2009 SPR TS 10: 2005 Spring Texas Sings! FINAL 4/13/09 5:43 PM Page 1
TEXAS SINGS! VOLUME 25 NUMBER 3
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF TEXAS CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
SPRING 2009
54th Annual Convention
San Antonio NON-PROFIT U.S. Postage Paid Austin, Texas Permit No. 789
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2009 SUMMER CONVENTION Thursday, July 9 through Saturday, July 11 TOPEKA HOLIDOME HEADLINERS AND TOPICS • Jonathan Reed, Michigan State University: Building Resonance and Energizing Rehearsal: The perfect warm-ups and Male Chorus 101: The care and feeding of adolescent male (and beyond) singers • Sandra Snow, Michigan State University: Sound Tapestries: Developing a color spectrum in young treble voices and Singing with Intention: Bringing vitality to choral tone through diction and articulation • William Powell, Auburn University: Experiencing Gospel Music and Choral Arranging for Your Choir: Making the music fit your choir • Rosephanye Dunn-Powell, Auburn University: Voice Care Concerns for Choral Directors and Singers
CONCERTS • KCDA All-State Women’s Choir under the direction of Rosephanye Dunn-Powell • Wichita Chamber Chorale, under the guest-direction of Dr. John Buhler
SPECIAL INTERESTS SESSIONS • Mark Hayes Reading Session: The Music of Mark Hayes • KCDA Member Break-out Sessions: Ideas for the Outstanding Elementary Choirs; Current Issues in High School Choral Music; Music Diction and Language; Issues in Middle/Junior High Choral Music
KEYNOTE ADDRESS • Charles Robinson, UMKC: Meaningful Relationships, Meaningful Work, Meaningful Life
10 READING SESSIONS! Log on to www.kansaschoral.com for more registration information! Hotel information: Holiday Inn West Topeka, 605 SW Fairlawn Rd, Topeka KS, 66606 For hotel reservations call: 785-272-8040
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TEXAS SINGS! Volume 25 Number 3 Spring 2009
OFFICERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRESIDENT
Bob Horton, The Woodlands
Candidates for TCDA Board of Directors
4
President’s Page
PRESIDENT ELECT
11
Amy Allibon, Fort Worth
Convention 2009 Preview
PAST PRESIDENT
by Bob Horton
Danny Detrick, North Richland Hills
Performing Groups
12-15
Dr John Silantien, San Antonio
Clinicians
16-17
HIGH SCHOOL VICE PRESIDENT
Conductors
17
MIDDLE SCHOOL/JUNIOR HIGH VICE PRESIDENT
Tentative Schedule
18
Kathy Lollar, Odessa
Accompanists
19
Officer Comments
20
COLLEGE/COMMUNITY VICE PRESIDENT
Billy Talley, Amarillo
ELEMENTARY VICE PRESIDENT
Karen Gonzalez, Garland CHURCH VICE PRESIDENT
Thomas Coker, Houston SECRETARY/TREASURER
Janwin Overstreet-Goode, Friendswood
On the Cover: San Antonio, host city for the 2009 Annual TCDA Convention and New Music Reading Clinic, offers a wealth of cultural, historic, and entertainment attractions. This year’s Convention meets July 29 through August 1 at the Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dan L Wood, Austin EDITOR
Dan L Wood ART DIRECTOR
James A Black, Coppell
Cover photos courtesy of the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau
PUBLISHER
Good/Wood Associates PO Box 6472 Austin, Texas 78762
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Official Publication of the Texas Choral Directors Association 7900 Centre Park Drive, Suite A Austin, TX 78754 512/474-2801 Copyright 2009 by Texas Choral Directors Association. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the Executive Director. TCDA is an affiliate of ACDA
Spring 2009
TCDA Mission Statement The mission of TCDA is to support and foster the success of Texas choral directors and music teachers and to instill a love of music in every Texas school, church, and community singer.
2009 TCDA Convention Dates Wednesday, July 29 - Saturday, August 1 TEXAS√SINGS!
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Candidates for TCDA Board of Directors Three Board members will be elected at the TCDA Convention in San Antonio. To help you become familiar with the candidates, a short vita and personal statement by each candidate follow.
High School Vice President
Baker
Mark Baker has served as music educator for the past 29 years, teaching students on the elementary, middle school and high school level. He is in his 6th year as Head Choral Director at Denton HS and serves as Fine Arts Department Chair. DHS Chorale performed at SWACDA in 2005 in St Louis MO. They also performed in cathedrals both in England in 2005 and in Germany and Austria in 2007. In March, 2009, the DHS Chorale performed at the Sunday morning service in the West Point Chapel in New York.
Holkup Gene Holkup is in his 20th year of 4
During his 12-year tenure at Strickland MS, Mark had two TMEA Honor Choirs – Eighth Grade Treble in 1997, and Seventh and Eighth Grade Men in 2000. Choirs under Mark’s direction have consistently earned Sweepstakes awards at UIL contests and have won Grand Champion performance awards at San Antonio, Houston, and Winter Park. Mark has served in a number of leadership positions in TMEA, including High School Region Chair and Middle School Region Chair. Two of the terms in which he served as Region Chair were when new regions were being formed and he provided leadership in melding different regions’ policies into a new Region Handbook. He also served as the TMEA All-State Men’s Choir Section Leader in 2008. During his almost three decades of teaching, Mark has been the recipient of numerous awards, including being named “Teacher of the Year” for Denton ISD in 1996. He has been named in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers on numerous occasions, and was presented the prestigious CARE award by the Greater Denton Arts Council in 1997 for promoting arts in the community.
For 28 years Mark has also served as a church choral director. He is currently Minister of Music at Euless FUMC. Mark and his wife, Vicki, who is the Coordinator of Music Education at Texas Woman’s University, are currently collaborating on writing a book on how to develop and sustain a choir program. They live in Denton with their three dogs, Max, Gracie, and Millie.
teaching choral music. He is the head choral director at Hanna HS in Brownsville, a position he has held since the fall of 2007. He earned a BM in vocal performance from the University of North Dakota and an MM in choral conducting from Sam Houston State University, where he served as graduate assistant to Dr Bev Henson. Gene is a member of TCDA, TMEA, TMAA, ATPE, and Pi Kappa Lambda. Choirs under his direction have consistently earned Superior Ratings and Sweepstakes. He is active as an adjudicator and clinician. He has served TMEA Region XV as MS Vocal Coordinator, Region Vice President, and the Vocal
Representative to the UIL Music Advisory Committee for Region XV and Region XXVIII. He has served on the TMEA Convention Facilities Team and as a member of the UIL Sightreading Music Selection Committee. He has served TCDA as a Reading Session Conductor and as a member of the Hospitality, Ways and Means, and Nominations Committees. Gene is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and the National Honor Roll of Outstanding American Teachers. Prior to his current position, Gene served as choral director at McAllen Memorial HS, Edinburg South MS, Edinburg North HS, and Calallen MS.
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If elected . . .
If elected TCDA HS Vice President, I will strive to: Provide leadership in addressing critical issues facing Texas choral music educators including the recruitment and retention of students in light of the 4 X 4 graduation plan. Ensure that quality choral literature will be provided at music reading sessions. Encourage high schools to form Texas Future Music Educators Chapters on their campuses to encourage students to pursue music education in college. Plan insightful and informative sessions and clinicians to generate greater attendance at the TCDA Convention. √
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High School Vice President He resides in Rancho Viejo with his wife, Linda, also a choral director, and three cats, Duchess, Lady, and Princess. If elected . . .
It would be a privilege to serve TCDA. I would like to continue to build on the strength of the leadership and traditions of TCDA. Some areas that I would endeavor to improve are recruiting and retaining excellent choral directors, providing sessions that are relevant to the issues we face on a daily basis, and continuing to keep the Texas
McCollough Casey McCollough is in his ninth year of teaching choral music in Texas public schools. He began as the assistant at Bedford JH in HEB ISD, and then
Paul Sharon Paul is in her 28th year of teaching choral music in Texas and currently in her 12th year as Head Choral Director at Cypress Creek HS in the Cy-Fair ISD. The choirs of Cypress Spring 2009
choral music tradition alive and well. I have been blessed to have the advice of friends from TCDA throughout my career. I would like to encourage and strengthen this camaraderie throughout our association. We need to build connections between our new members and our more experienced members to inject vitality and promote our fine choral heritage. I am excited to select quality choral literature for TCDA Reading Sessions. Since one of my strengths is knowledge of choral repertoire, I look forward to
the challenge of selecting music that will provide options for the diverse needs and capabilities of our choral music programs throughout the state. It has been my privilege to teach choral music in Texas. TCDA has allowed me to form a network of choral director friends who have served as mentors guiding my development as a teacher. It is because of their inspiration that I aspire to help others in our profession. I look forward to the opportunity to serve TCDA as your HS Division Vice President. √
went to Lakeview Centennial HS in Garland ISD where he served as head director for two years. Currently he is completing his sixth year as head director at John Horn HS in Mesquite. He is the director of a program with 400 students that encompass nine performance ensembles. Choirs under Casey’s direction have consistently been awarded Sweepstakes at UIL competition. Casey has been recognized twice in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and was most recently acknowledged by the UIL as an “Outstanding UIL Sponsor” in 2004-2005. Currently he is serving his second term as TMEA Area C Vocal Chair. Casey holds a BME and MM from Texas Christian University, and continued studies at the Vienna Conservatory of Music. He is a member
of TMEA, TCDA, ACDA, and Phi Mu Alpha. He currently resides in Sachse with his wife Natalie, son Kylan, and two dogs, Sadie and Sugar.
Creek have earned consistent UIL sweepstakes, outstanding performance awards at contests throughout the state, and performed in Florida, California, and New York. Prior to Cypress Creek, Sharon taught in the Klein ISD at Wunderlich MS. Under her direction, the Wunderlich Advanced Girls were invited to perform for the 1990 TMEA Convention. Sharon has served TCDA, TMEA, and TMAA in a number of capacities at the region and state levels. She was honored to have recently served TMEA as Vocal Division Vice-President from 2005-08. She has served TCDA as a conductor and on the Ways and Means Committee. Additionally, Ms Paul has served TMEA as All-State Treble Choir Organizer, All-State Mixed Section Leader, Region 27 Secretary 2006-09, TEXAS√SINGS!
If elected . . .
