Jamilla McWhirter, State Higher Education Chair
jmcwhirt@mtsu.edu
TMEA State Conference
April 15 & 16, 2009
Dr. David Rayl, Conductor
Choral directors may submit an octet for the TMEA All-Collegiate Choir. If there is more than one choral director at your institution, then each director may submit an octet. If the choral director conducts a single gender ensemble, then a quartet of that gender may be submitted. Please submit the names of your best students. These should be students who not only sing well, but have strong sight singing and tonal memory skills. The students do not have to be music education majors, but the choral director submitting names must be an MENC/TMEA member. If you are not a member, you can join MENC online at www.menc.org. There is a $40 fee per student. This may be paid by the university/college or by the individual students. However, please send a single check in the mail to the address at the bottom of the application. Deadline for submission of names/payment is December 15, 2008.
Students are expected to pay for their own travel and accommodations in Nashville. All rehearsals and performance will occur at the Nashville Convention Center. Students participating in this ensemble must realize that they are to be musically prepared and present at each rehearsal and the performance. Rehearsals will take place all day Wednesday, April 15. The performance will occur during the Opening General Session on Thursday morning, April 16. A rehearsal schedule is available below.
A $40 non-refundable fee payable to TMEA for each participant must be postmarked by December 15, 2008. Please do not send cash. Please send one check for the total number of students to:
Dr. Jamila L. McWhirter
TMEA Higher Education Chair
MTSU School of Music
MTSU Box 47
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
photo courtesy of Doug Elbinger of Elbinger Studios
David Rayl is Director of Choral Programs at Michigan State University where he directs the graduate program in choral conducting. Under his baton the MSU Chorale has appeared at the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association (2007), the Central Division convention of ACDA (2006), and the national meeting of the College Music Society (2002). He has also prepared the Chorale for 4 sets of performances with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Prior to his MSU appointment, Rayl served for 12 years at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Under his direction, the MU University Singers sang at the national convention of the American Choral Directors Association (1995), at the 27th annual Florilège Vocale in Tours, France (1998), and at Maggio Musicale in Florence, Italy (2000). Rayl’s recent appearances include his Carnegie Hall debut leading the Beethoven Mass in C, all-state and honor choirs in North Carolina, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan, and presentations for the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the Music Teachers National Association, Festival 500 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the national convention of the Brazilian Choral Directors Association, and the Massachusetts ACDA.
This message just in from Carole Wysocki, Director, National Symphony Orchestra Education Program
I would like to draw your attention to a new division of the National Symphony Orchestra Young Soloists’ Competition—The National Young Artist Division. For 2009, this division will be open to pianists ages 18-25. A total of $20,000 in cash prizes will be awarded, in addition to the opportunity for the first place winner to perform as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra!
The application deadline for the Young Artist Division is January 14, 2009.
NSO Young Artist Division Information and Application:
http://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/nsoed/youngsoloists.cfm