"Beyond the Notes" 2012 Recap

NC-ACDA was amazing!  Highlights:

Pictures from the event will be posted here as soon as they are available: http://ncacda.org/

To Be Certain of the Dawn was WONDERFUL!!!  If you ever have the chance to see it performed or hear the religious figures involved or even Stephen Paulus or Michael Dennis Browne speak, do!  If you aren't familiar, this is known as the "Holocaust Oratorio" and is a very moving experience.

The Czech Boys' Choir was one of my top two favorite performing groups of the weekend.  And they knew more verses of "America" than even those of us in the audience (AMERICAN choral directors) did!  I would highly recommend checking them out!

My other favorite group of the conference was definitely the Great Northern Union Chorus.  These men specialize in anything a cappella and give very enthusiastic and moving performances.  Beyond that the audience has no choice but to be engaged.  I would definitely pay to see this group again!

Long story short, conference was great.  If you want to know any more about what happened, choirs, or events, visit the website I posted above!

North Central ACDA CONFERENCE!!!

Well, tomorrow morning our chapter of ACDA (Called "Choral Vision") departs for the North Central Division ACDA Conference in Madison, WI.  I'm not sure the exhibits will compare to those we experienced last year at the National Conference in Chicago, IL, but I'm still very excited!

If you ever had any doubt about whether or not you'd enjoy a conference, take it from me: ignore it and go.  You will learn SO much. 

In addition, something might just surprise you!  For example Dr. Dennis Willhoit (who I used to study voice with and haven't seen since May) is performing as tenor soloist in "To Be Certain of the Dawn"  on Friday-  can you imagine my surprise and excitement!!! 

Here are some highlights from last year's conference:

This is three of us after meeting the creative director of Chanticleer- this photo actually ended up on their blog.  Check it out!!!

Our group with friend and colleague Danielle Kinderman (3rd from left) who won 2nd place in the conducting competition!!!

Myself with Eric Whitacre as he signed my copy of "Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine" which we performed on a tour to Puerto Rico in January!

Our group with our tour leader from P.R.  Jodi of Music Contact International

The gang outside the Hilton in Chicago

And who could not visit "The Bean"?!