I would be honored at the opportunity to serve TCDA and the choral directors of Texas. If elected I would continue the excellence of TCDA by striving to provide thoughtful clinics/workshops and providing meaningful music for reading sessions. I would lend ear to the membership and welcome new ideas and suggestions. I would bring my organizational skills to assist the Board and I would bring my passion and energy to every Convention. My goal is to support every music educator in all facets of our profession. √ Region 23 Vocal Division Chair, and Region 9 Middle School Vocal Division Chair. She has also served UIL as Sightreading Committee Chair. Sharon presently serves as Fine Arts Department Chair at Cypress Creek. As an active UIL adjudicator and clinician throughout the state, Sharon has conducted high school and middle school region choirs in Texas. She was named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2005-06, and was honored as the “Spotlight Teacher of the Year” from Cypress-Creek HS in 2001. Ms Paul has also been nominated for “Texas Teacher of the Year”. Sharon holds an MM from Sam Houston State University and a BME from the University of Mary HardinBaylor. She is a member of TMAA, Continued on page 17 5
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Middle School/Junior High Vice President
Benton Tammy L Benton is a native Texan who began her choral experience as a high school student in Midland Lee choirs under the direction of Doug Brown. She graduated from Baylor University School of Music in 1997 earning a BME with an emphasis in voice. While at Baylor she studied voice with Lynda Keith McKnight and Dr John Van Cura, and piano pedagogy with Jane Abbott-Kirk. She was a member of Baylor A Cappella Choir under the direction of Donald Bailey, and sang in Baylor 21 under Dr Hugh Sanders. In 2000 Benton was the guest clinician for the Waco ISD sixth grade All-City Honor Choir. She has also served as a TCDA clinician in 2004 and 2006 in workshops for middle school repertoire and teaching adolescent boys. She has led several in-services and workshops around the state on recruiting and building a boys choir. She continues
Griffith Craig Griffith is currently in his 25th year as a Texas choral director and his 6
to receive invitations throughout the state to clinic and conduct Treble as well as Tenor-Bass All-Region Choirs. In 2005 her Combined Boys Choir received the school’s first invitation to perform at the TMEA Convention. Her Select Boys Choir was honored with an invitation to perform for the 2005 White House Christmas in Washington DC. In the past she has served on the TMAC/TMEA committee aligning our Texas music education curriculum as well as adjudicating and conducting allregion choirs around the state. Tammy received an invitation to travel to Uganda, Africa, last summer to teach fifth -eighth grade children in the Mwangaza Children’s choir. Her husband, Gary, and their 7-year-old son, Taylor, spent close to a month in the country. She is currently in her 12th year as director of the Midway MS choral program in Waco. The program has 200 students in six performing choirs. The choirs include a 70-member boyschoir, a 45-member select choir known as Panther Chorale, and a 40-member seventh grade girls choir. Panther Chorale performs an a cappella concert in the rotunda of our State Capitol every year as well as the national anthem at Baylor Athletic events and the Dell Diamond in Round Rock. All choirs have consistently earned sweepstakes under her direction and her students participate heavily in All-Region auditions. Benton’s professional affiliations include TMEA, TCDA, and
It is certainly a privilege for me to accept the invitation for candidacy to serve on our TCDA Board of Directors. If elected to this honorable position I would promise to: Continue with the strong leadership and wisdom given by past MS/JH VPs. Aim to find the best in choral selections that are both interesting, creative, and age-appropriate for the Reading Sessions. Actively pursue the very best available clinicians/conductors who will bring creativity and inspiration to the workshops. Provide meaningful opportunities in professional growth for our own MS/JH directors by using them in future TCDA presentations. Work hard to continue the strong and popular tradition of our TCDA Middle School Honor Choir by bringing in the best choral music and conductor for this age. Purpose to work collaboratively with other members of the board as well as my esteemed middle school colleagues in making the choices that benefit the whole. Enlighten, encourage, and even entertain my profession with informative articles in our Texas Sings! magazine. √
14th year at Abell JH where there are over 240 students in four performing ensembles. He is in his ninth year as codirector of the Lee Freshman HS Choirs in Midland where there are 100 students in two ensembles. He is also serving as the Minister of Music at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Midland. Craig is a graduate of Robert Service HS in Anchorage AK, and is a 1982 graduate of East Texas Baptist College where he was a member of the Concert Choir under the direction of Jim Moore. Prior to moving to Midland, Craig taught at LibertyEylau JH and HS, P E Wallace JH in Mt Pleasant, and Wills Point JH, where he had the privilege of developing the choir program. He was chosen as Abell’s
“Teacher of the Year” in 2001. Craig has served Region VI as Junior High Vocal Coordinator for five years and Region Secretary and Vice President. Under his direction the Abell Choirs and Lee Freshman Choirs have consistently earned Sweepstakes and First Division ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading Contests. His choirs also have received “Best in Class” and “Best in Contest” awards at invitational contests in Lubbock, Amarillo, and Dallas. He has served as clinician and UIL judge throughout the state and is currently a member of TMEA, TCDA, and TCTA. Craig resides in Midland with his wife, Davelyn, an elementary school teacher. They have two daughters, both of whom
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ACDA. She resides in Waco with her husband, Gary, who teaches at Hill College in Hillsboro, and her third grade son, Taylor. If elected . . .
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Middle School/Junior High Vice President are currently attending Liberty University in Lynchburg VA. If elected . . .
It is an honor to be nominated for the office of Middle School/Junior High Vice President. If elected I will: Continue the incredible profession-
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Haugen Greg Haugen is in his 10th year of teaching. After graduating from Dallas Baptist University, Greg became the assistant choir director at Nichols JH in Arlington in 1999 and served as the assistant until 2001 when he became the head director. Under his direction Greg’s choirs are consistent sweepstakes winners
Jarvis Dianna L Jarvis is in her 23rd year as a music educator and her 11th year at Bush MS. She holds a BME and an MM from The University of Texas in San Antonio. Under her leadership, the Bush Choral Department has earned 40 sweepstakes trophies in 11 years and Spring 2009
alism and high standards that all the past Middle School/Junior High VicePresidents have exhibited. Enlist clinicians/conductors that will provide insightful teaching techniques. Listen to directors from every part of the state and strive to incorporate their ideas and provide answers to their
questions. Select the very best new music for our reading sessions along with opportunities to read “Tried and True” octavos. Work hand in hand with the other Board members to continue to make available to you the very best our profession has to offer. √
and have been named “Best in Class” at area spring competitions. In 2007 the Nichols JH Men of the Mustang Chorale were given the high honor of performing at TMEA. Greg served as MS/JH chair for Region V for ‘06-‘07 and ‘07-08, earning a new respect for his region chair predecessors. Active as both a clinician and adjudicator, he is a member of TMEA, TCDA, and TMAA, and enjoys meeting and working with great directors around the state. He was given the honor being named a Minyard’s “First Class Teacher” in 2005, an Honorary PTA Membership in 2007, and received the “Servant Leader in Education Award” from the College of Education at Dallas Baptist in 2008. In addition to his work at Nichols JH, Greg Haugen is also the youth choir director at FUMC in Arlington and leads worship in the contemporary service. He has also re-discovered the importance of singing in a choir regularly and is a
member of the Arlington Master Chorale. Even though Greg keeps a pretty full work/church schedule, he still finds time to mix in a little golf and is the short stop on the Nichols faculty softball team. He and his wife, Amy, live in Arlington with their three strikingly beautiful children, Karalyn (7), Erica (4), and Jack (1).
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currently has a membership of over 220 students. In 2004 the Bush Chamber Chorus had the privilege of performing for the TMEA Convention. Three of the Bush Choirs have served as demonstration groups during the past seven years. Ms Jarvis was selected as a member of Who’s Who Among American Teachers in 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2003. She has served as the Region 12 Middle School Chair, as a TMAA adjudicator and is currently one of the Region 12 representatives on the TMEA Advisory Board. She was appointed a member of both the UIL Sightreading and PML Committees. Dianna has served TCDA as a hospitality committee chair and as a conductor of several reading sessions. She feels that her most important role as an educator is to assist students in becoming lifelong consumers of music and to serve as a mentor to young teachers. TEXAS√SINGS!
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If elected . . .
It would be my honor to serve the fine MS/JH directors of our great state. I really enjoyed serving Region V as its MS/JH chair a few years ago and realized how rewarding it is to be a servant of my colleagues. Knowing you have such expertise in our field of teaching young teenagers, I would look forward to not only being your voice on the TCDA Board, but learning from you as well. It would truly be exciting to meet more of you and learn what you have to offer by way of presentations and clinics at TCDA. √
If elected . . .
I am truly honored to have been nominated for MS/JH Vice President. TCDA has played a profound role in my development as a music educator through providing meaningful summer conventions and opportunities to network with gifted teachers throughout Texas. If elected to the TCDA Board, I will work to continue the tradition of excellence set by the MS/JH vice presidents who have served this organization so aptly in the past. I would like to incorporate TCDA Convention sessions designed to support and encourage those in our profession who are in the first five years of their career. Additionally, I will work to create a TCDA Convention that will assist teachers in jump-starting their new school year. I understand the importance of productive reading sessions and workshops that inspire us all to expand our talents and abilities as music educators. √ 7
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Secretary/Treasurer
Robin Brockway-Nichols is the Director of Choirs at Newman Smith HS in the Carrollton–Farmers Branch ISD. The choral program at Smith has grown to include seven performing ensembles during her tenure. These ensembles consistently earn Sweepstakes awards at UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest and have earned numerous “Best in Class” honors.
Ms Brockway-Nichols began her teaching career at Bowman MS in her hometown of Plano after several years working as a professional pianist and singer. She thoroughly enjoyed six years as the Associate Choral Director at Haltom HS. In the fall of 2003 Ms Brockway-Nichols became the Director of Choirs at Newman Smith. She has conducted several TMEA Region Choirs in North Texas and is in demand as a clinician and collaborative accompanist. In February, 2004, Ms Brockway-Nichols accompanied the Texas All-State Treble Choir, conducted by ELEKTRA Artistic Director Morna Edmundson. Professional affiliations include ACDA, TCDA, TMAA, and Pi Kappa Lambda. Robin is on the State Board of TMEA as TMEA Region XXIV Secretary and currently serves on the TMEA/ TMAC Curriculum and Assessment Committee. She has been recognized by Who’s Who Among American Teachers and serves as Communications
Cates Marian Cates is in her 25th year of teaching secondary choral music. She is currently teaching at Ed Rawlinson MS in San Antonio where she has been employed with Northside ISD for 13 years. Prior to her tenure at Rawlinson, she was the choral director at Taft HS and Stevenson MS, also in Northside. Marian has taught choral music in small and large districts, including
Victoria, Hudson, Garland, and Mt Pleasant. She holds a BFA from Stephen F Austin State University in Nacogdoches and an MA degree from the University of North Texas in Denton. As a long-time TMAA member, Marian serves as a clinician and adjudicator across the state. Her choirs consistently earn UIL Sweepstakes and Outstanding Performance awards. Marian is serving her seventh term as Region XI Secretary, and is currently a TMEA State Board and UIL Music Advisory Board member. She has served TMEA as Middle School Coordinator for Regions IV and XI. For over 10 years, Marian has served UIL as Region XI Choral HS/MS Chair. In addition she has served TCDA as a member of the Hospitality and AAT committees. Marian is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Mu Phi Epsilon, ACDA, TCDA, TMEA, and TMAA. She resides in Helotes with her husband, Tom, and their two daughters, Kendra, and Alison.
Brockway-Nichols
Elder and Youth Choir Director at Saint Barnabas Presbyterian Church in Richardson. If elected . . .
I will never forget my first TCDA Convention experience oh so many years ago! I had just completed the first momentous year of my teaching career and was agog at the gathering of people dedicated to excellence in choral music. I began to understand that I was not alone in my struggles, and that help and inspiration were available to me in spades. TCDA and its members have never failed me, which is why I passionately desire to serve. Yes, I am a meticulous, detail-oriented person and look forward to handling the tasks required of the Secretary/Treasurer with efficiency and expertise. But most of all, I look forward to serving the membership by being a positive voice and an outspoken cheerleader for our calling as choral directors if I am fortunate enough to earn your vote. √ If elected . . .
