CMASC 2023 Clinicians
Stephen Ross
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Maria Ellis
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Dr. Nathan Payant
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CMASC 2022 Clinicians
Phil Drozda
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Kate Klotz
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Rollo Dilworth
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Phil Drozda is proud to have been a public-school music educator for the past fifteen years, and is presently the Director of Choirs at Overland High School in the Cherry Creek School District. In his current role, he conducts five choirs at a diverse, comprehensive high school in Aurora, CO. Mr. Drozda holds a Master of Music degree in music education from the University of Northern Colorado and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Colorado-Boulder.
Prior to his appointment at Overland, he was the choir director at Prairie Middle School from 2011-2019. During his tenure at Prairie, Mr. Drozda's choirs gained a reputation for musical quality and passionate, joyful performance, and they have been invited to perform at the Colorado Music Educators Association Clinic and Conference three times. He also taught middle school choir at Mesa Middle School in Castle Rock, CO, and Northglenn Middle School in the Adams 12 School District. Though he now primarily works with high school singers, Mr. Drozda is a middle school teacher at heart. He seeks to be a strong advocate for middle level choral music, and he knows that middle school-aged students are capable of incredible things. Mr. Drozda is one of the founding Co-Chairs of the Colorado Middle All State Choir and continues to act as the audition specialist for CMASC. He is an active conductor and clinician throughout Colorado, and he has served on the board of Colorado ACDA in various roles. He is passionate about working to make choir more equitable, inclusive, and accessible to all singers and all communities, and about inspiring his singers to create beauty and a sense of family in their choirs. He resides in Denver with his fianceé and a dog named Scout. |
Kate Klotz has become well known throughout Colorado for her work as a music educator and vocalist. She holds a Master of Music from Colorado State University and received her undergraduate degree in Music Education from the University of Colorado Boulder. Ms. Klotz holds all three levels of Kodály certification and has also completed Orff Schulwerk training. She has instructed students in private piano and voice, as well as teaching K-12 general music and choir in Colorado and Washington state public schools.
From 2013–2019, Ms. Klotz served as the Artistic Director of the Boulder Children's Chorale. Under her leadership, the Boulder Children's Chorale grew from three to five ensembles, with over 100 singers. She has frequently collaborated with local and professional ensembles, coaching children's choirs and soloists for Carmina Burana, The Chichester Psalms, Bach's St. Matthew Passion, Mahler's Symphony No. 3, and The Nutcracker. From 2011–2013, Ms. Klotz served on the artistic staff of the Spokane Area Youth Choirs in Spokane, WA, where she directed elementary, middle, and high school level choirs. Ms. Klotz is a sought-after clinician and has presented for the Colorado and Texas Music Educators Association Conferences. She also serves on the summer teaching staff for the Aspen Music Festival and School and as the Children’s Choirs Repertoire & Resources Chair for the Colorado Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. An active vocalist and pianist, Ms. Klotz has performed with the Colorado Conductor’s Chorale, the Spokane Symphony Chorale, and Boulder-based Cantabile. Since 2018, she has been performing with the Denver-based Anima Chamber Ensemble. Ms. Klotz lives in Louisville, Colorado, with her husband, Nathan. |
More than 150 of Dr. Rollo Dilworth's choral compositions and arrangements have been published—many of which are a part of the Henry Leck Creating Artistry Choral Series with Hal Leonard Corporation. Additional publications can be found in the catalogs of Santa Barbara Music Publishing and Colla Voce Music, Inc. Dilworth is a contributing author for the Essential Elements for Choir and the Experiencing Choral Music textbook series, both published by the Hal Leonard Corporation/Glencoe/McGraw-Hill Publications, and for Music Express! Teachers Magazine. He has authored 3 books of choral warm up exercises intended for elementary and secondary choral ensembles, entitled Choir Builders: Fundamental Vocal Techniques for General and Classroom Use (2006); Choir Builders for Growing Voices (2009); and Choir Builders for Growing Voices 2 (2014).
