Conference Registration Hours
Wed 1:30p-7:30p. Thur. 8a-5p. Fri 8a-5p. Sat. 8a-11a
Lobby, Davenport Grand
2020
Performing Choirs
CASPER CHILDREN'S CHORALE
Marcia Patton, Conductor
Casper, Wyoming
Performance | 3:30pm, Thursday
The Casper Children’s Chorale was founded in 1979 to provide a positive and challenging choral experience for young singers. They have performed for audiences across Wyoming, and in Billings, Boise, Bozeman, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, Rapid City, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Seattle, Spokane, Washington DC, and Vancouver BC, sharing their love of music and their pride in Wyoming!
These children, ages 9-13, from Casper, population 55,000, have performed at Regional and National MENC and ACDA conventions and received nothing less than Superior Ratings and Adjudicator Awards at over a dozen Heritage Music Festivals. Rehearsing once weekly for 90 minutes, their goal is to prepare thoughtful and caring world citizens…who LOVE to SING!
CASCADE MIDDLE SCHOOL TREBLE CHOIR
Kim Claassen, Conductor
Vancouver, Washington
Performance | 10:30am, Friday
The Cascade Middle School Treble Choir was founded during the 2016-2017 school year and rehearses three days a week before school from 7:05 - 7:50 am. Participation in Treble Choir is by audition only and is open to any 7-8th grade student who is enrolled in a music class at Cascade Middle School. Cascade's Treble Choir is quickly building a reputation of excellence within their school and local community. The choir performed at the WMEA state conference in 2018.
CS PORTER MIDDLE SCHOOL VARSITY PORTERLIERS
Christopher Whiteman, Conductor
Missoula, Montana
Performance | 3:30pm, Thursday
The Varsity Porterliers were founded in 2012 and have since become CS Porter’s premiere vocal ensemble. In addition to performing with several Western Montana high schools, the Varsity Porterliers have also performed with Le Donne Choir under the direction of Barbara Tappa, and Dolce Canto under the direction of Peter Park. The Varsity Porterliers recently earned a “Gold” rating at the Seattle Heritage festival in 2019, and a rating of “Superior” in 2018 at the Music in the Parks festival in North Idaho. The Varsity Porterliers are proud to announce that they will be premiering a commissioned piece for the ensemble by Jim Papoulis at the ACDA NW Conference.
HELLGATE HIGH SCHOOL CHEVALIERS
Ellen McKenzie, Conductor
Missoula, Montana
Performance | 8pm, Wednesday
Established in 1965, the Chevaliers is an extra-curricular auditioned ensemble at Hellgate High School in Missoula, Montana. Students who participate in “Chevies” are in grades 10-12, and must be enrolled in a curricular choir to be eligible to audition for the group. Many members of the Chevaliers are high-achieving singers who are chosen for Montana All-State Choir and All-Northwest Choirs (NAfME and ACDA), along with other performing opportunities. The Chevaliers maintain a busy performing schedule, representing Hellgate Choir at school concerts and in many community performances.
CHARLES M. RUSSELL HIGH SCHOOL CHANTEUR CHOIR
Lynn Ryan, Conductor
Great Falls, Montana
Performance | 10:30am, Friday
The Chanteur Choir is one of six curricular choirs at C. M. Russell High School. The choir frequently performs throughout the Great Falls community and collaborates with other choirs in Montana. Two of their most recent collaborations with Great Falls High School include premiers of Moments in Film by Timothy Takach and Consolation: A Requiem for Newtown by John Muehleisen. Chanteur earned the honor of being named semi-finalists in the American Prize, high school division, in 2015 and 2016. Their most recent regional performances were at the 2016 Northwest ACDA Conference in Seattle and the 2017 Northwest NAfME Conference in Bellevue.
SONOUS EAGLE HIGH SCHOOL
Seth McMullen, Conductor
Eagle, Idaho
Performance | 8:00pm, Thursday
Sonous is the premier vocal ensemble at Eagle High School in Eagle, Idaho. This 50-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. Consistently recognized for choral excellence throughout Idaho and the Northwest, since 2003 Sonous has accepted nine invitations to perform at state and regional conferences. Students in Sonous represent a cross-section of the Eagle High School student body: every club, sport, and activity has had members in Sonous. Alumni of Sonous can be found singing at collegiate campuses throughout the Northwest.