It is an honor to be nominated for the office of Secretary/Treasurer. If elected I promise to dedicate myself to serving the needs of the membership. Throughout my teaching career, I have appreciated TCDA and its Convention for establishing a vital link between my colleagues and me, providing new repertoire in the reading sessions, and informative workshops to fuel my teaching strategies. Our organization nurtures both new and experienced music teachers as we pursue the highest level of our art. Teaching in the 21st century poses many challenges, and I firmly believe that TCDA and its members can unite to offer the finest musical education for our students. If elected as Secretary/Treasurer, I will dedicate my time and energy to TCDA and encourage my fellow music educators to take advantage of our meaningful musical experiences. By using the invaluable resources of our organization, we will see the music students of today become the music educators of tomorrow. √
2009 Convention Exhibit Hours Exhibits open on Wednesday at 3:00 pm and will close Friday at 4:00 pm – not open Saturday. Spring 2009
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Secretary/Treasurer
Hirsch Beverly Hirsch is in her 33rd year of teaching and is currently teaching at J L Long MS in Dallas. The choral program at Long has over 200 students in five performing groups. Choirs under her direction have received consistent sweepstakes ratings at UIL and “Best In Class” awards at festivals throughout the state. She has consistently placed
Owens Kay W Owens has taught secondary choral music in public schools for 26 years. Prior to joining Arlington ISD in 1993, she taught elementary, junior high, and high school choirs in Natchez and Tupelo MS. She received a BME with emphasis in piano and voice from Mississippi State University in 1983, and an MM in choral conducting from
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numerous students in All-City and AllRegion Choirs. The goal of the choir program is to, of course, teach students musical skills, but its greatest benefit is to build students’ self esteem, instill a strong work ethic, and to create a program that engenders a sense of belonging. Mrs Hirsch is a product of the Dallas ISD graduating from Bryan Adams HS. She received her BM from Southern Methodist University and has done graduate work at East Texas State University. Beverly has served as Department Chair for Electives and Mentor Chair of new teachers at Long since 1992. She has served her TMEA Region as JH Vocal Coordinator for 18 years, Region Secretary for eight years, and Region Vice President for four years. She has served TCDA as alto section leader for Middle School Honor Choir, and as a clinician. Beverly has served Dallas ISD as a curriculum writer for middle school vocal teachers, mentor workshops for new teachers to the district, and workshops for
vocal teachers. Beverly holds a life PTA membership, was named “Teacher of the Year” at Pearl C Anderson, Teacher of the Year at J L Long and was a Finalist for “Teacher of the Year” for Dallas ISD. She is a member of TMEA and TCDA. Beverly lives in Dallas with her husband, David, and eight cats.
Mississippi College in 2000. She studied with Dr Richard Joiner and Dr James Meaders. Ms Owens is in her 11th year at Martin HS in Arlington ISD. During her tenure as the assistant director at Martin, Chamber Singers performed at the 1999 Fringe Festival in Aberdeen Scotland, TMEA, and ACDA in 2005. Owens was named the head director in 2006. Chorale debuted at Carnegie Hall 2006. The Martin Varsity Womens Choir performed for TMEA in 2008. Kay is also the organist at First Baptist Church, Arlington. Ms Owens is a member of MENC, TMEA, ACDA, TCDA, AGO, Who’s Who Among American Teachers, and Sigma Alpha Iota Sorority. Kay was named AISD “Teacher of the Year” in 1996. Owens was the recipient of the TCDA Abbott-IPCO Professional Scholarship presented by TCDA in 2000. She served three years as treasurer for Region V Vocal Division,
two years as chair-elect, and two years as region chair. Most recently Owens was named the “2009 Alumnus of the Year” for the Mississippi College School of Music.
If elected . . .
If elected TCDA Secretary/Treasurer, I would maintain the high standards already set by TCDA leaders and its membership. TCDA is a great organization and has a most inspiring Convention that all teachers need to attend. Attending the Convention each year gives me a jump-start for the upcoming school year. I would like to see TCDA members reach out to new teachers to become part of this organization. I am honored to be nominated and look forward to serving the membership if elected. √
If elected . . .
I would truly enjoy the opportunity to serve TCDA as Secretary/Treasurer. If elected I would continue the strong leadership from the Board that has been established in the past. I have enjoyed many opportunities to lead in my region, and welcome this as an opportunity to serve on the state level in support of our profession. I will gladly work with other members of the Board to create wonderful musical experiences through clinics/workshops, honor choirs, performance venues, and reading sessions. I will give my time, energy, and passion for this profession that I love so much – choral music. I would be honored to serve is elected as Secretary/Treasurer of TCDA. √
The TCDA Member Database is password protected. We hope this is not inconvenient, but rather, serves to protect member privacy. Entry is very simple for members. When you click on “Member Database”, you will be asked for a username and password. Enter tcda and 2009 and you’re in! TEXAS√SINGS!
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President’s Page
Convention 2009 Preview by TCDA President Bob Horton
C
ongratulations to the fine Texas choirs, directors, and individuals whose outstanding performances impressed those in attendance at the ACDA National Convention in Oklahoma City, March 4-7. On behalf of TCDA, I extend thanks and congratulations to ACDA President-Elect Jerry McCoy and his hard-working team for an outstanding convention. Stan McGill, Robert Stovall, and numerous other Texas choir directors served on the planning team and organized and managed facilities for the convention. The Lone Star State was certainly well represented at ACDA by the following Texas groups and individuals: UT Chamber Singers – James Morrow, director; Tascosa HS Treble Choir – Billy Talley, director; Clear Creek Symphonic Chorale – Kyle and Sean Pullen, directors; Children’s Choir of Dallas – Cynthia Nott, director. Interest sessions were led by Texas conductors John Silantien and Derrick Brookins. Many schools and directors from Texas sent students to participate in the Honor Choir experience. Have you made your summer plans? For many people, the current economy is helping us focus on quality decisions about plans for the summer. I hope that your plans include coming to the annual TCDA Convention. As TCDA President, I receive ACDA state and divisional magazines from around the United States. Many of them are advertising their summer conventions. The cost of these conventions ranges from comparable to ours (about $100) to almost $300 to register, and the conventions are usually one or two days, ours covers four days. The value of our
Spring 2009
one you’ll not want to miss. Convention Highlights
President Bob Horton
Convention is exceptional. Our Convention has over 25 workshops, 13 reading sessions of newly published music, a MS/JH Honor Choir with Judy Bowers, a Directors Chorus with Z Randall Stroope, a worship event, and TCDA’s Got Talent! I am grateful to the TCDA Board members who have worked for months to plan an exceptional Convention. TCDA 2009
The dates for the TCDA summer Convention are July 30 - August 1. As last year, exhibits will open on Wednesday, as registration opens. You will have three hours of uninterrupted time to visit our exhibit hall on the first day of the Convention! We have over 300 booths in our exhibits. Encourage your favorite vendor to be a part of the Convention by contacting our office. Your TCDA Board of Directors has been working very hard to plan and implement a Convention that will be both informative and entertaining. The Board has planned many interesting sessions with you in mind. As you read through this issue of Texas Sings!, you will be convinced that this convention is TEXAS√SINGS!
Weston Noble will be a featured clinician as he shares some of his 60-plus years of experiences in our profession. Weston Noble’s appearance is partially subsidized by Quaid-Schott Media, which has produced a full-length DVD about his life and work. His full bio appears elsewhere in this magazine. Judy Bowers of Florida State University will be a featured clinician. She will work with our auditioned MS/JH Chorus, and presenting a clinic for the membership. The MS/JH will premiere a TCDA Commissioned Work by Earlene Rentz. Dr Z Randall Stroope will conduct a Director’s Chorus, which will perform on Saturday morning. Stroope will also be a featured clinician for two high school division workshops. In addition to these three featured clinicians, we will have many practical workshops led by some of Texas’ finest teachers. They will address areas specific to Elementary, Middle School, High School, Church, and College/ Community. We will also have 13 reading sessions in these various areas. During these sessions, you will be able to read newly published music, selected by the TCDA Board. Our publisher partners have graciously supplied complimentary copies of these selected octavos for your perusal. Reading Session Music
TCDA was founded to be a new music reading clinic. I am proud that over the last 54 years we have adapted to the needs of each era, but held true to our founding mission. We annually read over 200 new titles at our Convention. Just a few thoughts on how this happens: First, I would like to thank your 11
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Board for the many hours they spend reading new music and selecting titles for you to hear at our Convention. As you may or may not know, each Board member receives new music published in the school year. The music is from the publishers who wish to participate in this process. Starting in September and going until early May, we, the Board, receive about 3,000 pieces of music to read and consider. Each Board member works independently. As we make our selections we rank by title, composer, publisher, voicing, and category, and send rankings to our music vendor by email to be tallied. A list of all the songs we selected
and the number of votes each piece received is given to us at our May planning meeting. Pieces receiving the highest votes are placed in the appropriate reading session. The Board does not discuss their selections until the May planning meeting. We then submit a list for each reading session to the publishers, who supply us with the complimentary copies you see in the reading packets. Please know that the TCDA Board is responsible for the selection of the music for all the reading sessions except for the All-State session and workshop packets. The newly-read material is intended to supplement our program
selections and to expose us to the new gems in choral music Final Thoughts
Your TCDA Board wishes you a wonderful summer. Be good to yourself and take care to nurture the teacher, conductor, and artist within you. Don’t forget to invest in your own life-long learning. The TCDA Convention will be a vital part of that plan! Pre-registration information is in this magazine as well as online at www. TexasSings.org. I encourage you to preregister and also to contribute to our Scholarship Fund. See you in San Antonio at the end of July! √
PERFORMING GROUPS
Arlington Master Chorale
The Arlington Master Chorale was founded in 1973 under the direction of Mr Michael Kemp, Minister of Music at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington. The chorus operated for several years as the Arlington Civic Chorus and the Arlington Choral Society. In the spring of 2005, the organization formally adopted its current name. As the Arlington Master Chorale, the ensemble continues a long tradition of excellence in the performance of classical music for the citizens of the Arlington and surrounding communities as it enhances Arlington’s reputation as a center for cultural arts. AMC’s 2007 season included a performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and a Carnegie Hall debut. Other AMC 12
performances include Brahm’s Requiem, in April 2008, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Orff’s Carmina Burana in April 2009 at the Morton Meyerson Symphony Hall in Dallas. The Arlington Master Chorale is a self-supporting, non-profit, volunteer chorus, comRandy Jordan posed of community singers whose full-time occupations are as varied as the chorus’ repertoire. Members are accepted by audition requiring demonstration of their vocal range and quality, as well as their TEXAS√SINGS!
ability to sight-sing challenging notes and rhythms. Since its inception, the Master Chorale has steadily grown in professionalism, in overall quality, and in critical acclaim within the Metroplex arts community. Although an accomplished a capella choir, AMC is one of the few area choruses that regularly also performs with orchestra. Randy Jordan is in his fifth year as director of The Arlington Master Chorale. His previous appointments have been Head Choral Director at Azle HS in Azle, for seven years, and Head Choral Director for Martin HS in Arlington for 23 years where he also served as Fine Arts Department Chair. In addition he has served as choral director Spring 2009
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PERFORMING GROUPS at Azle Christian Church, St Matthew UMC, and St Barnabas UMC. Mr Jordan is currently serving as Associate Choirmaster at University Christian Church in Fort Worth under Ron Shirey of UCC and Texas Christian University. During his tenure at Martin HS, Randy’s choirs performed at the TMEA Convention in 1995, and again in 2005. Martin also appeared as honor choir at the 1997 National Convention of ACDA in San Diego CA, and again at the 2005 National ACDA Convention in Los Angeles CA. His Chamber Singers were one of three US choirs invited to sing at the International Fringe Festival in Edinburg, Scotland in 1999. Under his direction the Arlington Master Chorale
made their first appearance at Carnegie Hall in New York in March of 2007, and at Bass Hall that same year with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra performing Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Other performances include Brahm’s Requiem, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Orff’s Carmina Burana. Mr Jordan earned his BME from Texas Tech University, his MME from North Texas State University (now The University of North Texas) in 1981, and his degree in music supervision from The University of Texas at Arlington in 1994. He has studied with Gene Kenny, Frank McKinley, Hal Gibbons, done post graduate studies with Kenneth Davis, and recently completed a two-week master
conducting class at the Oregon Bach Festival under Helmut Rilling. In 2000 Mr Jordan was one of 15 teachers of extracurricular activities in the State of Texas to receive the “UIL Sponsor of the Year Award”, and in 2007 Mr Jordan was selected to conduct the Mississippi AllState Choir. His professional affiliations include TMEA, TCDA, ACDA, and TMAA. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, Who’s Who Among American Teachers, and Honorary Lifetime Member of the Parent Teachers Association. He and his wife, Debra Duncan, have two altos, a tenor, and a baritone as well as seven grandsons, voices yet to be determined. They reside in Arlington. √
First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir – Midland
Thomas Vozella
The Chancel Choir of First United Methodist Church, Midland made history in 2008 with two performances at the White House. At the invitation of then President George W and Mrs Laura Bush they were the first choir in history to have sung at the White House for a presidential party. Mrs Bush is a former member of the Chancel Choir, and the Bushes’ daughters, Barbara and Jenna, sang in the children’s choirs. The choir also had the privilege of performing for the Bush Homecoming Celebration, at which they sang the national anthem with country headliners Lee Greenwood and The Gatlin Brothers. Opera divas Susan Graham and Luretta Bybee were members of First Church Choirs. The Spring 2009
Chancel Choir has also sung at Carnegie Hall, and will again in June 2010, under the direction of their director, Dr Thomas Vozzella. This is their first TCDA performance. Thomas R Vozzella is currently in his fourth year as the Director of Worship Arts at FUMC, Midland, where he is also the Headmaster of the Dollye Neal Worship Arts Academy. Dr Vozzella has taught at institutions of higher education in Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, and Kansas. In addition to his teaching positions, he has served as a music director/organist around the country since the age of 15. Choirs under his direction have TEXAS√SINGS!
