Convention 2012 lead in page

For information (now in planning) for 2014 NW ACDA Conference in Seattle, see this page...> Seattle in 2012- NW ACDA Conference Information - March 15-18

Quicklinks to information you might need
Performing Choirs	Honor Choir Info	Conference Registration	Hotel	Interest Sessions	Exhibitors Information	Complete Daily Program	Individual concerts and Honor Choir concert tickets
Photos, bios of groups and conductors	Members, HC Registration Info, Directors, Forms and other information	Link to conference registration	Sheraton	Leaders, topics, bios, photos	Booth Application...> Exhibit Order Form...> Sheraton Package shipping and labeling procedures...> Current list of Exhibitors...>	Click here for complete daily conference program	Form for purchasing tickets to individual concerts and for Honor Choir Concerts...> This form will no longer be functional as of Weds. noon, Mar. 14. Tickets may be purchased at the conference registration desk in the Sheraton Hotel, 2nd floor, or at the ticket table at the concert venue 30 minutes before the event.
Great northwest choirs to perform PLUS the Ansan City Choir from Korea with conductor Shin Hwa-Park, as well as Kammerchor, directed by the world renowned Frieder Bernius...all this along with excellent interest sessions and the joy of networking with colleagues - SEATTLE, 2012 Sheraton room rates lower this year Conference venues Seattle promises to be a very exciting destination for our March 15-18, 2012 conference. We have great venues lined up for every aspect of the conference, beginning with the Sheraton Hotel Seattle: http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/res?id=1109085410&key=CC43A The Sheraton is right in the middle of the action in downtown Seattle, close to all sorts of shopping and dining. The hotel can easily house all convention registrants, including honor choir members. Prices of rooms have been re-negotiated and are significantly lower than the 2010 rates of our previous conference there. We'll use two floors of convention space, with large, well-appointed ballrooms that will be used for sessions, honor choir rehearsals, honor choir meals and exhibits. Two churches in the immediate area will also be used for honor choir rehearsals, Plymouth Congregational Church and First Presbyterian Church (which was the primary concert venue last time). Plymouth and First Presbyterian are both lovely churches with great acoustics for singing. Our primary concert venue will be Town Hall, a beautifully renovated church that dates from 1922, now home to many of Seattle’s finest arts and cultural organizations. http://www.townhallseattle.org/greatHall.cfm The great hall has a thrust that adapts the stage to a size suitable for our needs, and a vibrant acoustic that is warm, clear and supportive. Venues very close...easy walk One of the most oft-repeated positive comments about our 2010 conference was the great appreciation people had for the three venues that were very close together. I look forward to seeing you in Seattle for the conference Solveig Holmquist, President, NW ACDA

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2012 Conference Performing Choirs
Brian Hoskins received his BA in Music Education from Washington State University and his Master of Music Education from New York University. Brian is the choral director at Nelsen Middle School and Lindbergh High School in Renton, WA where he teaches 6 choirs and students from 6th to 12th grade. Previously, Brian was a Conductor in Residence, Satellite School Conductor and Intermediate Chorus Conductor for the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, studying with Francisco Núñez. As a pianist, Brian has accompanied six MENC All-State choirs and 2 ACDA honor choirs. Brian is also proud to serve as the Washington ACDA Multi-Cultural Perspectives Chair. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	Thursday, March 15 3:30 p.m. Nelsen Middle School Concert Chorus (Renton, WA) - Brian E. Hoskins, Conductor
		The Nelsen Middle School Concert Chorus is a public school chorus that represents the ethnic and cultural diversity of the Renton community and is open to all students attending Nelsen Middle School. Under the direction of Brian Hoskins the chorus excels in presenting new and challenging literature for middle school as well as showcasing exceptional young musicians and students. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx In 2006, the Chorus performed with New York jazz pianist/composer Pete Malinverni and New York vocalist Jody Sandhaus in the West Coast premiere of “Joyful!” a gospel suite for choir and jazz ensemble. The chorus has also premiered “Carry On” by Seattle folk artist Wes Weddell and “The Road Not Taken” by Seattle composers Scott Warrender. The chorus has also performed at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre for the Washington Junior Achievement “Hall of Fame” induction ceremony.

Darcy Schulz has taught music in the Helena School District for 22 years, the last eight of which has been as Director of Choirs at Capital High School. She is active as a festival clinician and maintains a private vocal studio in Helena. As a performer Darcy has sung with many groups including the Helena Symphony Chorale and the Helena Chamber Singers. She received her degree from Montana State University. She has been happily married for 22 years and is the mother of two wonderful children, Dillon, a senior at Capital High School, and Coral, an eighth grader at CR Anderson Middle School.	Thursday, March 15 4:00 p.m. - Capitol High School Jubilettes (Helena, MT) - Darcy Schulz, Conductor
		Jubilettes is a select, treble choir grades 10-12. Each choir member is auditioned and selected by the director each school year. Literature performed by this choir includes early Renaissance music, sacred and secular music from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 21st Century eras, folk music, contemporary popular songs, show tunes, and both sacred and secular major works. Jubilettes perform eight concerts annually, and participates in community events throughout the school year. In recent years Jubilettes have also performed in New York City , San Francisco and Chicago.

