up through A being of the highest level of difficulty. Choirs sing two selections with one of the selections being from the required list provided in each level of difficulty. Each year, nationally recognized experts in the field assess Cobb County music ensembles on every aspect of student and director performance. The rigor and comprehensiveness of this evaluation is similar to that of standardized tests or end-of-course exams given in other school subjects. Students demonstrate their musical understanding and skill development through applied performance and sight-singing both individually and as an ensemble. Three experts evaluate choirs of the fundamental elements through prepared literature and one expert evaluates fundamental elements on literature seen and sung for the first time. Expert clinicians also conduct a brief clinic to provide face-to-face, immediate feedback to the director and students regarding pedagogical strategies for improvement and specific aspects of the performance that were particularly effective. The adjudicators complete score sheets with commentary. Grades of (I) Superior, (II) Excellent, (III) Good, (IV) Poor, and (V) Failure, are utilized to communicate a national standard for performance with more detailed grading in each fundamental performance indicator. Additionally, a conducting expert provides video commentary for the director concerning their musical communication to the students through gesture. A professional audio recording of each performance serves as an archive and resource for further study and reflection. This thorough process of performance evaluation serves to provide the opportunity for program improvement, instructional guidance, and accountability for learning. Thanks ~ A special thanks to Piedmont Church! They have gone above and beyond to accommodate our needs beyond all reasonable expectations in this first year of opening their facilities to us. Their kindness and service to the community is a blessing in so many ways. Thank you Madelynn Phan for being so generous with your time and energy! Thanks to Stacy Levy for the support that she gives the choral teachers year round. Thanks to all of the participating directors who help run this event. Your help is a testament to the fact that we are such a supportive and cohesive group, and it is greatly appreciated. And finally, to Dr. Joseph Woodruff, Supervisor for Performing Arts in Cobb County, for securing our performance and conducting clinicians, arranging for transportation for our ensembles and being so supportive of our efforts at this event.