A frequent presenter at local, state, regional and national conferences, Dilworth has conducted 43 all-state choirs at various levels (elementary, middle school, high school), and has conducted 6 regional honor choirs and 4 national honor choirs (ADCA, OAKE, and NAfME). He has most recently appeared as guest conductor for international choral festivals and master classes in Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Ireland, and China, as well as all-state choirs in North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Arizona, and Massachusetts. He has also led honor choirs for the Central and Southwest regions of the American Choral Directors Association. International festival and clinic invitations include Canada, Singapore, Austria, and France. Dilworth is currently National Board Chair for Chorus America. He is an active life member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He also holds memberships with several other organizations, including the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM), and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). In 2017, he received the Temple University Faculty Award for Research and Creative Achievement. |
CMASC 2020 Clinicians
Dr. Ryan Garrison
A native of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Dr. Ryan Garrison is a recently appointed Director of Choral and Vocal Music at the Denver School of the Arts. Garrison comes to Colorado by way of San Antonio, Texas, where he was the Artistic Director of the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio. Prior to his full-time artistic appointment, Dr. Garrison maintained an active 13-year schedule as a professional choral singer, conductor, and educator in Phoenix, Arizona. From 2005-2013, Garrison was a singing member of the GRAMMY-award winning professional choral ensemble, The Phoenix Chorale, under the artistic vision of renowned conductor, Charles Bruffy. With the ensemble, Garrison is credited on four albums garnering six GRAMMY nominations and two GRAMMY wins, including “Best Choral Performance” in 2016. In 2013, Garrison joined the choral artistic staff at Arizona School for the Arts (ASA) in central Phoenix, a school acknowledged as a national model for exemplary education gained through intense emphasis on studies in the performing arts. From 2014-2017, as the school’s lead director and contact for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), Dr. Garrison had over 90 students selected for the Western Regional and National-level Honor Choirs, traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah (2015), Pasadena, California (2016), and Minneapolis, Minnesota (2017). He has worked as guest clinician and conductor, leading regional and state-level Honor Choirs and Orchestras in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming, and looks forward to conducting the ACDA Wyoming All-State Children’s Choir in June 2020. Dr. Garrison received both his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting (DMA, 2013) and Masters of Music Education (MM, 2006) degrees from Arizona State University, and Bachelors of Music (BM, 2001) from the University of Wyoming. |
Dr. Scott Buchanan
Dr. Scott Buchanan serves as Director of the School of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Indiana State University in Terre Haute. A native of New Jersey, Dr. Buchanan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Bradley University, a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the Florida State University, and an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Education & Music Education from the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Recognized as the “2015 Collegiate Educator of the Year” by the Indiana Music Education Association, Dr. Buchanan is in frequent demand as a choral clinician, conductor, and adjudicator. Choirs under his direction have performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2001 and has made numerous appearances there, including conducting a solo performance with the Indiana State University Concert Choir in 2004. In May 2010, he served as the Artistic Director of the National Memorial Day Choral Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. In November 2011, he conducted the High School Festival Chorus at the Asian Pacific Activities Conference in Daejeon, South Korea. In April 2014, he debuted at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center. In April 2016, he debuted at Orchestra Hall in Chicago. In summer 2019, Dr. Buchanan served as Chorusmaster for the 44th Annual Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria. At ISU, Dr. Buchanan has conducted the select University Chorale and the Sycamore Singers. Additionally, he has taught conducting, choral methods, and literature at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. ISU choral ensembles have been selected to perform for the Central Division Conference of the American Choral Directors Association and the State Conference of the Indiana Music Education Association on several occasions. For the past decade, he has served as the State Director for the Melody Makers of Indiana. Additionally, he has previously served on the IMEA Board of Directors and is a past president of the Indiana Choral Directors Association. |
Dr. Corin Overland