Dr. Wallace Long has been director of choral activities at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon since 1983. Long sings professionally with Male Ensemble Northwest. In 1993 he became a member of the Festival Singers of the Robert Shaw Choral Institute, performing and recording with them both at Carnegie Hall, and in France. His groups, which include the vocal jazz group, Willamette Singers, have performed for state conferences of the OMEA, NWACDA, two national IAJE conventions, and an MENC national conference. A frequent choral/vocal adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor, he is an active supporter of public school music in the northwest.	Thursday, March 15 4:30 p.m. Willamette University Chamber Choir (Salem, OR) - Wallace Long, Conductor
		The Willamette Chamber Choir is a 44-voice ensemble open by audition to all students. Repertoire consists of a wide variety of literature selected from the Renaissance through the contemporary period. The group tours annually throughout the northwest and is frequently invited to perform at music conferences and workshops held by ACDA, MENC and OMEA. In the summer of 2004 the choir toured South Africa at the request of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The choir performed at the 2006 NWACDA Regional Convention in Portland, Oregon, and in May 2006, traveled to New York City to perform Haydn's "Mass in the Time of War" conducted by Dr. Long in Carnegie Hall. Their most recent CD is a double disc titled "New Moon" which was released in the fall of 2010.

Mia Hall Savage, artistic director has more than 20 years of Choral Education. She has degrees from University of Oregon with continuing studies in Stuttgart, Germany. Mia has continued to work in choral conducting master classes with Rodney Eichenberger. In addition to PYC, Mia conducts Coventry Singers at Trinity Cathedral, Portland and is a popular adjudicator and clinician having conducted treble choirs at Oregon All State, Pacific University’s Music in May, and many other clinics and festivals.	Thursday, March 15, 2012 8:00 p.m. Pacific Youth Choir Chamber Choir (Portland, OR) - Mia Hall Savage, Conductor
		Pacific Youth Choir, a community of 240 singers was established in 2003 by Artistic Director Mia Hall Savage. In our brief history, we have gained a reputation for quality that has led to continuing collaborations with Oregon’s top musical organizations: including: Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Oregon Ballet Theater, Whitebird Dance, Portland Chamber Orchestra, Trinity Choir, and Pink Martini. We are honored to have performed at Regional and National ACDA conventions, as well as this convention.

Karen P. Thomas, Artistic Director and Conductor, has conducted at international festivals in Europe and North America, and has lectured or presented sessions for ACDA Conferences, Chorus America, the American Guild of Organists, the Seattle Symphony, and the Alliance International Festival. She has received awards from the NEA, Chorus America, American Academy & Institute, and ASCAP, among others. Her conducting has received critical acclaim for its “integrity and high purpose …” and she has been lauded for her “charismatic...magnetic podium presence.” A prize-winning composer, her compositions are performed internationally by groups such as The Hilliard Ensemble.	Thursday, March 15, 2012 8:30 p.m. Women's Schola (Seattle) - Karen P. Thomas, Conductor
		The Women’s Schola of Seattle Pro Musica specializes in early and contemporary music for women’s voices. An ensemble of great versatility, they perform music from around the globe in dozens of languages, and have appeared at international festivals such as the World Festival of Women’s Singing, Canada’s Festival Vancouver, the American Guild of Organists Conventions, and at ACDA conferences. The Seattle PI has praised the group’s “crystalline textures and precise musicality” and “provocative and evocative” programming.

Richard Nance is the sixth conductor of the Choir of the West at Pacific Lutheran University, where he has worked since 1992. Dr. Nance holds degrees from West Texas State University and Arizona State University. Nance has been a member of ACDA since 1977, and has held many state and divisional offices. He currently serves as vice president for the Northwestern division. Nance’s choirs have appeared at several ACDA and MENC regional and national conferences. Dr. Nance was awarded the prestigious Raymond Brock commission by ACDA in 2002, and his choral works are regularly performed throughout the US and abroad.	Thursday, March 15, 2012 9:00 p.m. Choir of the West (Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA) - Richard Nance, Conductor Part of this evening's program will the premier performance of the Raymond Brock commissioned piece by composer Chen Yi, "Distance can't keep us apart."
		The Choir of the West is the premier choral ensemble of the Department of Music at Pacific Lutheran University. The choir was founded in 1925, and was the third Lutheran college choir to tour extensively throughout the country. The Choir of the West has toured to Europe, Scandinavia, Japan and China, and has been selected to appear at several regional and national conferences of MENC and ACDA. Most recently, the Choir of the West competed at the 2011 Harmonie Festival in Lindenholzhausen, Germany, winning two gold certificates and one silver. “Phoenix,” the choir’s most recent commercial compact disc, placed second in the collegiate division of the 2011 American Prize competition. For more information about the Choir of the West, please visit the choir’s website: www.plu.edu/choir.