consistantly received superior ratings and have performed for the Kansas MEA, the Tennessee CDA, and now have the honor of performing for TCDA. Thomas has toured as a conductor and organist in 26 states, Washington DC, and in Italy, Austria, Germany, France, England, Holland, The Netherlands, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, and the Ukraine. During his tenure at FUMC El Dorado AR, the adult and youth choirs were heard on NPR’s “Performance Today”. Dr Vozzella earned his DMA from the University of South Carolina, MM from Northeast Louisiana University (University of Louisiana, Monroe), and his BM from Eastern Nazarene College. Additional work was complet13
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PERFORMING GROUPS ed at Oxford University, England, the Royal School of Church Music, England, Nazarene Theological Seminary, and the University of Missouri, Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Thomas is also an active member in the ACDA, TCDA, AGO, Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, Association of Anglican Musicians, MENC, TMEA, and ASCAP. He has served as a choral mentor for MENC, and is active as a choral judge/clinician. Alliance, Augsburg, Abingdon, Selah, and CanticaNOVA publish his compositions and arrangements. Dr Vozzella resides in Midland with his wife, Cathy, and daughter, Ashley. Assistant Director Beth Garza is in
her third year as the Assistant Choral Director at FUMC in Midland where she directs children’s choirs and is the assistant director of the Beth Garza youth and Chancel Choir. Beth is currently in her eighth year as director at Alamo JH, Midland, and co-director of the Lee Freshman HS Choirs. During her tenure at Alamo, the choir earned its first Sweepstakes award in 30 years, and both schools have consistently earned
ratings of Excellent and Superior at UIL competitions, DC Festivals competitions, and the Greater Southwest Music Festival. Beth is a 1997 graduate of Robert E Lee HS, where she was a member of Chorale and Origin, under the direction of Paula Edwards. In 2001 she graduated summa cum laude from Hardin-Simmons University with her degree in Music Education. While at HSU she was a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, Pi Kappa Lambda, and the HSU Concert Choir under the direction of Dr Loyd Hawthorne. Mrs Garza graduated magna cum laude from Texas Tech University with an MME, studying with Dr Janice Killian. She lives in Midland with her husband, Beau. √
First Presbyterian Church Choir – Houston
John Yarrington
The First Presbyterian Choir of Houston is directed by Dr John Yarrington, accompanied by organist Rhonda Furr. The choir has a long tradition of providing music for a variety of worship services, as well as singing masterworks with orchestra. A highlight of every year is the Sing-a-Long-Messiah which draws over 1,000 singers to the church. The choir takes a mission tour every four years, most recently singing in Hungary and Romania. In addition to the concerts, the choir always provides funding for churches or areas where they sing, including the purchase of a grand piano for one such church. Dr Yarrington is Director of the School of Music and Chair of Choral Studies at Houston Baptist University and Director of the Chancel Choir at the First Presbyterian Church of Houston. 14
Former churches include McFarlin UMC Norman OK, FUMC, Dallas, and the Pulaski Heights UMC, Little Rock AR. In Arkansas, Dr Yarrington founded the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Chorus which he directed for five seasons, and was interim conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra for one season. He was also Artistic Director of the Arkansas Chamber Singers. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a BME, Yarrington completed the Master of Sacred Music degree at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City, studying with Sergius Kagen, Madeleine Marshall, Abraham Kaplan, and William Gephart. Continuing graduate studies at the University of Oklahoma under Dr B R Henson and Dr Dennis Shrock led to completion of a DMA. TEXAS√SINGS!
An active contributor to professional journals, his writings on choral techniques, organization, and philosophy of church music are well known. His published choral compositions are with Augsburg-Fortress, Choristers Guild, Abingdon Press, MorningStar, and GIA. Published books include Building the Youth Choir, Somebody’s Got My Robe, Somebody’s Got My Hymnal, and Choir Crackups. Yarrington is active in ACDA and served as Southwest Division President. He has been featured conductor for numerous honor choruses and all-state events. His workshop schedule takes him throughout the United States and Canada. Dr Yarrington and his wife, Diane, have six children and four grandchildren. √ Spring 2009
2009 SPR TS 10: 2005 Spring Texas Sings! FINAL 4/13/09 5:43 PM Page 29
54 TEXAS CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION 54th Annual Convention San Antonio July 29 – August 1, 2009
Hotel and Convention Registration Materials
PULL-OUT SECTION
2009-2010 Membership/2009 Convention Pre-Registration ter egis ! R e Pr $25 Save An Affiliate of ACDA
Annual Convention July 29 - August 1 • San Antonio Convention Center Membership Year • June 1, 2009 – May 31, 2010 Pre-register and save $25. Registration at the door will be $100. Pre-registration deadline is July 1, 2009 Please print plainly. This information will be used in the Membership Directory. Return form to TCDA • 7900 Centre Park Dr Ste A • Austin TX 78754 Date ___________________
1st Convention? ____Yes ____No
Preferred Mailing? ____Home ____Work
SSN (last four digits): ________________
Name _____________________________________________________________________________ Nickname (for badge) _____________________________ Home Address _______________________________________________________________________________
Home Ph ___________________________
City _____________________________________________________________ State ______ Zip ___________
Work Ph ___________________________
Place of Employment __________________________________________________________________________ Work Address ________________________________________________________________________________
FAX ______________________________ email ____________________________@ __________________________________
City _____________________________________________________________ State ______ Zip ___________ Area(s) of Employment:
Student ___ Church/Syn ____
Elem ____
JH/MS ____ HS ____ College ____
Admin ____
Comm ____ Private ____
q Do not publish my member information in the online database q Do not send TCDA promotional information via email (TCDA's primary member contact vehicle)
Membership Category / Convention Registration Member Category
TCDA DUES
ACDA DUES
Active Teacher, director, consultant, supervisor Associate Interested in TCDA objectives: do not meet Active requirements Student† Currently full-time student at Jr College, College, or University Retired Retired and interested in TCDA objectives
$ 30.00
$85.00
$ 30.00
$85.00
$ 10.00
$35.00
$ 7.50
$45.00
3 q q Convention Pre-Registration Fee† q Retired Pre-registration Fee q Out-of-state Pre-Registration Fee* q Student Registration Fee q Spouse/Child Registrations each
$75.00 $20.00 $75.00 $00.00 $ 5.00
Spouse/Child Names
†Texas
Residents must be current TCDA members to attend the Convention. *Out-of-state ACDA members may show current ACDA membership card and pay convention registration fees only.
† Full-time (12+ hrs) student membership includes convention registration fee.
Voluntary Scholarship Contribution
_____ T-Shirt(s) @ $15 $ ______ _____ Polo Shirt(s) @ $25 $ ______ _____ Barbecue Tickets @$15 $ _______
$ _______ $ _______
_____ Golf Tournament @ $70 _____ Coffee Mug(s) @ $5
$ ____________
TOTAL $
AMX / Disc / MC / VISA# ___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ /___ ___ ___ ___ / ___ ___ ___ ___ Exp Date: (eg 06/12) _____ / ______ CC Code (3 or 4 digits on card front on AMX; back, others) ____________ Signature _________________________________________ Billing address and ZIP: home__ work __ other: ________________________________________________________________________
Special Notes:
Use this space and back of page for additional information, and add the name and address of a colleague not currently in TCDA!
Membership dues paid to TCDA are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes; however, dues payments may be deductible as ordinary and necessary business expense. Monetary gifts to TCDA and to the TCDA Scholarship Fund are tax-deductible.
HOTEL RESERVATION FORM Housing for 2009 Texas Choral & Orchestra Directors Association will open on January 12, 2009. To secure your hotel choice and receive immediate confirmation, make your reservation via Internet. Faxed & mailed housing requests will take longer to process and choice hotels may not be available. INTERNET RESERVATIONS www.ensemble.org/tcda/index.php?p=200 9conv FAXED/MAILED RESERVATIONS Fax reservations to 210-207-6702. Mail reservations to TCODA Housing Bureau, 203 S. St. Mary’s, Suite 200, San Antonio, TX 78205. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS **To insure you receive the email acknowledgement, please add acknowledgement@pkghlrss.com to your address book** The TCODA Housing Bureau will send an acknowledgement of your reservation via email, fax or mail, depending on information provided on your housing form. Please review all information for accuracy. Acknowledgements will be emailed within5. 12 hours of reservation being processed 6. directly online. Housing forms received via fax & mail will require 10-14 days for processing & sending of acknowledgement. If you do not receive your acknowledgement in this time frame, please contact TCODA Housing Bureau by fax at 210-207-6702, or email: housing@visitsanantonio.com. You will not receive a written confirmation from the hotel. ROOM RATES/TAXES To take advantage of the special TCODA rates, please book your reservation by June 24, 2009. After June 24, 2009, room blocks will be released and hotels may charge higher rates. All rates are per room and are subject to 16.75% occupancy tax, (subject to change). Special requests can not be guaranteed; however, hotels will do their best to honor all requests. Hotels will assign specific room types upon check-in, based on availability. GUARANTEE All reservations require a credit card valid through July 2009 or check guarantee at the time of confirming reservations. Requests received without a valid guarantee will be returned and will not be processed. Credit cards may be billed anytime June 24, 2009, at the discretion of your confirmed hotel. CHECK DEPOSITS If you choose to mail a check deposit, it should be made payable to TCODA Housing Bureau in the amount of $200 and mailed along with your housing form to the address provided. CANCELLATIONS TCODA Housing Bureau must receive all cancellations on or prior May 25, 2009, to avoid a penalty. Any cancellations received after May 25, 2009, will be assessed a $50 cancellation fee. This fee will be charged within seven days of the cancellation.
RESERVATION WILL NOT BE PROCESSED IF FORM IS INCOMPLETE. Telephone requests are not accepted. Keep a copy of this form for your records. DO NOT MAIL AFTER FAXING. Acknowledgements are emailed, mailed or faxed only to the email or fax provided and name listed in field #8. Photocopy this form if you need more than one room SELECT SIX HOTELS: Rooms are assigned first come/first served. If choices are not available, a room will be secured at a hotel based on your preference of rate or proximity, and availability. Use code only, not numbers. See Hotel Listing for rates and codes. 1st Choice
2nd Choice
3rd Choice
4th Choice
5th Choice
6th Choice ❑ Room Rate
If hotel Choices are sold out, which is more important?