Dr. Corin Overland is Associate Professor of Professional Practice at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, where he teaches courses in choral music education and choral conducting. He received his Ph.D. in music education from Temple University, and has over fifteen years of experience as a secondary vocal music teacher in public and private school settings. Overland is frequently in demand for his work with early adolescent choral ensembles, and has conducted All-State and festival choruses in Minnesota, Maryland, Kansas, Hawaii, Oregon, Delaware, South Carolina, and Florida. He is a regular clinician for Worldstrides Heritage Festivals of Music, and has choral compositions in print with Alliance and Santa Barbara Music Publishing. He is currently the Academic Editor of the Music Educators Journal. Overland’s research interests focus on economic and labor issues pertaining to arts education, teacher evaluation, and for-profit rock music schools. His research and scholarship on these and other topics appear in the Journal of Research in Historical Music Education, the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, College Music Symposium, Contributions to Music Education, and the Music Educators Journal. He has authored chapters appearing in Contemporary Research in Music Education: Learning Across the Lifespan (Routledge) and the 2016 International Yearbook on Research in Arts Education (Waxmann Verlag). He is a content consultant for the state of Florida’s Performing Fine Arts Assessment arts evaluation system. |
CMASC 2019 Clinicians
Daniel Gutierrez
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Dr. Sandra Babb
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Dr. Nicole Lamartine
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CMASC 2018 Clinicians
Ruth Dwyer
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Dr. Frank F. Eychaner
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Dr. Craig Denison
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CMASC 2017 Clinicians
Patricia Joyce
2017 Treble Choir Conductor Patricia Joyce received her Bachelor of Music degree, magna cum laude, in Music Education from Marywood College in Scranton, PA, and her Master of Music degree, With Distinction, in Music Education from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. She completed certification in Kodaly Methodology from the Kodaly Musical Training Institute, Hartford, Connecticut. Trish has presented workshops, reading sessions, and adjudicated festivals for the New Jersey American Choral Directors Association and the New Jersey Music Educators Association. She has conducted the New Jersey All-State Women’s Choir, the Central New Jersey Junior High Honors Choir, the Central New Jersey Elementary Honors Choir, the North Jersey Junior High Women's Honors Choir, and Children’s Choir Festivals in Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia. Trish has served on the Board of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association as President, Vice President, and as the Repertoire and Standards Chair for Children’s Choirs. She was the Co-Chair for the American Choral Directors Association’s National Children’s and Youth Choir Conductors Retreat, held in New Jersey in January, 2016. In addition, she has served as Associate Organist and Choirmaster at St. Bernard’s Church in Bernardsville, NJ, Interim Director of Music at Christ Church in Summit, NJ, and continues free-lance work at many other churches in northern and central NJ. Trish is the Founder and Artistic Director of the New Jersey Youth Chorus, now entering its 25th season. NJYC is an auditioned choral program for children in grades two through twelve, divided into five performing ensembles, and a musicianship class. The heart of its mission is to provide exceptional choral music education and performance experiences, fostering expression, artistry and growth. The Chorus performs frequently with professional ensembles and performers, including the NJ Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Brass, Queen Latifah (Super Bowl XLVIII), The Chieftains, Ronan Tynan and others. They were a featured choir at the American Choral Directors Association’s Eastern Division Conference (2008, 2012, 2016) and Chorus America’s 2009 Conference. They have participated in numerous national and international music festivals, and regularly host visiting youth choirs. |
Mia Hall Miller
2017 Women's Choir Conductor With more than 25 years as a choral music educator, Mia is well known for her enthusiasm and commitment to achieving excellence with young singers. Mia holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees of Music from the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance. After college she studied and sang professionally in Stuttgart, Germany. In 2003 founded the Pacific Youth Choir (PYC). The choir has grown from the original 60 young people to today’s PYC with 300 singers in 10 choirs. PYC is well recognized locally, regionally, and nationally enjoying regular invitations to perform with The Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Ballet Theater, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Trinity Choir and Pink Martini. PYC has been named the Oregon Symphony’s choir of choice, with 7 performances this season. PYC is featured on four Pink Martini recordings, including the immensely popular “Joy to the World” CD, which went “Gold”. In March 2012 Mia was featured in the Oregonian Series “Inside Obsession: a series about artists who devote their lives to their passion”. (“Mia Savage (now Miller) Portland’s Pied Piper of Youth Choirs”) PYC was greatly honored to perform at four conventions of The American Choral Directors Association, including at their 50th anniversary national convention. In addition to PYC, Mia has guest conducted and coached many clinics including two Oregon Music Educators Association All State Choirs, two Portland All City Honor Choirs, and Pacific University’s Music In May. In spring of 2015 Mia was named the Distinguished Alumna from UOSOMD. In Spring of 2016 Mia was given the Oregon Symphony Schnitzer Wonder Award, which honors an individual who works to build community in the next generation of musicians. Mia is thrilled to be conducting the Colorado All State 7th-8th grade Honor Choir! |