Seth McMullen has been the Director of Choirs at Eagle High School since 2003, where he conducts six choral ensembles. Mr. McMullen received a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from Northern Arizona University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Whitworth College. Seth is the Chancel Choir Director at Boise First United Church of Christ, and sings Tenor in Male Ensemble Northwest. He is an avid reader and cook, and in their spare time he and his wife Hallie train and show their pack of German Shepherd Dogs.	Friday, March 16, 2012 10:30 a.m. Sonous - Eagle High School (Eagle, ID) - Seth McMullen, Conductor
		Sonous is the premier vocal ensemble at Eagle High School in Eagle, Idaho. This 60 member auditioned touring ensemble consists of Juniors and Seniors, and focuses on a high standard of choral literature spanning from the Renaissance to Vocal Jazz. The ensemble has accepted invitations to perform at the Idaho Music Educator Association’s 2004 & 2010 state conferences, the 2006 Idaho ACDA Sun Valley Retreat, and the 2008 ACDA Northwest Conference in Vancouver, BC. Students in Sonous represent a cross-section of the Eagle High School student body: over the past eight years every club, sport, and activity has had members in Sonous. Alumni of Sonous can be found singing in most Idaho universities, as well as collegiate campuses throughout the Northwest. The 2011 graduating members of Sonous were offered over two million dollars in college scholarships and performed over 80 hours of communitys ervice in Eagle, Idaho.
Anne Lyman joined the University of Puget Sound in 2008. She has conducted choirs at Pacific Lutheran University, the University of Iowa, and Cornell College. Dr. Lyman holds graduate degrees from the University of Iowa and Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, and has studied conducting with Timothy Stalter, Earl Rivers, and John Leman. She is the founder of Canonici, Tacoma's professional early music ensemble, and serves as Artistic Director of the Seattle Bach Choir. She has been recognized for her performing and scholarly activities by the Fulbright Foundation, the Society for Seventeenth Century Music, and the Tacoma Arts Commission.	Friday, March 16, 2012 11:00 a.m. University of Puget Sound Dorian Singers (Tacoma, WA) - Anne Lyman, Conductor
		The Dorian Singers, conducted by Dr. Anne Lyman, is an auditioned, all-female chamber choir of 36 widely recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as one of the leading women’s ensembles. Now in its second decade, the Dorians are strongly committed to the learning of choral music though a combined understanding of vocal technique, sound production, and ensemble mastery. Members of Dorians represent a wide range of classes and majors. The Dorians are engaged in many activities on and off campus, including serving as hosts of the annual Northwest High School Women’s Choral Festival. In recent years the orians have participated in exchanges with area colleges, and in 2010 they were featured on the Society of Composers Regional Conference.

Brian Galante is Associate Director of Choral Activities at Pacific Lutheran University, where he conducts the University Chorale, Men’s Chorus, and University Singers. He also teaches undergraduate courses in Vocal Pedagogy, Choral Methods and Literature. Galante received the DMA degree from the University of North Texas. He holds MM and BME degrees from Louisiana State University. Recent choirs under Galante’s direction have presented invitational performances at the Washington Music Educators Association and Northwest MENC Conferences. He is a past-President of Louisiana, and currently serves as Associate Conference Chair of the 2013 National Conference.	Friday, March 16, 2012 11:30 a.m. Pacific Lutheran University Chorale (Tacoma, WA) - Brian Galante, Conductor
		The Pacific Lutheran University Chorale is a mixed choir comprised primarily—though not exclusively—of freshmen and sophomore singers spanning a variety of academic disciplines. The choir meets four days a week for a ninety-minute rehearsal and sings many times each year in concerts, tours, and campus ministry events. The choir tours regionally and appears on PLU Christmas compact discs. The Chorale has recently performed for conferences of the Washington Music Educators Association (2010) and American Choral Directors Association (2006).

Joel Karn is Director of Choirs at Heritage High School in Vancouver, Washington. He received his Bachelors degree in Music from Portland State University, where he also received his Master of Education. Joel directed the choirs at Fort Vancouver High School and McLoughlin Middle School for five years before moving to Heritage where he has been for the past nine years. He has been an active member of ACDA for the past 14 years as well as the Lower Columbia Regional Music Educators, serving as President in 2006. Joel received his National Board Certification in 2008. He is currently serving as Repertoire and Standards Chair for Women’s Choirs for the Washington ACDA	Friday, March 16, 2012 3:30 p.m. Heritage High School Concert Choir (Vancouver, WA) - Joel Karn, Conductor
		The Heritage Concert Choir is a select group of singers ranging from grades 9-12. They meet before school at 6:45 AM every day. They have won numerous awards at choral festivals around the country and their ensembles have won several state awards at Washington’s State Solo Ensemble Contest. This is the first time for the Heritage Concert Choir to be selected to perform for the ACDA Northwest Conference. Performing before a large group of choral directors is truly an honor. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to share the treasure we have found in music with all of you. Thank you