❑ Location
2. Arrival: 3. Departure: DATE:__________________TIME:__________am pm DATE:__________________TIME:__________am pm (Make air reservations before filling out arrival/departure dates on this form. Requests for more than 2 days pre/post-convention may not be available through the housing department. Acknowledgment will advise you to call the hotel direct for additional nights (not always available at convention rates)
4: CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX:
❑
❑
ONE BED
TWO BEDS
Suites must be requested in writing to TCODA Housing Bureau via email at housing@visitsanantoniovisit.com, or fax 210-207-6702. 5. The housing department will request room type, hotel will confirm if available. TOTAL PEOPLE IN ROOM:______________ 6.
ROOM GUARANTEE: All rooms must be guaranteed. Some hotels require a non-refundable 1st night room and tax deposit. If this applies, the credit card provided below will be charged for that amount.
__________________________
_______________________
Type of card (i.e. AE, MC, VS)
Credit Card Number
7. LIST ALL OCCUPANTS first name first:
______________
__________________________
Expiration Date
Name on Credit Card
1. _____________________
2. ____________________________
3. _____________________
4. ____________________________
8. SEND ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO:
FIRST NAME
MI
LAST NAME
AFFILIATION/COMPANY
STREET ADDRESS OR P.O. BOX NUMBER
CITY
STATE
COUNTRY
ZIP CODE
DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER
FAX NUMBER ( If International, indicate Country/City Code)
Email address:______________________________________________________ 9. SPECIAL REQUESTS:
❑ SMOKING
❑ NON-SMOKING
❑ Check here for disability
List special or other needs:____________________________________________________________________________________________________
*Continue to use TCODA Housing Bureau for changes & cancellations through June 30, 2009. Beginning July 1, 2009, all requests for changes & cancellations must be directed to your confirmed hotel. Reservations must be cancelled within 72 hours of arrival or hotel will charge a first night’s room and tax.
Hotel
Code
Address
Sing
Double
Triple
Quad
Valet
Marriott Rivercenter MRC 101 Bowie Street 153 175 197 197 27 North of Marriott Riverwalk – attached to RiverCenter Mall Marriott Riverwalk SAM 711 E Riverwalk 145 150 169 169 27 Headquarters Hotel -Across Market Street from Convention Center Grand Hyatt GRHY 600 E Market 178 178 178 178 30 Attached to North end of Convention Center Hilton Palacio del Rio HPR 200 S Alamo 131 146 166 166 33.50 West Across Alamo Street from Convention Center Menger Hotel MEN 204 Alamo Plaza 115 125 130 130 25 3 Blocks North of Convention Center; across Crockett from the Alamo LaQuinta Conv Center LQC 303 Blum 123 123 123 1 23 20 1 Block East of Marriott Riverwalk; Free Parking LaQuinta Downtown LQD 100 W Durango 108 108 108 108 7 Blocks SW of Convention Centre; 1 block from Trolley; Free Breakfast, HH, and Parking Plaza San Antonio PLZ 555 S Alamo 127 142 157 172 23 Across Alamo St, 1 1/2 blocks South of Convention Center Red Roof Inn RRI 1011 E Houston 95 95 95 95 Just E of I-37, 7 Blocks from Convention Center; 1 block from Trolley; Free breakfast, HH, and Parking Crockett Hotel HIC 320 Bonham St 115 125 130 130 Just NE of Menger; Across Bonham Street
Self-Park 21 21 23 22
16 free 16 free free
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PERFORMING GROUPS
First Baptist Chapel Singers – San Antonio Stephen T Carrell is in his 18th year as Minister of Music of the 148-year-old First Baptist Church of San Antonio. His ministerial and musical pursuits have been committed to the teaching and equipping of children, youth, and adults in the choral and vocal arts and to the Stephen T Carrell unification and edification of the church through a shared language of multi-generational worship. He is a graduate of Baylor University where he earned his BM and MM degrees in vocal performance. He has appeared as tenor soloist with the San Antonio Symphony in performances of Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Bach’s Cantata No. 172, and with the Austin Symphony in performances of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Stephen has appeared in “Three Tenors” concerts with Boca Symphonic Pops in Fort
Lauderdale FL. He is also the former Minister of Music with the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale. His youth and adult choirs have appeared in multiple conferences and have been featured with TCDA Church and Community Division presentations as well as Baylor University Church
Music Conferences. Stephen was the conductor for the mass choir of the San Antonio Millennial Service at the Municipal Auditorium. Stephen enjoys all sports and is active in physical fitness. He and his wife, Jamye, have three lovely daughters, Sarah, Rebecca, and Rachel. √
Palmer Episcopal Church Treble Choir – Houston Courtney DaniellKnapp and Dr Brady Knapp have been directors of music at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church since 1998. At Palmer Church, they have built a music program that includes adult choirs, a boy choir, girl choir, and primary and prekindergarten choirs. The Palmer Church choirs have received national recognition for their compact disc recordings, and in March 2007, they sang for the National Convention of the ACDA in Miami FL. Ms Daniell-Knapp has taught all ages from early childhood to collegiate Spring 2009
students, but her focus has always been middle and elementary school music. She is fortunate to guest conduct at the University of St Thomas where her TEXAS√SINGS!
husband is the Director of Vocal Arts. For the past three years, Ms Daniell-Knapp has managed the Royal School of Church Music Gulf Coast Summer Training Course for girls ages 10-18 and adults, a week-long choir camp with guest artists housed at the University of St Thomas. She received her MM from Rice University, her BA in French from Vanderbilt University, and studied conducting with George Mabry and Hillary Apfelstadt. Ms Daniell-Knapp’s proudest title is that of Mom to sons Emerson, 7, and Theodore, 5. √ 15
2009 Spring Texas Sings! 09: 2005 Spring Texas Sings! FINAL 4/17/09 3:06 PM Page 16
CLINICIANS
16
Trudy Armas
Judy Bowers
Ann Burbridge
Stephen Carrell
Kathy Chiles
Thomas Coker
Susan Elliott
Gwen Farris
Ken Fulton
James Green
John Hemmenway
Connie Horton
Jing Ling-Tam
Cyndie Lowry
Patricia Moreno
Bill Nave
Weston Noble
John Nix
Cynthia Nott
Mary Jane Phillips
Sharon Radionoff
Lisa Roebuck
John Scarcella
Heather Sharp
Tim Sharp
TEXAS√SINGS!
Spring 2009
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CLINICIANS
Z Randall Stroope
Barry Talley
Will Varner
Lisa Witwer
Rod Zeman
Sharon Paul Continued from page 5
CONDUCTORS
TMEA, TCDA, and ACDA. She resides in Houston, enjoys singing in Texas Master Chorale and spending time with friends and family. If elected . . .
Judy Bowers
Dennis Boyter
Jennie Crawford
Kyle Damron
Michael Dean
Pam Elam
Brett Farr
Allen Hightower
Michael Matlock
Joe Weir
Spring 2009
Terrie Preskitt-Brown
Mark Rohwer
Tim Winebrenner
TEXAS√SINGS!
I would truly enjoy the opportunity to serve TCDA. It would be my hope to continue the strong leadership that has become the trademark of TCDA. My goal for the high school division would be to provide its members with innovative strategies to keep our choral programs vibrant and flourishing as we begin the implementation of new legislation or educational trends. TCDA has always been a proactive source for our programs and I would like to find solutions that will perpetuate the success of choral music in our Texas schools. It will be an exciting challenge to find music that serves the many functions and performance venues that our choral programs provide for our communities, concerts, and contests. In selecting quality music for the reading sessions, I will be mindful of the different levels of ability, and the many cultures that enrich our great state. TCDA has always meant friendships, networking, and the sharing of ideas. I look forward to hearing of your successes, what has worked for you, and how we can share those ideas to make our profession thrive. I would be deeply honored to serve TCDA. If elected, I would gladly commit my time and passion to serve you, our Texas choral directors. √ 17
2009 SPR TS 10: 2005 Spring Texas Sings! FINAL 4/13/09 5:43 PM Page 18
Texas Choral Directors Association 54th Annual Convention and New Music Reading Clinic July 29 - August 1, 2009, San Antonio
Tentative Schedule (This schedule is not definite; event times and or places may change before Convention.)
10:30 am 12 noon - 10:00 pm 2:00 - 6:00 pm 3:00 - 7:00 pm 3:00 - 6:00 pm 5:00 – 6:00 pm 5:00 – 6:15 pm 6:00 - 8:00 pm 7:00 am - 6:00 pm 7:00 am - 9:00 pm 8:00 am
9:15 am
10:00 am - 6:00 pm 11:15 am 12:30 am – 4:00 pm 12:30 pm
1:45 pm 3:00 pm 4:15 pm 5:30 – 6:45 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 am - 11:00 pm 7:30 – 5:30 pm 8:00 – 11:00 am 8:00 am
18
Wednesday, July 29 Golf Tournament Barry Talley, Organizer Child Care Available MS/JH Honor Choir Registration/Rehearsal Registration Open Exhibits Open College Student Meeting Directors Chorus Rehearsal Soiree
The Quarry 209, 211 214 Exhibit Hall C Exhibit Hall C 207B Marriott Riverwalk Hotel Marriott Riverwalk Hotel
Thursday, July 30 Registration Open Child Care Available MS/JH: Honor Choir Rehearsal MS/JH: Rehearsal Techniques I, Judy Bowers Reading Session: Pop/Jazz, Michael Dean HS: Recruitment, Rod Zelman EL: But I Play Tuba, Cynthia Nott CC: Teaching Your Choir to Watch!, Dr Tim Sharp Ch: Handbells I, Bill Nave Reading Session: Advanced JH/HS Training, Michael Matlock Exhibits Open Reading Session: Unison/SA, Terrie Preskitt-Brown MS/JH/SS: Choir 101, Heather Sharp Honor Choir Rehearsal MS/JH: Rehearsal Techniques II, Judy Bowers EL: Music Bits and Bytes, James Green MS/JH: Sightreading Games, Mary Jane Phillips Reading Session: Advanced HS/College, Dennis Boyter EL: Tried & Proven Literature, Kathy Chiles Reading Session: Holiday/Seasonal, Mark Rohwer Reading Session: Sacred Unison/2-part, Pam Elam All: Weston Noble on Music Performance: Arlington Master Chorale Directors Chorus Rehearsal Hallelujah, Amen! Service, Multiple Choirs Friday, July 31 Child Care Available Registration Open MS/JH Honor Choir Rehearsal MS/JH/SS: Rehearsal Techniques III, Judy Bowers Ch: Youth Choir I, Stephen Carrell EL: Elementary Choir, Trudy Armas, Ann Burbridge, Lisa Witwer Reading Session: MS/JH Treble, Jennie Crawford Reading Session: TMEA All-State TEXAS√SINGS!