FERRIS HIGH SCHOOL CANTERBURY BELLES
Barbara Tappa, Conductor
Spokane, Washington
Performance | 8:00pm, Thursday
The Canterbury Belles is the premier women’s choral ensemble at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington. They perform a wide variety of literature and their selections may include music that is humorous, cultural, heartfelt, or address current social issues. The Canterbury Belles have been recognized throughout the Northwest as a choir dedicated to passion and excellence through their musical performances. These young women are also members of the Symphonic Choir and several participate in the Ferris instrumental music program.
ST. MARY'S INTERNATIONAL VARSITY MALE ENSEMBLE
Randolph Stenson, Conductor
Tokyo, Japan
Performance | 8:45pm, Friday
The Varsity Ensemble seeks to nurture a love for and global awareness through music from many cultures and their spiritual heritage. The group realizes music through expressive movement. Internationally, they’ve received top honors and awards at competitions and festivals on four continents, most recently, the 3rd choir in 30 years winning the Oswald Stocker Prize at the 2019 Verona Choir Competition.
Selected performances include three ACDA National and five Regional Conferences, the ANCA National Convention in Brisbane, and EARCOS in Bangkok. They were the invited choir for the Japan Choral Association’s concert honoring works of Maria Guinand, and are featured in Creating Artistry: Through Movement and the Maturing Male Voice.
They are extensively active in charity work, especially Refugees International Japan and Save the Children.
CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY CHAMBER CHOIR
Gary Weidenaar, Conductor
Ellensburg, Washington
Performance | 8:45pm, Friday
The CWU Chamber Choir’s goal is to sing high quality music at the highest level of musicality possible. The flexibility to sing multiple styles is the 21st century singer’s mantra. High expectations meet diligent and careful preparation in artistic rehearsals. “CWU Ch2” is known throughout the world largely due to its strong YouTube presence. In 2015, Ch2 received an invitation to take part in the prestigious Tolosa International Choir Competition. On that tour, the choir spent twelve days in Spain, and presented five concerts. including one in the Cathedral in Léon, one of most historically significant buildings in the world. The choir will likely be returning to Spain in Fall, 2020. In 2016, Chamber sang Frank Martin's Mass for Double Choir.
UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING COLLEGIATE CHORALE
The University of Wyoming Collegiate Chorale is the flagship university choral ensemble in Wyoming, comprised primarily of undergraduate students, including non-music majors. The Collegiate Chorale presents creative programming with deep connections to text and music while providing an intimate atmosphere for a meaningful and exciting choral experience.
The ensemble carries a tradition of excellence in choral performances under their director, Nicole Lamartine. The UW Collegiate Chorale was invited to perform at the 2017 and 2011 NW National Association for Music Education Conferences and at the 2012 National Collegiate Choral Organization conference. In addition, the ensemble has earned a reputation for exciting premieres of works by Pulitzer Prize and Grammy-winning composers Craig Hella Johnson, Jennifer Higdon, Forrest Pierce, John Muehleisen, Gabriela Lena-Frank, Gerard Schwarz, and Libby Larsen.
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY BELLA VOCE
Sandra Babb, Conductor
Corvallis, Oregon
Performance | 10:30am, Friday
Bella Voce, the premier treble choir at Oregon State University, consists of 60 undergraduate and graduate students studying a variety of degree programs. Primary goals of Bella Voce include providing for treble singers to engage with a wide range of choral repertoire, generating opportunities for choral music education majors to lead and conduct, and championing composers from diverse backgrounds, including female composers and composers of color. Bella Voce has performed for conferences of the Oregon Music Educators Association, the Northwest Division of the National Association for Music Education, and the International Society for Music Education. Most recently, Oregon State University Bella Voce has been featured with OSU performances of Paulus’ To Be Certain of the Dawn, Maslanka’s Mass, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 3.
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY MONTANANS
Kirk Aamot, Conductor
Bozeman, Montana
Performance | 8:00pm, Wednesday
The Montanans, a select vocal ensemble based in the School of Music and the College of Arts & Architecture at Montana State University, is dedicated to the artistic performance of new and established choral literature representative of all genres and stylistic periods. Touring opportunities led the ensemble to perform at Notre Dame in Paris and the Church of Pi in Barcelona in May of 2018. In December of that year, the Montanans were honored to accept an invitation from Archbishop Juan García Rodriguez to perform at the Havana Cathedral. In February 2019 the choir sang at the Northwest Conference for Music Education in Portland, Oregon.