Nicole Lamartine became Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wyoming in 2008 and is proud to be one of the few female conductors of collegiate male choral ensembles in the US. Dr. Lamartine is in demand as a conductor and clinician, guest conducting and adjudicating across the United States. She serves as Wyoming ACDA president and has chaired the 2009 National ACDA Collegiate Chamber Choir and the 2011 National ACDA Women’s Honor Choir. She holds the DMA in Choral Conducting and MM in Vocal Performance degrees from the University of Arizona and the Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from New Mexico State University.	Friday, March 16, 2012 4:00 p.m. The University of Wyoming Singing Statesmen (Laramie, WY) - Nicole Lamartine, Conductor
		A “hidden gem” of the west, The University of Wyoming Singing Statesmen is a 72-voice non-auditioned male choir representing a wide variety of backgrounds and academic disciplines. The men are brought together by the distinct brotherhood and camaraderie of male ensemble singing. With Dr. Nicole Lamartine’s leadership, The UW Singing Statesmen have enjoyed prestigious invitations to the Wyoming Music Educators conference and for collaborations with Wyoming’s own Bar-J Wranglers and the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra. The men highlight creative programming, premieres, vocal technique, and major works through traditional to non-western male chorus repertoire. The ensemble regularly tours the state and region promoting the rich tradition of male singing through school clinics and collaborations. The UW Singing Statesmen represent the pride of the University of Wyoming Cowboys.

Eric Banks, Winner of the 2010 Dale Warland Singers Commission Award, has garnered acclaim as one of the most innovative choral musicians in the United States. After completing his BA in Composition at Yale, Eric earned Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Choral Studies and Music Theory at the University of Washington. Banks was then awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study contemporary choral culture in Stockholm, where he performed with the Swedish Radio Choir and the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir. Eric’s upcoming commissions include new works for Conspirare, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Voces Nordicæ, and the University of Philippines Madrigal Singers (the ‘MADZ’).	Friday, March 16, 2012 4:30 p.m. The Esoterics (Seattle, WA) - Eric Banks, Conductor
		Now in its nineteenth season, The Esoterics has drawn national and international praise for performing new and rarely-heard choral music, and for commissioning settings of poetry, philosophy, and spiritual writings from around the world. The Esoterics has performed over 300 concerts, has premiered more than 100 new a cappella works in over 50 languages, and has mastered the most virtuosic choral works of the last century. To date, The Esoterics has released twelve CDs (including the ensemble’s most recent release – the collected choral works of Samuel Barber), and has toured the British Isles, Spain, and Finland. In recognition for its choral innovation, The Esoterics and founder Eric Banks have been honored four times with the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for the Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music.

Douglas Cleveland has been the Director of Music and Organist at Plymouth Church in Seattle since September of 2004. In addition to conducting the Chancel and Hanbell Choirs at Plymouth, he has an active international concert career. Dr. Cleveland gained international prominence when he won first prize in the 1994 AGO National Young Artists Competition in Dallas. Since then he has performed in 48 state in the U. S. with many of the nation's top orchestras, as well as internationally in Singapore, Japan, Russia, Rance, England and Korea. He teaches at the University of Washington and holds degrees from Eastman School of Music and Indiana University. Vicky Thomas has been the Director of Choral Music at Seattle First Baptist since 2006, where she also conducts the handbell choir and three orchestral concerts a year. She previously led church music programs for fourteen years at two Lutheran congregations and taught elementary music in the public schools. She is on the adjunct faculty of Trinity Lutheran College. She earned B.A. from Yale University, an M.A. from the University of Washington and did post-graduate studies with Rodney Eichenberger, Helmut Rilling, Dale Warland and Geoffrey Boers.	Friday, March 16, 2012 Music in Worship Session 6:00 p.m. - at Seattle First Baptist, 1111 Harvard Avenue. It is 7 blocks directly up the hill from Town Hall. featuring the choirs of Plymouth Church and of Seattle First Baptist Church
		The Sanctuary Choir from Seattle First Baptist and the Chancel Choir from Plymouth (UCC) join together in a 100-voice choir to lead an interfaith worship service. Both Plymouth and SFB are downtown churches founded in 1869 and both are committed to openness, inclusion and active social justice ministry. They also both share a long history of excellence in their musical programs. A recent bequest to each church enabled them to come together to commission a new choral/orchestral work from opera composer Henry Mollicone. The work, whcih employs texts from various faith traditions to focus on earth ministry, will be premiered at the NWA CDA conference. In addition to their primary mission of providing music for weekly worship, both choirs perform major sacred musical works including the Brahm' REquiem, the Mozart Requiem, and the Rutter Requiem (Plymouth Chancel Choir) and the Durufle Requem, the Bach Christmas Oratorio, Ramirez' Misa Criolla and Mollicone's Beatitude Mass for the Homeless (SFB Sanctuary Choir.) Henry Mollicone – Composer of World Premiere work at the NW Worship and Music service Called “one of the most distinctive American opera composers” in the Washington Post, Henry Mollicone has composed extensively for orchestra, opera, choirs and solo voice and recently has focused much of his attention on composing works about social justice. His Beatitude Mass for the Homeless has raised over $ 100, 000 dollars for organizations that serve the homeless in performances by choirs including the Monterey Symphony Chorus, the Bristol Phoenix Choir (England), the Rackham Symphony Choir (Detroit), the Georgetown Chorale (Washington, DC) and the Seattle First Baptist Church Choir (Seattle, WA). Misa de los Inmigrantes (Mass for the Immigrants) had its world premiere by the San Jose Symphonic Choir in March 2010. The world premiere of a major choral orchestral piece on interfaith earth ministry debuts in March of 2012. His compositions Misteria, for piano solo, and Flowers of the Soul, a song cycle for soprano solo and piano trio, were recently given their New England premieres at the Newport Music Festival (Newport, RI), with Metropolitan Opera soprano Teresa Cincione, and concert pianist, Daniel del Pino. Mollicone’s one-act opera, The Face on the Barroom Floor has been performed annually as part of the Central City Opera since 1978, and Newport Classic Ltd. is currently beginning to make a feature length documentary film on the opera, the poem, and the history of Central City.