Exhibit Hall C 209, 211 214 214 BR C 206 207 208 217 BR C Exhibit Hall C 217 214 214 214 207 217 BR C 217 BR C 217 BR C BR C BR C First Baptist Church 209, 211 Exhibit Hall C 214 214 206 207 217 BR C Spring 2009
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9:15 am
HS: Workshop I, Dr Z Randall Stroope EL: Differentiated Instruction, Connie Horton Reading Session: CC, Kyle Damron Reading Session: MS/JH Boys, Tim Winebrenner Exhibits Open (Not open on Saturday) TMEA Region Meetings EL: Children as Performers/Thinkers, Lisa Roebuck, Patricia Moreno CC: Voice Science, John Nix Ch: Youth Choir II, Stephen Carrell ReadingSession: HS Treble/Men, Student Conductors CC: Conducting Masterclass, Dr Ken Fulton EL: Breath Beneath Sound, Susan Elliott, Will Varner Ch: Handbells II, Bill Nave CC: Conducting Masterclass, Jing Ling-Tam MS/JH: Boys Changing Voice, Dr Sharon Radionoff HS: Workshop II, Dr Z Randall Stroope Visit Exhibits (Last Chance; Not open Saturday) TCDA Business Meeting Performance: MS/JH Honor Choir, Judy Bowers, director 2009 Commissioned Work by Earlene Rentz TCDA’s Got Talent You’re the Talent; Cash Prizes; Contact Billy Talley to Perform Sponsored by Pepper of Dallas/Fort Worth
10:00 am - 4:00 pm 11:00 am 11:45 am
1:00 pm
2:15 pm
3:00 – 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
6:30 pm
206 207 217 BR C Exhibit Hall C Everywhere! 207 208 217 BR C 205 207 217 208 217 BR C Exhibit Hall C BR C
BR A
Saturday, August 1 Child Care Open 209, 211 Directors Chorus Rehearsal BR C Registration Open Exhibit Hall C Ch: Tried & True Literature, Thomas Coker, John Hemmenway, John Scarcella 207 MS/JH: Workshop, Judy Bowers 214 EL: Musical M&Ms, Gwen Farris 205 HS: Audiation, Barry Talley 206 Reading Session: Sacred Advanced, Dr Allen Hightower 214 Reading Session: High School SATB, Brett Farr BR C Performance: TCDA Directors Chorus, Dr Z Randall Stroope, Conductor BR C Premiere 2009 Commissioned Work by Rene Clausen
7:00 am – 1:00 pm 8:00 – 9:00 pm 8:00 – 10:00 am 8:00 am 9:15 am
10:30 am
ACCOMPANISTS
Karla Cruz
Spring 2009
Patti Freeman
Peggy Graff
Patricia Neighbors
Janet Pummill
Janet Scarcella
Laura Taylor
Will Varner
Jennifer Zaccagni
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Daryl Robinson
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Officer Comments President Elect Amy Allibon
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wenty years ago, I walked into the Watauga MS choir room – ironically, where I am currently working part-time is where I began my career. I followed a tremendously popular and fabulous teacher, Stuart Younse, and knew I had to make quite an impression with the students, faculty, and administration. The month before school began, I attended TCDA for the first time. I remember feeling excited about my future and eager to connect with people who could help me survive the
trials and tribulations of a first year. During the Convention, I remember feeling somewhat clueless. I didn’t have colorful stories of sight reading room mishaps to share, nor could I recommend my favorite TB piece to anyone because, well, I did not have one yet. I did have grueling tales of the TCDA Tennis Tournament, which at that time, was held at outdoor courts in the 100degree heat; but alas, no one really wanted to talk about heat stroke at the Soiree. More than surviving the tennis tournament, I will never forget my first TCDA because of a workshop I attended for first year teachers. Mike Mitchell had just completed his first year of teaching at Judson HS and talked about what he did that was successful. Specifically, Mike talked about what to do the first day of school, a huge black hole with a looming neon question mark in my mind. Mike told us what he did the first day of school, and I
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absorbed (and stole) every word. So, on the first day of my career, a la Mike Mitchell, my students heard a professionally produced recording of Also Sprach Zarathustra with a professional announcer saying “You have entered a new dimension . . . WELCOME TO THE WATAUGA WARRIOR CHOIR.” It was a huge hit, the students were accepting of their new teacher, and the year was off to a great start. Unlike a lot of teachers, I had a great first year, and I know it was due in part to what I learned at TCDA that summer. I had music to start the year from the reading sessions, ideas from workshops like the one Mike lead, and a brand new family of mentors. To this day, I keep in touch with Mike and thank him annually for helping me past the first day of school 20 years ago. And to this day, I leave the TCDA Convention with new ideas, music, and inspiration. This summer’s Convention has much to offer everyone from the college student through the seasoned veteran. I look at TCDA through older eyes (with tri-focals) now, and it’s my personal mission while on the Board to make sure TCDA Conventions include the mega-names in our industry each and every summer. Our own membership is stocked with amazing choral directors, and we need to hear from the most influential and highly regarded leaders in our profession. I am proud that this summer’s Convention will include a Directors’ Chorus and two workshops lead by Dr Z Randall Stroope. Dr Stroope is certainly no stranger to Texas. I have watched with great appreciation as our one and only “threepeat” Texas All-State Choir conductor molded our All-State Treble, Mixed, and Men’s Choirs. Of his many gifts, perhaps his ability to communicate with each of the choirs is what I admire most. Dr Stroope’s creative programming and ability to elicit incredible sounds from the choirs culminated in unforgettable performances for the students and for us in the audience. A master of programming, Dr Stroope promises to challenge this year’s Directors’ Chorus while providing an inspirational and educational experience. In addition to selections that will include a new work of his own, the women of the Directors’ Chorus will premiere a commissioned Spring 2009
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Officer Comments treble work by Rene Clausen. Please check the TCDA website (http://www.TexasSings.org) regarding open positions that could still be available in the Directors Chorus, and how to sign up. If perhaps the choir is
Past President Danny Detrick
Past, Present and Future: Parting Reflections
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hat’s right. Time’s up. Got to go. Time to move on. No way around it. The ride has been incredibly fun. I find it hard to believe this is my last article for the TCDA magazine, especially since I found it hard to fathom the position I’ve been in was a five commitment. What an honor it has been to serve this organization these years! I don’t think I have said it since I was elected, but thank you for allowing me to have this opportunity. The Past
I find myself reflecting a great deal on these past five years and all of the awesome experiences and opportunities I have had the pleasure of being a part of. I think about the commissioned works that have been premiered and the fact that we have doubled our efforts with the creation of two pieces each year for the past several years. I think about the outstanding honor choirs that have performed under the direction of Sandra Snow, Ruth Dwyer, Janeal Krehbiel, and Ann Tomlinson. I think about the rich wealth of church and community choruses we are blest to have in Texas with performances by Schola Cantorum of Fort Worth, the Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble, South Main Baptist Church of Houston, Houston Chamber Choir, Marvin United Methodist Church Choir, and the Texas Baptist All-State Master’s Singers. And who can forget being inspired by our dear late Spring 2009
full by the time you read this, I hope you will stop by the rehearsals to watch Dr Stroope work his magic with the Directors Chorus. Whether this is your first year to teach or the last year before you retire,
there is something for everyone at TCDA’s summer Convention, no matter the age of your choristers or yourself. Don’t miss out on the music, the inspiration, and the family atmosphere we share here in Texas. √
Glenda Casey in the 50th Anniversary Directors Chorus? Or Anton Armstrong’s tremendous impact on all of us who sang in his Directors Chorus or heard him speak? I love the awards and increased number of recognitions we have provided as an organization. Since 2005, TCDA has instigated two new awards. Twelve outstanding members have received the Texas Choral Excellence Award and five teachers early in their careers have received the Young Director of Distinction Award. We have also added three legendary names to our Texas Choirmaster Award ranks with Jim Moore, Ken Fulton, and Donald Bailey. When it comes to workshops, I reflect on our expansion of the elementary division’s offerings and the subsequent membership growth in that division. With the restructuring of the divisions to create a church-only division, I have to smile at the welcomed expansion and emphasis on offerings for that division. The addition of conducting clinics led by our talented Texas college professors has been enthusiastically received. What a pleasure it has been to have experts like Jonathan Reed and Bob Chilcott take time to come and teach us. We’ve also had some pretty good times eating barbecue and listening to Vince Vance and the Valiants, Tim Hawkins, the Acoustix, and the hilarious Taylor Mason and his puppets. I am so proud of the work that the divisional officers you elected have done on behalf of TCDA. It has been a personal and professional treat for me to have known and worked with such wonderful people. I think the thing that has impressed me the most about the Board members I have served with is the fact that they are all BIG DREAMERS. These people want the greatest clinicians, the best possible new music to read, and the most satisfying Convention experience for you they can possibly get (and afford!). I applaud them and their heartfelt efforts to make
TCDA outstanding.
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The Present
Despite the current state of the economy, membership in TCDA and attendance at the summer Convention remains high and steady. Your continued support by doing business with our vendors encourages them to continue to purchase booth space and enjoy face-toface sales time with you. Your current divisional vice presidents have once again done a terrific job of bringing together exciting clinicians and experiences to make this year’s Convention something you will not want to miss. I look forward to the privilege of giving out scholarships to deserving college students and professionals pursuing advancement in music. The Future
I’m not sure I would want a crystal ball to foresee the future. Yet, if I could predict what’s in store for TCDA, I see a very bright tomorrow! Our members are committed, dedicated, determined, hungry for knowledge, and enthusiastic about their professions. We constantly have members who are willing to step forward and serve as officers and volunteers to make each and every Convention a meaningful experience with tremendous value both professionally and economically. If you haven’t done so, I hope you give careful consideration to offering your service to TCDA as an officer or volunteer. Our organization and Convention will continue to serve not only our state but surrounding states and beyond. I am completely confident that each new Board will continue to “raise the bar” of excellence for all that TCDA has to offer its membership. The past has been fun to reflect on. The present feels strong and vibrant. And the future is bright! I can’t wait to see what TCDA looks like in the next 10 years, but for now I’ll be satisfied with seeing you July 29-August 1 in San Antonio! √ 21
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Officer Comments College/ Community John Silantien
College/Community Division Convention Highlights Weston Noble
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e are very fortunate to have as our headliner clinician the legendary conductor of the Luther College Nordic Choir, Weston Noble. He is one of this country’s choral pioneers with six decades of experience at Luther College and more than 900 all-state choirs, bands, orchestras, and festivals. At one TMEA clinic session, he told my choir “all music must dance”. I’ve never forgotten that profound statement. We will have the opportunity to watch Weston work with Randy Jordan’s Arlington Master Chorale in a workshop setting. That will be followed by a free-style interview of Weston by Sally Schott on a variety of choral issues. What an opportunity for all of us to learn from a master. Arlington Master Chorale
Randy Jordan will lead his Arlington Master Chorale in a featured concert presentation on Thursday afternoon, July 30. The Chorale’s 2007 season included a performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and a Carnegie Hall debut. In April 2009, the group sang Orff’s Camina Burana and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms in Meyerson Symphony Hall, Dallas. The Chorale’s TCDA program will feature a great variety of historical and contemporary works ranging from Palestrina, through Bruckner, to Daniel Gawthrop and Z Randall Stroope. Ken Fulton, Jing Ling-Tam
Presenting conducting workshops will be Ken Fulton from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge LA, and Jing Ling-Tam, The University of Texas at Arlington. Fulton has been on the faculty at the LSU School of Music since 1986. He chairs the graduate choral studies program there and conducts the LSU A 22
Cappella Choir. He is also Chorusmaster and Assistant Conductor for the Baton Rouge Symphony and Symphony Chorus and serves as artistic director for the Linz Summer Choral Music Institute in Linz, Austria. Ling-Tam is the Artistic Director/ Conductor of the American Chamber Choir, and she has served as Associate Conductor/Chorus Master/Principal Coach Pianist with the Fort Worth Opera Association for 16 seasons. Other conducting appointments include the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, and the Arlington Choral Society. Ken and Jing will also serve as coaches for the 18 college student conductors who have been chosen to lead the High School Treble/Men Reading Session. John Nix
John Nix is associate professor of voice and vocal pedagogy, and director of the Voice Research Laboratory at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Previously he was director of education and special projects and coordinator of the Summer Vocology Institute for the National Center for Voice and Speech in Denver CO. There he worked with internationally known voice scientist and educator Ingo Titze. Nix will present a session on the use of cutting-edge technology in the choral rehearsal. He has authored a study on the use of Voce Vista software in the rehearsal setting. By use of this software, a women’s choir was able to view on a screen a representation of their sound, vowel uniformity, vibrato effect, onset, releases, and other technical factors in real time as they sang. Voce Vista is most often used in the voice studio, so this is one of the first studies to apply the technology to the choral setting. Nix will share the results of this experiment and the effect of this realtime feedback on the choir’s performance. Tim Sharp
The new Executive Director of ACDA, Tim Sharp, will present a session titled “Teaching Your Choir to Watch.” In this clinic, Sharp suggests that much of our gestural work as conductors conditions our choral singers to not watch the conductor. Without ignoring the tempometer function of gestural conducting, this clinic focuses on the start/entranceTEXAS√SINGS!