VOCAL AFFINITY CHAMBER SINGERS
David Torres, Conductor
Rexburg, Idaho
Performance | 3:30pm, Thursday
Vocal Affinity brings advanced contemporary repertoire to the stage together with the Gregorian Chant and Renaissance music of the past. Its mission is to touch the hearts and souls of audiences and performers through the artistic, nuanced blending of poetic text and beautiful harmonies. Performing under the baton of Conductor David Torres, this elite vocal ensemble, based in Rexburg, Idaho, melds the voices of accomplished auditioned singers from around the nation.
CHRONOS VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Jordan Van Biert, Conductor
Alberta, Canada
Performance | 8:00pm, Wednesday
A “rapidly rising star in the Canadian choral scene” (Anacrusis), Chronos Vocal Ensemble has built a reputation for innovation and excellence. Since its inception in 2013, the choir has delighted audiences in four provinces and performed at distinguished events including Music Conference Alberta and Choral Canada’s 2016 and 2018 Podium conferences. The ensemble regularly commissions Canadian composers and also runs an annual composition competition. It has released three recordings featuring new Canadian repertoire, most recently the 2018 release Fresh: New Music From Canada, and is regularly heard on CBC Radio’s Choral Concert. In 2015 Chronos Vocal Ensemble won Choral Canada’s biannual Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs, and in 2016 was recognized by the City of Edmonton’s Salute to Excellence for bringing recognition to Edmonton.
PORTLAND PHOENIX CHAMBER CHOIR
Dr. Justin Smith, Conductor
Portland, Oregon
Performance | 8:45pm, Friday
The internationally award-winning Portland Phoenix Chamber Choir was founded as the Marylhurst Chamber Choir, the premiere choral ensemble at Marylhurst University in Portland, Oregon. Upon the sudden closure of Marylhurst, the choir was reborn as Portland Phoenix. The Chamber Choir has twice performed at OMEA and at Carnegie Hall. In 2016, they participated in the Cork International Choral Festival in Ireland. They were the only choir to take home two trophies, winning both Third Prize and the Peace Award for best embodying the spirit of the festival. They followed this with successful appearances at festivals in Latvia, Italy and Wales.
Chamber Choir has collaborated with Portland Chamber Orchestra, the composers Morten Lauridsen and Gwyneth Walker, and renowned vocal ensembles Cappella Romana, Cantus and Roomful of Teeth.
IN MULIERIBUS
Dr. Anna Song, Conductor
Portland, Oregon
Performance | 8:00pm, Wednesday
Based in Portland, In Mulieribus (IM; Latin for "amongst women") presents an annual concert series and appears frequently as featured guest artist around the region with past performances at the Portland Art Museum, University of San Diego, and Mount Angel Abbey Bach Festival. The ensemble is regularly broadcast on nationally syndicated radio shows such as Performance Today, and its recordings have garnered praise from The Oregonian and Early Music America. IM has recently reached beyond its early music focus to highlight works by women, seeking to raise the profile of female composers who remain under-represented throughout the landscape of classical music. IM also sponsors free workshops, performs benefit concerts, and offers free concert tickets in their commitment to make concerts accessible to all.
MALE ENSEMBLE NORTHWEST
Performance | 8:00pm, Thursday
Male Ensemble Northwest was formed in Longview, Washington, in 1982, the brainchild of Howard Meharg, Larry Marsh and Bruce Browne, who wanted to form a singing group as well as encourage young singers 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 the art of choral singing.
While a high level of artistry is always an important goal, the members of M.E.N. 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.
THE HIGHLIGERS,
SOUTH KITSAP HIGH SCHOOL
The Highlighters began in 1963, and under the direction of Mr. Jeff Mitchell (1966-1998) gained notoriety throughout the region as an outstanding vocal jazz ensemble. The ensemble draws students from all grades and requires members to be part of Chamber Choir or another performing ensemble. Under the direction of Mike Allen (1998–present), the Highlighters have received numerous awards and have traveled to Europe three times, NYC and Carnegie Hall, Florida and California. In the summer of 2020, the Highlighters and Chamber Choir will compete at The World Choir Games in Flanders, Belgium. Members of the Highlighters often perform in College and University Ensembles and perform regionally and abroad. Our commitment is to perform a wide range of repertoire while staying true to the genre.