Jake Narverud
2017 Men's Choir Conductor Jacob Narverud (b.1986) is an American composer, arranger, and conductor. A native of Meriden, Kansas, Narverud studied voice performance at Emporia State University and is currently a doctoral student at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, where he holds a master’s degree in conducting. With a background in musical theater, instrumental, and choral music, Jake is a sought-after composer and an active guest conductor. As a vocalist, Narverud has performed with the Kansas City Chorale and the Kansas City Symphony as a back-up singer for Ben Folds. He has also been a choir director at both secondary and collegiate levels. Jake is published with Santa Barbara, Alliance, Carl Fischer, G. Schirmer, Wingert-Jones, Alfred, Shawnee Press, and Hal Leonard. For more on Narverud’s music, or for contact information, visit jakenarverud.com |
CMASC 2016 Clinicians
Mike Ross
2016 Treble Choir Conductor Michael Ross is the first full-time Artistic Director of the Madison Youth Choirs. He was previously the Music Department Chair and Vocal Music Teacher at Madison West High School. Michael was the Tallis (training choir) instructor for the former Madison Boychoir for ten years. He has both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music Education from UW-Madison, where he studied with Robert Fountain, Beverly Taylor, Julia Koza, and Anthony Barresi. Michael has also taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Summer Music Clinic, conducted the University Chorus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and led the former Basso Continuo choir of the Madison Boychoir. Michael has extensive accompanying and music directing experience, including having been accompanist for both the Madison Boychoir and Madison Children's Choir, department accompanist for the University of Wisconsin-Madison choral program, and music director for several University of Wisconsin-Madison Summer Theatre productions. Michael has been active in state music organizations, having been the choral chair for the Wisconsin Music Educators Association, accompanist for the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association's Next Direction conference, and both section leader and accompanist for various WSMA and WCDA State Honors Choirs. Michael is a member of the Voice Care Network, and has been named several times to "Who's Who Among America's Teachers". |
Deidre Douglas
2016 Women's Choir Conductor Deidre Douglas is in her twenty-fifth year of teaching in the Cypress Fairbanks School District in Houston, Texas. Ms. Douglas received her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts from Stephen F. Austin State University. There she was named the Presser Scholar and the Lenvill Martin Outstanding Music Graduate. Ms. Douglas’ choirs have received numerous sweepstakes ratings in Contest and Sightreading, Best in Class and Outstanding Performance at festivals, and performed at the annual TMEA Convention. She has served on the Prescribed Music List committee and the choral textbook committee for Hal Leonard/Glenco. She was selected "Spotlight Teacher" at Labay Middle School in the 1999-2000, and as the 2012 "Spotlight Teacher" of Cypress Falls High School. In 2010, she was named the "Outstanding Music Alumna of the Year" at Stephen F. Austin State University. Ms. Douglas is a frequent adjudicator, clinician and soloist throughout the state and surrounding states. She is a member of TMEA, TCDA, TMAA, Mu Phi Epsilon, Alpha Chi and Pi Kappa Lambda. Deidre and her husband, BJ, have two daughters, Rebekah and Leah. Some of her favorite activities include working in her yard, cooking, sewing, and crafts. Two of her favorite sports are softball and basketball. She also enjoys watching action packed movies with actors: Steven Segall, Jet Li, Wesley Snipes, and Nicholas Cage—just to name a few. |
Henry Leck
2016 Men's Choir Conductor An internationally recognized choral director, Henry Leck is a former associate professor and director of choral activities at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1986 he became founder and artistic director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, one of the largest children’s choir programs in the world. The touring choirs of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir have performed regularly for national ACDA, MENC, OAKE and AOSA conferences. Additionally, ICC tours internationally every year, having sung in prestigious concert sites throughout Great Britain, Greece, Scandinavia, Central Europe, South America, North America, Australia, New Zealand and China. In 2004, the choir performed in the Czech Republic and Russia, recording live with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra in the famed Pavel Slobodkin Center for Music. Mr. Leck founded the Indiana All-State