stop/cutoff function as well as the interpretive function of gestural language as a means to teach the choir to watch the conductor, all the time, in attempting to achieve nuanced performances. As Executive Director of ACDA, Tim is particularly interested in cultivating student involvement in ACDA. To acquaint college students with the national organization, ACDA will host a student meeting/reception on Wednesday, July 29. College Students
Eighteen college-student members will conduct the High School Treble/Men Reading Session. They represent the best student conductors in collegiate programs from throughout the state. This reading session provides them with a wonderful professional opportunity and a positive introduction to TCDA. They will receive coaching from Ken Fulton and Jing Ling-Tam. All registered college students will be invited to meet members of the TCDA Board and Tim Sharp, Executive Director of ACDA, at the college student meeting/reception, 5–6 pm, July 29. Weston’s “Special World”
Some of Weston Noble’s teachings have been collected in a volume titled Creating the Special World (ed. Steven Demorest, GIA Publications, 2005). In that book, Weston tells of a special moment he experienced as a high school junior. Playing clarinet in the band, he heard the cornets enter with a fanfare-like theme from behind him. “What hit me? My backbone rippled with excitement; I felt totally alive for a brief moment.” This special moment most musicians have experienced and probably can remember it vividly. It’s what we try to relive and rediscover in every rehearsal and concert. It doesn’t always occur. But it’s ever the goal, and it’s the search that keeps conductors and singers going. Weston tells of a Messiah performance at Luther College, in which the chorus numbered between 800-900 singers. He recalls, “One year, the captain of the football team grabbed me after the performance and exclaimed, ‘What happened to me during the Amen chorus? Never have I felt this way in my life, not even when making a touchdown!’ His life was changed.” Weston defines that special moment as achieving a wholeness, when body, spirit, and soul come together. Spring 2009
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Officer Comments “Everything is in line – we are momentarily whole – it is an unforgettable
moment.” And it’s better than scoring a touchdown. Don’t miss the opportunity
this summer to hear about this special world from a very special man. √
High School
benefit greatly from each of these workshops.
Billey Talley
This is the first of two sessions by Z Randall Stroope. This session will seek to enhance your score preparation and delivery to students in an interesting and imaginative manner, engaging the singers’ minds and opening their door of creativity.
Barry Talley will explain how he uses audiation to develop better sight singing skills in his students. I know he’s my brother, but he knows his stuff! Our high school reading session conductors for this summer will be Mark Rohwer, Flower Mound HS; Brett Farr, Coronado HS; Michael Dean, Trinity HS; and Joe Weir, Atascocita HS. Our accompanists will be Patti Freeman, Strickland MS; Peggy Graff, Birdville HS; Jennifer Zaccagni, San Antonio; and Janet Pummill, TCU. Thanks in advance to these talented musicians for their service to TCDA. You will want to participate in the Directors Chorus, under the direction of Z Randall Stroope. The women of the Directors Chorus will be preparing and presenting our High School Division Commissioned Work by Rene Clausen, written with high school treble choirs in mind. And if that’s not enough, we will be holding our first ever TCDA’s Got Talent! You won’t want to miss performances by our very own TCDA members, competing for outstanding cash prizes provided by our friends at Pepper of Dallas/Fort Worth. The format and location will be a little different this year than in the past. TCDA’s Got Talent! will be held in the Convention Center. We will not be serving barbeque, so eat before or after you attend. Light snacks will be provided. There will be a cash bar. Admission is free! Make plans to be in San Antonio on July 29-August 1. You’ll be glad you did! √
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hat a spring! I had the honor of conducting a group of 54 precious young ladies in the Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City for the ACDA National Convention in early March. Exactly one week later, I was conducting 450 fifth graders and sixth graders in a gymnasium for our annual Cluster Concert. God certainly has a way of keeping me humble. One of the things I love about being a choir director – there’s always a “next” concert. As soon as we finish one concert, we are quickly moving on to the next one. And the types of music we perform are certainly varied. As you finish up the 2008-09 school year, I know that you are looking ahead to the coming 2009-10 school year. What better way to recharge your creative batteries than by attending the 2009 TCDA Convention on July 29-August 1! This summer’s convention is full of exciting and helpful workshops, great performances, and reading sessions featuring brand new music from publishers across the nation and beyond! We have four workshops planned for the high school division. I know you will
Middle School/ Junior High Kathy Lollar
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y term as MS/JH Vice President is quickly coming to an end. My experience as a TCDA Board
Spring 2009
Music and the Mind: Teaching Style through Imagery
Music and the Mind: Teaching Musicality
Z Randall Stroope’s second workshop will provide ideas in codifying steps toward a more musical and expressive choral performance. Choirs are often challenged in bridging the chasm between learning the notes and communicating the music. Recruiting: How to Find the Singers in Your School
Rod Zeman has taught at the middle school and high school levels, and is currently choir director at Crockett Middle School in Amarillo. In less than two years, his enrollment jumped from around 100 students in choir to a current enrollment of 400 plus. Rod will share what he does to locate prospective singers and how to incorporate them into your choral program. Audiation: Silent Singing in Your Daily Rehearsal and at UIL
This relatively new concept has proven to be a successful tool in teaching singers to hear the music in their heads. member has provided me the opportunity to meet hundreds of colleagues from across the state. I firmly believe that Texas music teachers are among the most dedicated and effective members of the education profession. We are passionate about music and we truly care about the young musicians entrusted to us for a time. The nature of music itself creates teachable moments which music educators can use to contribute to the whole education of our students. In my last article for Texas Sings!, I would like to feature a meaningful work TEXAS√SINGS!
penned by an Odessa teacher. Longtime elementary music specialist, Loretta Walker, has granted permission for me to share this piece with you. I hope that Loretta’s words help you to visualize the contribution that music teachers make to education. Never forget the difference that you make in the lives of your students.
I Teach Music is math and science you can hear; a language which requires the soul as its interpreter. — Loretta Diane Walker 23
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Officer Comments I teach math using meter and rhythm. Measure by measure, I divide, add, subtract at the same time, in the same space, produce an equation of harmonious sounds. I teach poetry when I extract lyrics from melodies, let them speak alone. I teach language arts. The symbols I teach are simple and universal. Yet, they are foreign to those who choose not to understand or explore their uniqueness. Others, like myself, opened the mind – sought to know. I teach art and science. However, what I teach is a mystery no scientist can solve but an artist can embrace. The mystery is this: It has no color, nonetheless, the sound of it can create a spectrum of colors or cause darkness to veil the mind. it can paint the universe without using an artist tools. I teach social studies and health using an entity found in most cultures rich with history. I use the soul as an interpreter. Although it is healthy for the mind, body and soul, the body cannot touch it.
Elementary Karen Gonzalez
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here in the world has this school year gone? It seems that only a few weeks ago the students were “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” in anticipation of a new school year! I know everyone is in the final preparation stages for end-of-year programs and concerts. With all of the hustle and bustle, take time to tell your students how much you have enjoyed having them in class and that they are important to you – you may
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However, the heart can feel it, the mind can learn to enjoy, appreciate and love it. I teach the whole being of a child. I teach music. The MS/JH Honor Choir under the direction of Judy Bowers will be a highlight of this summer’s TCDA Convention. At the time of this writing over 900 audition recordings have arrived at my home. It is truly exciting to read the return address on each package. How awesome to realize that middleschoolers from all corners of our state will come together to work with Florida State University’s Judy Bowers. A grand experience is in store for each member of the 200-voice choir. I extend my sincerest thanks to Honor Choir Assistant, Connie Viverette, and to Honor Choir Section Leaders, Brent McCartney, Candy McComb, Joel Price, and Angela Williamson. These volunteers will devote many hours as well as their Convention time to the success of the choir. I look forward to being an observer of the musical magic that is sure to happen in San Antonio this summer. Every choral director should find something of interest at this summer’s event. Mary Jane Phillips will share her bag of teaching tricks in her session entitled, “Sightreading Games”. Well
known vocal specialist, Dr Sharon Radionoff will share her extensive research in dealing with the adolescent male voice. Last year’s TCDA Young Director of Distinction award winner Heather Sharp will present “Choir 101”. In this session, she will share the secrets that have led to her success in the classroom. The concluding session for the MS/JH division will feature Honor Choir conductor Judy Bowers. You will not want to miss her session entitled, “Choral Pedagogy: Utilizing Contemporary Methods”. Your Board members are reviewing new choral publications on a daily basis. We are hard at work in the selection process of the newly composed repertoire that will be presented this summer. The MS/JH Treble Reading Session will be led by Jennie Crawford. Tim Winebrenner will conduct the MS/JH Tenor-Bass Reading Session. The Advanced JH/HS Training Choir Reading Session will be directed by Michael Matlock. All of these conductors will be supported by accompanists Laura Taylor and Peggy Graff. The MS/JH Honor Choir will be accompanied by Karla Cruz. Join us in San Antonio this July to enjoy a time of relaxation with colleagues and a chance to rev up your teaching engine for another year of musicmaking. √
be the only person they hear that from! I am very excited about this summer – rest, relaxation and travel are all part of what makes the summer so anticipated. I am also so excited about the TCDA Convention and am in the position of carrying on a wonderful change for the Elementary Division that has been happening for the past couple of years. I would encourage you to include the TCDA Convention as part of your summer plans – what fun we will all have! Terrie Preskitt-Brown, Coordinator of Children’s Music at Highland Park UMC and Assistant Conductor of the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas will lead our Unison/SA new music reading session, with Will Varner serving as her accompanist. Be guaranteed that you will find at least one new piece for your school year from this packet of newly published pieces! I am happy to announce a preview of
what will be offered for the Elementary Division membership. So many of you who are elementary music teachers have not considered yourself to be choral directors, but in reality, if you sing with your children, you are a choral director! Cynthia Nott, artistic director of the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas will present “I Have an Elementary Choir? But I Play the Tuba! – Singing 101 for the *Non-singing* Elementary Music Teacher”. This workshop is for anyone who wants to gain confidence in their own singing ability in order to help their students sing more beautifully. Ways to encourage beautiful singing in the classroom and the choral rehearsal will be explored. Connie Horton and Cyndie Lowry of Conroe ISD will present “Differentiated Instruction: Sing, Move, Dance and Play Your Way to Music Literacy”. They will present various activities that address the
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Spring 2009
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Officer Comments different learning styles of your students. They will share anchor activities, tiered assignments, and clever assessments that help guide your students to a solid foundation in music literacy. Gwen Farris of Dallas ISD will present “Musical Menus – or the M & M’s For Short” Gwen will present menus of fun ways to teach musical concepts and include the following: Menus for rhythmic spices Menus for intervals with a dash of “soul” Menus for fun games – plenty of salt and pepper Menus for puppetry fun (sugar-free) Menus for rondos – add a splash of “Classic coke” Menus a la carte James Green of Garland ISD will cover how technology can make planning and teaching easier with just a little creativity. “Music Bits and Bytes: Incorporating Technology in the Music Classroom” will have ideas on making a music icon library, basic song presentations, presenting new material, study units, lesson planning, seating charts, and
• • • • • •
Church Thomas Coker
Calling All Church Musicians!