	Friday, March 16, 2012 Lo Cor de la Plana at Town Hall Admission to this concert is not included in registration. To purchase a ticket for this event, contact Town Hall directly or click on the following link. HERE...>

Jeff Horenstein is in his tenth year of teaching, currently serving as the choir director at Meadowdale High School in the Edmonds School District. Jeff earned both his B.M. in Music Education and his M.M. in Choral Conducting from Central Washington University. An avid arranger of vocal jazz and choral music, Jeff is published through Sound Music Publications. In demand as a clinician and adjudicator at choral and jazz festivals, Jeff also performs with his contemporary vocal ensemble, Groove For Thought. Jeff lives in Everett, Washington with his wife Maren and son Henry.	Friday, March 16, 2012 JAZZ NIGHT Lower level at Town Hall 9:30 p.m. - Impressions - Meadowdale High School (Lynnwood, WA) - Jeff Horenstein, Conductor
		Meadowdale High School’s Impressions have been considered among the pioneers in vocal jazz education since they were founded by Bob Burton in 1963. Currently under the direction of Jeff Horenstein, the Impressions have been invited to perform at WMEA State Conferences and the MENC Northwest Division Conference, and now the ACDA Northwest Division Conference. Consistently placing first at jazz festivals throughout the Pacific Northwest, the Impressions received the prestigious 2011 Downbeat Student Music Award for Outstanding Performance in the High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble category. Part of a comprehensive music department that includes three choirs, three bands, two orchestras, two jazz bands, and one vocal jazz ensemble, the Impressions currently consist of sixteen singers, a five piece rhythm section, and two sound technicians.

Dave Barduhnn is in his 24th year of teaching at Mt. Hood Community College. As a performer Dave has played piano with such notable jazz artists as Mark Murphy, Diane Shuur, and several Stan Kenton Alumni bandfs. He is better known for his jazz arranging for Stan Kenton, Bud Shank, Bobby Shew, Richie Cole, and The Four Freshmen. His groups have performed at many IAJE national conventions, as well as MENC and ACDA conferences. Dave's group, Genesis, has won award from Downbeat magazine, the IAJE Journal, and most of the more prestigious jazz festivals in the west. Dave taught at the Frank DeMiero jazz camp for twenty years.	Friday, March 16, 2012 JAZZ NIGHT Lower Level at Town Hall 10:00 p.m. - Genesis - Mt. Hood Community College (Gresham, OR) - Dave Barduhn, Conductor
		The Mt. Hood Community College vocal jazz ensemble, GENESIS, is in its 45th year of outstanding jazz performance. Being the original pioneer in vocal jazz education, they have accepted invitations to be the featured group at many jazz festivals and conventions from coast to coast and have won many awards and over the years, including prestigious "db: Awards from Downbeat Magazine and the college sweepstakes at the Lionel Hampton and Gene Harris Jazz Festivals. They have appeared at many national music conferences including MENC, ACDA and 7 IAJE conventions. In 2011 they appeared at the JEN convention in New Orleans. The group has many CDs available, including their current CD "To You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?"

Dave Frishberg dubbed DeMiero “the Vince Lombardi of Vocal Jazz.” Frank studied voice/conducting with Ralph Manzo, received his BA degree in Education from Eastern Washington University and his Masters in Conducting from Central Washington University. The Frank DeMiero Jazz Camp served over 6000 students during its 25 years. Frank’s choral groups from Mountlake Terrace High School and Edmonds Community College have received international acclaim. DeMiero hosts a series for educational television “Inside the Musician’s Studio,” is co-owner of Sound Music Publications, www.smpjazz.com, NW ACDA R & S Jazz Choir Coordinator, is a voting member of Grammys, and conducts the Seattle Jazz Singers and the Sno-King Community Chorale.	Friday, March 16, 2012 JAZZ NIGHT Lower Level at Town Hall 10:30 p.m. Seattle Jazz Singers (Seattle) - Frank DeMiero, Conductor
		The Seattle Jazz Singers have performed in numerous Puget Sound area jazz clubs including Jazz Alley, Melody Lane (Bremerton), Patty Summers’ Jazz Club, Kitsap Golf and Country Club and Triple Door. Jazz festival performances include Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival, Envision Jazz Festival (BC), Powell River Jazz Festival (BC) and DeMiero Jazz Festival (Edmonds). The Seattle Jazz Singers were featured in concerts with the Everett, Vancouver and Cascade Symphonies performing a commissioned 45-minute medley of Gershwin favorites. They also presented the work with the Cascade Youth Symphony at the Benaroya Theater in Seattle. Conductor/Artistic Director Frank DeMiero is pleased to share: The Seattle Jazz Singers take pride in their passion in performing one of America’s only true art forms---the music of jazz.

