Repertoire and Standards - Women's Choirs
STUDENT/DIRECTOR MEN’S HONOR CHOIR
Frank Albinder, conductor
Conductor of Washington Men’s Camerata and
National R&S Chair for Men’s Choirs
STUDENT/DIRECTOR WOMEN’S HONOR CHOIR
Dr. Judy Bowers, conductor
Professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University
These honor choirs will take place in conjunction with the 16th Annual Summer Conference for Choral Musicians at the Pennsylvania State University Main Campus from August 1-3, 2010
Men’s and Women’s Honor Choir Dates: Saturday, July 31 – Sunday, August 1, 2010
Ensemble Make-up: ACDA member directors from high schools and colleges in Pennsylvania may nominate quartets of students to join them in singing in the honor choirs. It is important that these quartets be balanced voices of either men or women (S1 S2 A1 A2 or T1 T2 B1 B2). At this time there is not a limit on the amount of quartets a director can bring but we would like for directors to bring the same amount of male and female quartets if possible.
Repertoire: Each of the Men’s and Women’s Honor Choirs will sing independently and then will combine for two SATB numbers so that we can experience working with both of our esteemed conductors and so that all directors and students may join together in the music making process.
DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM (.doc)
DOWNLOAD QUARTET FORM (.doc)
Housing Information
Housing will be available for students and directors for the ACDA-PA Student/Director Honor Choir. We have a block of rooms reserved at a special rate until 6/30/10.
Days Inn Penn State
240 South Pugh Street
State College, PA 16801
Phone: 814.238.8454
Fax: 814.234.3377
Rate: $80 (single or double occupancy) [rate does not include tax]
One night: 7/31/10
Reservation Method:
Participants must make their own reservations by contacting the hotel directly on or before June 30, 2010.
The group name and code (below) should be referenced when making the reservation.
Completed credit card authorizations must be received by Days Inn on or before June 17, 2010 Name of guest and roommate should be listed (if applicable)
Group Function name is: ACDA/Student Director
Group Code is : CGDENT
Additional Details:
- If 1 person (from each high school, college, etc.) will be calling to make a hotel reservations- and they are sharing a room(s) with someone else - only 1 person needs to make the reservation. They will need to provide all names when making the reservation.
- If there will only be 1 credit card used- when filling out the credit card authorization for multiple rooms/individuals' reservations - please advise the credit card holder to put all confirmation numbers on it , along with those staying in that room.
- Send the authorization forms to the attention of: Heather Counsil at the Days Inn.
DOWNLOAD CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION (.jpg)
It is truly an honor for me to serve my colleagues in Pennsylvania as the R&S Chair for Women’s Choirs. Thank you, Bob Drafall , for this opportunity!! I have directed choirs in a large public high school or over 34 years. As is in most high school programs, the girls in my choirs out number the boys by about 3 to 1. When selecting literature for my SATB choirs, the final decision of whether or not to choose a specific octavo always seems to come down to one question…“Can my guys manage to sing this piece?” Ironically… I have never asked this question about my girls.
Until ten years ago, the two most accomplished ensembles in our program were SATB choirs. My Women’s Choir served as an “overflow group” for our less experienced tenth grade singers and less gifted eleventh and twelfth grade girls who were not yet ready for the Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers. However, the strength of the program has always been my female singers. In 1998 I came to the realization (an Epiphany) that the way I had been structuring my ensembles was illogical. I suddenly asked the question, “Why am I perpetuating a design that plays to my weaknesses and not my strengths?”
So, during the 1999-2000 school year I created a new select large women’s choral ensemble (65-70 singers) for ladies in grades 9-12. This choir rehearses one evening per week and all of its members are enrolled in at least one music ensemble class (instrumental or vocal) offered during the regular school day. During the last decade, the group has afforded me the opportunity to perform the most exciting and challenging treble choral literature available for my best female singers, with little regard to difficulty. In the last five years, the group (Vulpes Cantantes) has elevated itself to become the premiere choral ensemble of the six choirs in our program; and I have become a LOVER of women’s choirs, and women’s literature.
We live in a culture that traditionally glorifies the accomplishments of its male members, but often only grudgingly offers obligatory praise for the successes of its female members. To see evidence one only needs to observe how the media balances its limited coverage of women’s sports compared with its overwhelming coverage of men’s athletic competitions. As a father of three daughters I believe young women benefit from the opportunity to pursue quality in collaboration with other women. It is especially gratifying when they can pursue quality in an activity which they clearly have the opportunity to EXCELL.
During the next two years, I hope that you and I can work together to explore new and exciting opportunities for our female students. Do not hesitate to contact me with ideas or concerns that you may have. I look forward to working with you in an effort to promote and enrich women’s experiences in choral music.
More repertoire ideas from the ACDA-PA reading session at the 2008 PMEA State Conference