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lanning for the fabulous 54th TCDA Convention is well under way! This will be the third year of TCDA’s Church Division standing on its own since the community choirs have been grouped with the College Division. Some of America’s finest talents in choral music and church music will be a part. Texas has plenty of wonderful church musicians of her own, but we’re not exclusive to Texas. The mix of church musicians with school musicians and college choral musicians encourages fellowship and learning opportunities Spring 2009
other topics. Patricia Moreno, instructional coordinator for elementary and choral music, Austin ISD, and Lisa Roebuck, curriculum specialist for fine arts, Round Rock ISD, will present “Children as Performers and Critical Thinkers”. Come and learn techniques for developing children’s singing voices and ears in the general music classroom. How can critical thinking be part of teaching a song by rote? Music teachers who have limited instructional time with their students will benefit from these time saving ideas. Ideas for sequencing, music literacy, movement, singing, and playing instruments will be presented. Ann Burbridge, Trudy Armas and Lisa Witwer will share some tried and true classroom management strategies from veteran teachers. Come prepared to take home some wonderful ideas that will make your teaching easier and more enjoyable from “Elementary Music/Choir – Where Do I Start?” Susan Elliott and Will Varner will present “Beat Beneath the Sound”. This workshop will use folk dance to instill understanding and performance of the
beat as a foundation for posture, steady beat movement and phrasing. Last, but certainly not least, I am so very pleased to announce that there will be a “Tried and Proven Songs for Elementary Choirs” session presented by Kathy Chiles. This hands-on practical reading session and workshop will include songs that are appropriate for general use as well as theme-based programs including fall, winter, and patriotic holidays. This type of session will become a part of the Elementary Division on a rotating basis! Please encourage fellow colleagues – veteran and new teachers alike – to join TCDA and to make the TCDA Convention part of their relaxation and rejuvenation time this summer! They can join TCDA online and everyone is encouraged to pre-register for the Convention by July 1st to save $20! The TCDA Convention will begin Wednesday, July 29 at 3:00 p.m. and run through Saturday, August 1 at 12:00 p.m. in San Antonio. The workshops that will be presented will be fun and beneficial and I am looking forward to a wonderful time with everyone! √
that I have found to be very healthy and very helpful in my ministry. We will rub shoulders with people whose great gift is “ministry”, and we will also rub shoulders with folks whose great gift is “music”. My hope is that through this conference both parts (that dwell in us all) will have an opportunity to be strengthened. At TCDA one can choose from among workshops or music reading sessions in any area. That is one of the strengths of this organization. Elsewhere in this magazine please read about the opportunities available in TCDA at large. Below you will get a glimpse of the church music division offerings. I firmly believe that TCDA plays an important role in helping us sharpen our skills, receive inspiration and energy, and receive new “tools” in the form of literature for our work and ministry.
beautiful worship space at First Baptist Church of San Antonio. Inspired by a service originally planned and executed for the 1989 ACDA Convention in Louisville KY, this service will reprise the powerful processional written by David Danner especially for the “Hallelujah! Amen!” service in Louisville exactly 20 years ago. I am delighted that we will have marvelous church choirs participating. We will be led by, and receive inspiration from four choirs; a treble choir, a youth choir, and two adult choirs. Participating choirs are: The Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian, Houston, under the direction of Dr John Yarrington; The Chancel Choir of First United Methodist Church in Midland, conducted by Dr Thomas R Vozzella; the Chapel Singers of First Baptist Church, San Antonio, conducted by Stephen T Carrell; and the Treble Choir of Palmer Episcopal in Houston led by Courtney Knapp. We will hear the brilliance of brass, organ, and handbells as the choirs and instruments lead us in dynamic singing. Whatever
Hallelujah! Amen! Service Thursday evening
I hope everyone will plan to be a part of this service to be held in the TEXAS√SINGS!
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Officer Comments else you are doing, I hope you will plan to be at First Baptist San Antonio on Thursday evening at 7:00 pm. Sessions for Church Music Leaders and Others Youth
The growth and development of youth choirs in church is both one of the most rewarding and, at the same time, the most challenging of our ministries. For this reason we have asked Stephen Carrell, who has a long and dynamic track record of using choral music to develop the body, mind, and spirit of youth, to lead two sessions for TCDA. Don’t miss these sessions if you work with a youth choir. If you have someone else who works with youth choirs, get them to TCDA for these sessions. Entitled, Thriving Youth Choirs: Cultivating Unswerving Student Ownership, the sessions are: Session I – The Rehearsal: Logistics, Techniques, Spiritual Formation,
and Accessible Repertoire This session will feature practical and immediately applicable elements to support and perpetuate a successful youth choir rehearsal format and strategy. This discussion of foundational components will encompass an exhaustive list of processes, procedures, vocal techniques, student leadership ideas, and accessible repertoire. Upon application, the result will be a fresh approach to assist young singers in recognizing and developing community that will assist in eliminating their selfconscious inhibitions that limits the “full chorus” sound. Session II – The Program: From “Rush” to “Home Concert” This presentation will provide a detailed glimpse into a contagious youth choir calendar that builds anticipation and valuable continuity. Events for recruiting, fellowship, creative concerts and combined efforts with other choirs, ministry and missions, creative rehearsals, seasonal ideas, and the “crown-jewel”, the choir tour will be examined and developed. This session will conclude with a brief season of sharing your personal victories and challenges as a youth choir director. Handbells
Another valuable tool for teaching and for ministry in our churches is handbells. Bill Nave of Houston is a master teacher who has a passion for handbells and has the ability to work with experts or beginners equally. Bill will lead two sessions. The first, “What I Never Knew about Handbells” will take you through the process of getting started with handbells. The second session entitled Bronze will explore ideas and techniques for advanced bells. Four Fabulous Church Music Reading Sessions
Sacred Advanced (previously Mixed Large Choir) – Dr Allen Hightower, Minister of Music and Worship at Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston and Director of Choral Studies at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville will lead this session. Music for this reading session will be aimed at those church directors who are looking for
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quality literature that might be more challenging, and will ask a little more of our singers than normal. Sacred General (previously Mixed Small Choir) – Kyle Damron, Minister of Music at Westbury Baptist Church in Houston, will lead this session of teachable, readable, accessible literature that will be useful in both large and small churches. Kyle’s personal music ministry uses a wide range of literature, making him well qualified to lead this session. Sacred Unison and Two-part — Pam Elam of Cleburne will lead this session of music suitable for children’s choirs and men’s or women’s ensembles in unison or two parts. Again, selections will be suitable for a wide variety of tastes. Tried and True – When we found out we had the opportunity to provide this reading session, we almost immediately thought of past president and active church musician, John Hemmenway, to lead it. John’s idea was to ask three church musicians from diverse church music experiences to share in presenting some for their most enjoyable, but perhaps underused, anthems. As a result, John Scarcella and I will join John Hemmenway in leading this exciting session. Accompanying all church music division reading sessions will be Daryl Robinson, organist extraordinaire at South Main Baptist in Houston and an undergraduate student at the University of Houston, and Janet Scarcella, whose service to TCDA and music in Texas is legendary. We are very grateful to both for their service. So help us pass the word that exciting things are planned for church musicians at the TCDA Convention this summer. And remember that we may be the church musicians of the present time, but we follow directly in the steps of of Jubal, Miriam, David, the disciples, Gregory, Palestrina, JS Bach, Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, Don Hustad, William J Reynolds, and countless others. We are but the present incarnation of an ancient line of musicians who have chosen to “make His praise to be exceeding glorious.” Let’s make it count. √
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Officer Comments Secretary/ Treasurer Janwin Overstreet-Goode
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nstrumental ensembles spend time before every performance tuning as a group and individually so that they can play in tune and blend as an ensemble. Choral ensembles do not have that same capability; tuning for choirs is an involved process that must recognize the unique quality of each individual voice and also requires attention to consistent vowel production. As directors we often ask our choir members to “blend with your neighbor”. The easier way to approach choral blend is to “voice” the choir, so that the vocal tone qualities of your singers are matched to one another. This method works within sections as well as between sections. Choir members should be actively involved in the process of voicing; use their ears as well as your own to determine the best vocal match. Start with three to four singers (your strongest voices); move them around as necessary until you find your preferred sound. Add more singers (next to, or in front of) the first group. You may find that you need to switch singers around; it is amazing to hear how reversing the order of a row, or moving one or two people to a different spot, can change the sound of the ensemble. Another way to voice your choir is to place a section or group of singers in a circle around you. You can quickly shift positions of singers within the circle to create the optimal sound. When placing singers on the risers, you can blend side-to-side, top to bottom, or some combination of the two. If you prefer a mixed arrangement, then you have to blend soprano with alto, alto with bass, tenor with soprano etc, to create your preferred arrangement. Blending between sections creates its own unique set of concerns, but can result in a truly outstanding Spring 2009
choral ensemble. And, as you go through the rehearsal season, you may find that you need to re-voice certain sections, or even the entire choir as voices develop and mature. Ultimately, the choir becomes a single instrument, rather than a collection of voices that have to learn how to work together. When you can effectively put the individual voices (components) of your choir together, you end up with a stronger final product. Attending the TCDA Convention can help you find the components you need to have a successful 2009-10 school/church year through our reading clinics, workshops, and performance opportunities. Consider pre-registering for this year’s Convention. Even when preregistration lines are long, you can get through them more quickly than through the on-site registration; you can quickly be on your way to the exhibits. Be sure to fill out the form completely, with the correct information. The following Membership Guidelines are provided to help you with the process: Active – Teacher, director (church, community, or school choir), consultant, or supervisor (full or part-time). Student – Full-time students registered for classes at a Junior College, College, or University. Part-time students who direct or accompany a church choir should register as Active members. (Please note: full-time student membership includes Convention registration.) Associate – Interested in TCDA objectives, but does not meet the Active requirements. Retired – No longer in the profession in any capacity. If you hold a church job, paid or volunteer, or teach private voice or piano, you must register in the Active category. Guest – Spouse, Child, Family These are non-member categories. Convention registration is available for $5. Any spouse or family member who intends to visit the sessions or exhibits must purchase a Guest badge. Spouse is the person you are married to who does not work in the choral profession. He/She is not an accompanist, private lesson teacher, and not employed in the music profession in any capacity. If your spouse is employed in the music profession, he/she must TEXAS√SINGS!
register as an Active member. Please indicate guest names on the registration form so a badge will be ready at registration. The $5 per child fee will also enable you to take advantage of professional childcare services during convention hours at no additional charge. The TCDA Store will once again be in the Registration area; there, you can purchase vouchers for: T-shirts Polo shirts Mugs Guest and family badges You can also make scholarship donations at the TCDA Store if you did not do so when you pre-registered. The Solutions booth is the place to go when you have questions that can’t be answered anywhere else. TCDA Executive Assistant Jeanne Kuhn will be available to assist you. If someone is not there immediately, please be patient; we are probably solving another problem. Jed Ragsdale, Heather Orr, and their committee will be in charge of the Hospitality Booth this year, where once again you can: Redeem your vouchers for your TCDA purchases; Get a TCDA luggage tag (free with a scholarship donation,) and Drop off those heavy shopping bags from the Exhibit Hall until the end of the day (for only $1 a bag.) The Hospitality Committee is also working to ensure that Wednesday’s Soiree and Friday evening’s “TCDA’s Got Talent” are enjoyable experiences for everyone. If you are interested in donating your time to TCDA, consider volunteering to work either Registration or Hospitality during the Convention. If you can give us an hour of your time, you will be making a significant contribution to TCDA, and you will have the opportunity to meet some of the wonderful people who make up our organization. Please contact me at joverstreet-goode@fisdk12.net, joverstreet-goode@fisdk12.net, or JanwinOG@aol.com if you can help. √ 27
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