Kokopelli's artistic director, Scott Leithead, is the founder of the Kokopelli and TIME Jazz Associations. Scott has worked as a clinician, guest director, and evaluator at events in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He has conducted provincial/state honour choirs in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Montana. Scott has a passion for music from southern Africa and he has been hired to work with choirs in South Africa and Namibia on numerous occasions. In 2008/09, Scott was on sabbatical in Namibia, where he worked with the Mascato Youth Choir and numerous other choirs in southern Africa.	Saturday, March 17, 2012 Kokopelli Youth Choir (Canada) - Scott Leithead, Conductor 10:30 a.m.
		Founded in 1996, Kokopelli embarks upon its seventeenth season this coming fall. The ensemble’s members range in age from 14 to 23 and come from across Canada. Kokopelli has been a featured ensemble at many events, provincially, nationally, and internationally. In addition to many North American cities, the choir has toured to Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Malaysia, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, and Zambia. Kokopelli is often the ambassador for the choir association, The choir most recently was featured at Festival 500 and toured across Newfoundland in July 2011.

Randy Stenson is instructor of vocal music at St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo, Japan where he conducts the St. Mary’s Men’s Choir, Varsity Male Ensemble, International Show Choir, and teaches elementary general music. His groups have gained international recognition for their musicianship and expressiveness in concert. Randy is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota where he studied and sang under Paul J. Christiansen and Larry L. Fleming. Additionally, he has continued choral studies through master classes with Rodney Eichenberger and earned a MME at VanderCook College of Music while studying choral conducting with Robert Sinclair.	Saturday, March 17, 2012 11:00 a.m. Varsity Ensemble of St. Mary's International School (Tokyo, Japan) - Randy Stenson, Conductor
		The St. Mary’s Varsity Ensemble, with members ranging from grade 9 to grade 12, meet for twenty minutes each day and are encouraged to realize their music through expressive movement. The choir seeks to nurture an appreciation and global awareness of music from many cultures, and the spiritual heritage that embodies St. Mary’s International School. The ensemble has had the opportunity to perform at the 2005 and 2010 ACDA National Conventions, 2004 and 2008 NW ACDA Conventions, and the 2006 Central ACDA Convention. In their twelve year history, they have won top awards and honors at competitions and festivals in Japan and the USA. The group is also involved in the Tokyo community through charity work, notably Refugees International.

Loren Pontén, Founder & Artistic Director of Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble, has been an active conductor in the Pacific Northwest for over 25 years. A champion of contemporary choral music, he and Opus 7 have commissioned over 25 new choral works and premiered countless works. Since 1989 he has been on the faculty of Midsummer Musical Retreat, a week-long festival workshop for adults. He has studied conducting and/or worked with Andrew Bernard, Joan Conlon, Eric Ericson, Paul Hillier, Abraham Kaplan, Andrew Parrott, Lloyd Pfautsch, Robert Scandrett, James Savage, Ward Swingle and Dale Warland.	Saturday, March 17, 2012 11:30 a.m. Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble (Seattle) - Loren W. Ponten, Conductor
		Since its inception, Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble has established a reputation for continually featuring a diverse range of new and rarely performed works, along with time-honored classics of choral literature. Formed in 1992 with 7 singers, Opus 7 specializes in 19th- through 21st-century a cappella choral music. A resident ensemble at St. James Cathedral in Seattle since 1994, Opus 7 is dedicated to performing the works of local and regional composers, regularly commissioning new choral compositions. In addition, since 2000 Opus 7 has fostered new talent in the field of choral music through their unique Student Choral Composition Awards Program. Opus 7 has been recognized nationally by ASCAP and Chorus America, the first group to win three consecutive prestigious awards for Adventurous Programming.

Mikkel Iverson, bass-baritone, received a BA in Education from Pacific Lutheran University, and a MS in Education from Portland State University. He has appeared as a soloist with the Oregon Symphony, Salem Symphony, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Portland Symphonic Choir, Oregon Repertory Singers, Pacific Lutheran University Symphony Chorus, Oregon State University Symphony Chorus, and the Peter Britt Music Festival. Iverson has sung professionally with Choral Cross-Ties, the Male Ensemble Northwest, Portland Opera Chorus, and the Norman Luboff Choir. In his 34th year as a music educator, Iverson has taught in the Evergreen School District in Vancouver, Washington since 1990.	Saturday, March 17, 2012 3:30 pm Union High School Chamber Choir (Evergreen/Vancouver, WA) - Mikkel Iverson, Conductor
		The Union High School Chamber Choir consists of 41 students and meets as class everyday during the school year. All Chamber Choir students are also members of the Select Men's and Women's Ensembles, and represent the finest singers/musicians in the Choral Department. All students have extensive training in sol-fege, sight-reading, rhythm reading, and basic music theory. Past Honors and Awards include: Northwest Division MENC Conference performance (2011), Select Men's Ensemble - 2nd Place (WMEA State Contest 2011), Select Men's Ensemble - 1st Place (WMEA State Contest 2010), Select Men's Ensemble - 1st Place (WMEA State Contest 2009), Select Men's Ensemble - 1st Place (WMEA State Contest 2008), San Francisco Heritage Festival - Choral Sweepstakes Award Winner (2009), Vancouver, BC Heritage Festival - Choral Sweepstakes Award Winner (2008).

