Dr. Richard Koehler passes away September 12, 2011; formerly of Seattle, choral director at Franklin H. S.

Cuban conductor slated for visit to Seattle and Pullman, March 4-18; have her visit one of your rehearsals

Cuban choral conductor Corina Campos, director of the renowned Vocal Leo, is visiting Seattle and Pullman as part of the International Conductors Exchange Project sponsored by ACDA and Harmony International.  

Corina Campos offers a rare opportunity for all of us to learn more about Cuban choral music and Latin American choral music in general.  

If you would like to arrange to meet Corina or have her visit one of your rehearsals, this may be possible (depending on her itinerary).  Please contact Giselle Wyers, liaison for Corina, for more information, at wyersg@uw.edu.  

Corina Campos, Cuban choral conductor, seeks translator
Dear ACDA NW conference participants:  ACDA is looking for a few people who speak Spanish that would enjoy the opportunity of translating for Corina Campos, director of the renowned Vocal Leo, during the ACDA NW regional conference. Corina is an invited guest through ACDA's new program, the International Conductors Exchange Project.  Corina's visit offers us an invaluable opportunity to learn more about Cuban choral literature. Please email Giselle Wyers at wyersg@uw.edu if you'd like to meet Corina and accompany her to some sessions and performances, to make her feel at home here in Seattle!  

Clock hours available through WMEA for 2012 conference attendance

28 Clock hours will be available through Washington Music Educators Association for those attending the Northwest ACDA Conference.  Corresponding paperwork will be available at the conference along with a one-time registration sign in list.  There is no charge to WMEA members (your MENC ID number and Expiration Date will be required when you send your Inservice Registration Form and Evaluation to WMEA).  Non-WMEA participants will pay $5.00 registration fee plus $1.00 per clock hour earned.

Photos and recordings from March, 2010 conference in Seattle

Concert Session 1...>
Concert Session 2...>
Concert Session 3 (Crystal Children's Choir)...>
Concert Session 4...>
Concert Session (Grammy Night)...>
Concert Session 5...>
Concert Session 6...>
Honor Choirs...>

For recordings, contact:
Soundwaves Recording (877) 226 2567 or
Soundwaves website...>

Michael Sagun offers these parting words as Sheet Music Service (Portland) closes its doors on May 14th

Dear Friends –

One week from today, on Friday, May 14, 2010, Sheet Music Service will close its doors to the public for the last time.

During its 93-year history, SMS has provided music literature, teaching methods, music texts and aides to educators, professional and amateur musicians, and all types of performing groups in schools, churches and communities. It has also supported the music community of the Pacific Northwest and beyond through its workshops, convention exhibits, and other related contributions. Of this, we are proud as well as thankful to have been able to be of service to you.

For the past 38 years, I personally have had the distinct privilege of being a part of this history and have been truly blessed by the opportunity of meeting so many wonderful people in the process. If you are reading this message, you are one of those people.

I have seen this company grow from servicing a relatively limited tri-state area to one that had an international market. I have witnessed school music budgets rise and fall and rise again more than once and have noted the creation as well as the passing of all manner of performing groups.

I have assisted newly minted teachers with providing materials for their first teaching assignments and lived long enough to have helped some of their children as they too entered the music world as adult teachers and performers.

While I am deeply saddened as I witness the end of this store which in many ways has been my life, I take much comfort in the seemingly endless stream of memories of events and especially the people who profoundly affected who I am today.

I therefore give thanks for this industry, the art form itself, and for each and every one of you. I wish you continued success in your endeavors, professional growth, much joy, and many experiences of beauty and meaning in the years ahead.

Peace,

Michael Sagun,
Choral Department
Sheet Music Service

Paul Manz, organist, composer dies October 28

report supplied by Paul Schultz

Our friend and exemplar Paul Manz has died this evening (October 28, 2009), joining his beloved wife Ruth where good spirits congregate.  

His son John reported that, with the family gathered round the bedside, they had put on a recording of the marvelous choral piece that Paul and Ruth had created, and when the text came round again to "E'en so, Lord Jesus, quickly come", Paul breathed his last.

Back in 2001, Paul was featured in a PIPEDREAMS program of his compositions, performances and commentary, which can be accessed at any time from any place with a high-speed internet link.

http://pipedreams.publicradio.org/listings/2001/0114/

Though we grieve with the family of this marvelous man who has left us, his spirit does and will remain with us, as encouragement and model of a life well lived.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Manz

Submitted: March 15, 2007, 8:15 p.m.

The Northwestern Division was well represented at the recent national ACDA convention in  Miami, Florida, from March 6 through 10.  Three choral groups from the great Pacific Northwest had tremendously successful performances on the national stage.

Celebration Vocal Jazz Ensemble from Bellevue Community College  and Groove for Thought from Seattle played to full houses in concert on two different nights for Jazz Night.  Congratulations to Thomas Almli, Director of  Celebration Vocal Jazz Ensemble and to all the members of Groove For Thought. 

The Charles Sprague High School Choir under the direction of Russ Christiansen completed the Northwest representation with three concerts at the convention.  All performances were of the highest quality and spoke well to the state of choral music in the Northwest.

Many members were thrilled with the performance of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus who performed Nocturnes by Claude Debussy and Symphony No. 1 "Sea Symphony" conducted by Robert Spano in the The Knight Concert Hall at the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts. Concerts were also held in the Jackie Gleason Theater for the Performing Arts in Miami Beach which was where Gleason broadcast his famous television show in the early 1960's. 

Three members of our division presented interest sessions: Steven Demorest ("Teaching Musicianship in the Choral Rehearsal"); Jeff Horenstein and Kelly Kunz ("Under the Musical Microscope: Precision in Jazz Rehearsals"). 

There were a dozen students from the Pacific Northwest in the National Children's Honor Choir conducted by  Jean Ashworth Bartle; fifteen community college students in the National 2-Year College Honor Choir conducted by Bruce Rogers and sixteen singers in the National Multicultural Honor Choir conducted by Rollo Dilworth & Francisco Nunez. 

An informal no-host reception was held at the Radisson Hotel on Friday evening and the turn-out was good.  We gathered for some fellowship and laughter and shared a time with friends and colleagues.  One of the reasons to attend a convention is to catch up with old friends and it was a success, especially considering we were a continent away.

All in all, the convention seemed to run smoothly and the Great Northwest was well represented in the performing groups, presenters and attendees.