Children’s Honor Choir and the Indiana Middle/Junior High School Honors Choir, and has conducted Mixed, Men’s, Women’s, Junior High and Children’s All-State Choirs and festival choirs in nearly every state. He is a frequent conductor of regional and national honor choirs, including the ACDA Southern, Southwest, North Central, Central and Northwest Divisional Honors Choirs. In the spring of 2003, he conducted the ACDA National Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir in New York City and on three occasions has conducted National Honor Choirs for OAKE. Mr. Leck has conducted many international festivals including the Musica Mundi Tuscany Children’s Choir Festival in Montecatini, Florence and Rome, Italy; the Central European International Children’s Choral Festival; the International Children’s Choir Festival in Beijing, China and the Vienna Children’s & Boys Choir Festival with the Vienna Sangerknaben. He has conducted many times in Brazil, including the Curso Internacional de Regencia Coral in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he founded the ARCI Sao Paulo Children’s Honor Choir which he conducts every other year. Mr. Leck has served as a clinician for the Australian National Choral Association and the Royal School of Church Music. He is the artistic director of the highly acclaimed Pacific Rim Festival in Hawaii and the International Children’s Choral Festival in Canterbury and London, England. For eleven years, he has conducted the National Youth Choral Festival in Carnegie Hall. Mr. Leck is widely known as a specialist in choral techniques, the child’s voice and the boy’s changing voice. He authored the choral section of Silver Burdett music textbooks for grades 4, 5 and 6. He has produced three teaching videos titled Vocal Techniques for the Young Singer, The Boy’s Expanding Voice: Take the High Road and Creating Artistry through Movement, Dalcroze Eurhythmics. He is a lead author for the choral textbook series published by McGraw Hill/Glencoe titled Experiencing Choral Music and is also the editor of two nationally known choral series published by Hal Leonard Corporation and Colla Voce, Inc./Plymouth. Mr. Leck is certified as a Kodály instructor and is an active member of ACDA, OAKE, MENC, AOSA and Pi Kappa Lambda. In 1992 he was named the “Outstanding University Music Educator of the Year” by the IMEA. Mr. Leck received his training from the University of Wisconsin, the University of Colorado and Indiana University where he received a master’s degree in choral conducting. Each year he teaches his conductor’s workshop entitled Creating Artistry at venues across the country. |
CMASC 2015 Clinicians
Dr. Jill Burleson Burgett
2015 Treble Choir Conductor Dr. Jill Burleson Burgett is Director of Choral Music Ed/Associate Director of Choral Studies at UNC, conducting the Women’s Glee Club and Prima Voce Chamber Ensemble, and teaching choral methods and conducting. Her doctorate is from Ball State University, where she was the Don Neuen fellowship recipient and subsequently served as Associate Director of Choral Activities. She holds an MM degree (choral conducting) from Ball State and a BM degree (magna cum laude) from Heidelberg University. For nearly twenty years, Burgett conducted choirs at the middle and high school level in the Indiana public schools. She has served on the Indiana and Colorado ACDA boards and Central Division ACDA board as College and University R&S Chair, and she is currently the President of the Colorado Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Burgett is an active festival clinician and conference speaker. She is published in Choral Journal and New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Conducting venues include Prague, Vienna, Budapest, London, and Paris, and a Rome concert tour taking place March 2014. |
Dr. David Brunner
2015 Women's Choir Conductor David L. Brunner is acclaimed as one today's most active and versatile conductors and composers. His wide and varied expertise embraces all ages in professional, university, public school, community, church and children’s choruses. Dr. Brunner is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Central Florida, where he conducts the University Chorus and Chamber Singers, teaches courses in conducting, and coaches composition students. In both 1995 and 2000 he received a College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award and in 1995 the University Excellence in Teaching Award, UCF’s highest teaching honor. His choirs have appeared at state and divisional conventions of both the American Choral Directors Association and the Music Educators National Conference. Well known for his compelling and dynamic work with singers of all ages, David has conducted women's, mixed and men's All-State and regional honor choirs throughout the United States at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. An inspired teacher, he is also a popular clinician at choral festivals and educational workshops in thirty-four U.S. states, Canada, the U.K., Europe, Australia and Japan. David Brunner's music resonates with imagination, lyricism and vitality. His compositions have been performed worldwide by children's choirs, middle and high school singers, college, community and professional choirs. The New York Times has referred to him as a notable figure in choral music, a "prolific choral writer whose name figures prominently on national repertory lists." (24 April 2003). Brunner holds degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University and Northwestern University in choral music education and conducting and the Doctor of Music Arts in Choral Literature and Conducting from the University of Illinois. In addition, he has studied with Robert Shaw, and with Helmuth Rilling in conducting master classes at the Oregon Bach Festival. Dr. Brunner is a Past-President of the Florida chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. |