Beth Ann Bonnecroy's foundation as a singer and extensive experience as a voice teacher shape her priorities in conducting. Healthy singing and development of vocal technique are emphasized in the choirs she conducts and contribute to the sound her choirs achieve. Beth Ann conducts Vivace, the middle-school level of the Northwest Girlchoir, and conducts the Chancel Choir and handbell choirs at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church in Seattle. Rebecca Rottsolk served as artistic director of the Northwest Girlchoir from 1982-2001, building one of the most respected youth choral organizations in America. Now retired, Rebecca is in demand as a clinician and guest conductor, and has condcuted all-state choruses and regional festivals in over 25 states. Rebecca also edits a choral series for Alliance Music Publications and conducts two community choirs on the Olympic Peninsula.	Saturday, March 17, 2012 4:00 pm Mirinesse Women's Choir (Seattle) - Beth Ann Bonnecroy and Rebecca Rottsolk, Conductors
		Mirinesse is Old English for "joyful women." Since 2006, Mirinesse Women's Choir has thrilled audiences in Seattle and around northwest Washington with the beautiful sound of healthy, classically-trained, adult women's voices, singing challenging and diverse repertoire from historic and contemporary sources around the world. In 2009, Mirinesse was honored to perform at the national ACDA convention in Oklahoma City. The singers of Mirinesse are an auditioned group of women, ages 21-70, who enthusiastically and joyfully share their love of music, and strive to model the highest level of musicianship, artistry and individual vocal ability.

	Saturday, March 17, 2012 4:30 pm Male Ensemble Northwest - Wallace Long, Conductor
		Male Ensemble Northwest was formed in Longview, Washington, in 1982, the brainchild of Howard Meharg, who wanted to form a singing group as well as encourage young males in public schools to sing in choirs of all kinds. Thus it was that Male Ensemble Northwest was formed to demonstrate a high level of music making by choral conductors from the Pacific Northwest region and also to promote male choral singing. In the years since its inception, MEN has appeared in concerts from local churches and auditoriums to regional and national audiences, always remembering to spread the message of male singing. They have performed at national conventions of the ACDA in Washington, D. C., and San Antonio; and severl northwest regional conventons. While a high level of artistry is always an important goal, the members of MEN value the professional and personal associations they have with each other. It is important that the personal soul is fed as well as the artistic.

	Saturday, March 17, 2012 7:00 pm Vancouver Cantata Singers (Vancouver, B.C.) - Eric Hannan, Conductor
		For 54 years the Vancouver Cantata Singers has upheld the finest tradition of choral singing. Twice, under the recent leadership of Artistic Director Eric Hannan, the group has been awarded the Healey Willan Prize, Canada’s highest honour in choral singing. VCS has also become known for innovative collaborations with local and international artists, ensembles and non-traditional partners. The choir regularly commissions new works from critically acclaimed composers, ensuring the presentation of a rich variety of choral music from the Renaissance to the present day.