Dr. Andrea Ramsey
2015 Men's Choir Conductor Dr. Andrea Ramsey is an Assistant Professor of Conducting and Associate Director of Choral Studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Prior to her appointment at CU, Andrea taught choral music methods courses, undergraduate conducting, and conducted the University Chorus at The Ohio State University. She holds a Ph.D. in music education from Michigan State University, where she was a University Distinguished Fellow and conducted the MSU Chamber Choir and assisted with the Women’s Chamber Ensemble. Her conducting teachers included Dr. David Rayl, Dr. Sandra Snow, and Dr. Jonathan Reed. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Arkansas Tech University and a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Kansas where she served as a graduate teaching assistant and conductor of the KU Men’s Glee Club, the first female to do so in the 120+ year history of the organization. As a composer, Dr. Ramsey continues to serve as composer-in-residence to the Allegro Choirs of Kansas City (an upbeat energetic youth choral program serving singers in grades 2-12) where she served as an assistant conductor for two years. A native Arkansan, Andrea has thirteen years of teaching experience with children’s, public school and university choruses. Her choral program in the Bentonville Public School district in Northwest Arkansas at Washington Junior High School grew to include approximately 375 students in grades 7-8. The choirs were twice invited to perform for the Arkansas All-State Music Conference. As a guest conductor, she has conducted all-state choruses and honor choirs in Missouri, Louisiana, Georgia, Virginia, and Arkansas. She looks forward to work this year with choirs in New York, Mississippi, Kentucky, Arkansas, West Virginia, Alabama, North Carolina, and Tennessee. |
CMASC 2014 Clinicians
Laura Farnell
2014 Women's Choir Conductor Laura Farnell is an active choral composer, clinician, accompanist, and adjudicator who resides in Arlington, Texas. After graduating summa cum laude from Baylor University with her Bachelor of Music Education in Choral Music (with a piano emphasis) in 1998, Laura taught elementary music in Mansfield, Texas for two years. She then taught for eight years at Boles Junior High in Arlington ISD, during which time the choir program earned numerous UIL sweepstakes awards. In 2004 she received an Excellence in Education Award as the Arlington Independent School District's outstanding junior high teacher of the year. Laura especially enjoys working with middle school students, as well as composing and arranging for this age group. She is represented by Alliance Music Publications, BriLee Music, Hal Leonard Corporation, Heritage Music, Kjos Music Press, and other publishers. She is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, and The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. She and her husband, Russell, and their son, Ryan, attend First Presbyterian Church of Arlington. |
Dr. Patrick Freer
2014 Men's Choir Conductor Patrick K. Freer is associate professor of choral music education at Georgia State University in Atlanta, offering programs at the baccalaureate, masters and PhD levels. He holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Freer is a frequent guest conductor for all-state choruses and has made over 85 presentations at regional, national and international conferences. He has guest conducted or presented in 32 states, Brazil, Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands and Spain. Dr. Freer has conducted several concerts in Carnegie Hall and made his Lincoln Center debut in June, 2012 with a concert in Avery Fisher Hall. He currently conducts the Georgia State University Men's Chorus and Choral Union. The Men's Chorus performed for the 2012 national meeting of Intercollegiate Men's Choruses, Inc., and was a national semi-finalist for the 2012 American Prize in Choral Performance. Dr. Freer is academic editor and chair of the editorial board for Music Educators Journal, the most widely circulated music education journal in the world. His major publications include Getting Started with Middle School Chorus (2nd Edition) which was named a 2010 "Outstanding Academic Title" by the Choice journal for university librarians; TIPS: The First Weeks of Middle School Chorus; and the critically acclaimed DVD series Success for Adolescent Singer. He is on the editorial and review boards for the International Journal of Music Education, Psychology of Music and Middle Grades Research Journal. His articles are published in most of the field's leading national and international journals, including the Choral Journal, Arts Education Policy Review, International Journal of Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Music Education Research, Music Educators Journal, Philosophy of Music Education Review, Research Studies in Music Education, Revista Internacional de Educación Musical, Southwestern Musician, Teaching Artist Journal and UPDATE: Applications of Research in Music Education. |