The main characteristic of Frieder Bernius’ career has been his perpetual search for new scores, the practice of questioning traditional interpretations of European music and the fact of creating an unmistakable individual sound. Since he was convinced he could only successfully achieve his aims with his own ensembles, the organisation “Musikpodium Stuttgart” was formed with the essential support of the City of Stuttgart and the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg , under which Bernius’ activities were combined. Consequently, Bernius established historically informed performances with the foundation of the Festival Stuttgart Barock, the Barockorchester and the Hofkapelle Stuttgart. In cooperation with the Academy Schloss Solitude the OpenAirSchlossSolitude was born. Furthermore he gained recognition for exposing to public attention to lesser known composers from the southwest of Germany with premiere performances of Jommelli, Knecht, Zumsteeg, Holzbauer or Kalliwoda and also Zelenka and Burgmueller. Recording these composers on CD was as important for him as the realization of the musical recordings of historically authentic performances. Thirty of his more than 80 CD recordings have received international record awards such as: ‘Choc du Monde de la musique’ and the ‘Edison Klassiek’ for his Schuetz and Bach recordings, the ‘Diapason d’Or de l’année’ for Mozart’s Requiem and many ‘Quarterly Awards of the German Record Critics’ for a-capella recordings. Serving as cultural ambassador for the Cultural Relations of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bernius is constantly in touch with ensembles in Toronto, Warsaw and Budapest. The Kammerchor Stuttgart was founded by Bernius during his studies and he has achieved herewith an international reputation for its individual sonority and the style of singing, especially with romantic choir music. The interaction of his own ensembles with the Barockorchester and the Hofkapelle Stuttgart has enabled him to achieve his ideal goal of a complete blending of a vocal and instrumental ensemble sound. This has resulted in regular invitations for a-capella tours to all continents as well as to the most important European festivals, such as the Salzburg, Dresden and Goetttingen music festivals and the Festival van Vlaanderen as well as the Bach Festival, Leipzig. Consequently, Bernius has received major awards such as the ‘Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany’, the ‘Medal of Merit of the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg’ and most recently the ‘Bach Award’ from the City of Leipzig.	Saturday, March 17, 2012 8:00 pm Kammerchor Stuttgart (Germany) - Frieder Bernius, Conductor
		Frieder Bernius. founded of the Kammerchor Stuttgart with the intention of raising the a cappella choir music to the level of professional orchestral music. Since 1977, Bernius has collaborated with leading orchestras in order to reach an acoustical balance between the vocal and instrumental parts in the choral-symphonic literarture. He is very committed to performing music of various periods in an authentic style. Frieder Bernius' great success in Germany and abroad encouraged him to proceed in this style of interpretation. With the Kammerchor, he has won prizes at several international competitions. He is a guest conductor at all Germany and in many European radio stations and conducts his ensembles at many important musical festivals. The Kammerchor Stuttgart, which was founded by Frieder Bernius in 1968, has gained a reputation as one of the foremost European vocal ensembles. It is organized as a “project” choir, with some 10 projects a year. Based on the stylistic needs of an individual concert, the number of singers varies from aq vocal ensemble of 16 to an oratrio chorus of 80,. The choir's repertoire ranges from early music through the music to the music of today. Of the more than 70 records and CD recordings, many have been awarded the German Record Critics Award, the Edison and the Diapason d'Or.The Stuttgart Chamber Choir also commissioned a large number of world premieres of contemporary compositions.


Dr. Shin-Hwa Park serves as Director of the Ansan City Choir, Professor of Music at Ewha Womans University, and Vice-President of the Korean Choral Directors Association (KCDA). He received his B.M. and M.M. in church music and vocal music from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, and a D.M.A. in Choral Literature and Conducting from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Since 1995, Dr. Park has taught courses in choral conducting, literature, oratorio, and choral performance at five Korean undergraduate and graduate institutions, including Yonsei University and Jung-Ang University. He also delivers more than 40 lectures each year. Dr. Park is in great demand as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician throughout Korea. He has conducted the National Choir, Seoul City Choir, and Daejeon City Choir. He also directs the 180-member Calvary Choir of Young-Nak Presbyterian Church in Seoul. He has served on the jury for the Takarazuka International Chamber Chorus Contest in Japan and World Choir Championship in Korea. In 2004, Dr. Park became the first winner of the Ulrim Grand Prize and received the Ansan Art Prize as well. The following year he was recognized as one of the Best Professors at Ewha Womans University, and in 2007 he was awarded the Korean Music Prize.	Sunday, March 18 10:30 a.m. - The Ansan City Choir (Korea) - Dr. Shin Hwa Park, Conductor
			The Ansan City Choir is one of the most highly regarded and beloved choirs in Korea, composed of 40 professional singers who are selected through competitive audition. Founded in 1995, the choir has maintained its distinct reputation under the direction of conductor Dr. Park Shin-Hwa. The choir has recorded 36 CDs in last 16 years and its repertoire includes music from the Renaissance through contemporary literature, from folk songs to spirituals and pop music. The Ansan City Choir is well known for its clarity of tone, excellent balance, magnificent blend, and authentic interpretation of the repertoire. The Ansan City Choir has been invited to perform at numerous major music Festivals at home and abroad, including the Korea Choral Festival, the Goyang Choral Festival, the World Choral Festival (part of the 2002 World Cup Festivals) in Incheon city, the International Music Festival of Tong-Young, and the International Choral Festival in Missoula, Montana. The choir represented Korea at the 6th World Symposium on Choral Music in Minneapolis, and was invited by the Papal Court to perform in the Vatican and during the Church Music Festival in Rome in 2011.

	Sunday, March 18, 2012 Honor Choirs Concert #1 - 12:15 pm - Children's Honor Choir 1:00 p.m. - Youth Honor Choir Concert #2 - 2:30 p.m.- High School Men's Honor Choir 3:15 p.m. - High School Women's Honor Choir Children's Honor Choir Grades 5-7 (unchanged voices) Conductor: Christy Elsner, Allegro Community Children's Choir, Kansas City, MO Organizing Chair: Marcia Patton Youth Honor Choir Grades 7-9 (mixed voices) Conductor: Rollo Dilworth, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA Organizing Chair: Carrie Rice Men's Honor Choir Grades 10-12 Conductor: André Thomas, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL Organizing Chair: Max Mendez Women's Honor Choir Grades 10-12 Conductor: Giselle Wyers, University of Washington, Seattle, WA Organizing Chair: Amy Fuller



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