Fall 2009
Dear fellow conductor and choral music lover,
Please find the neighboring link to a downloadable and printable brochure detailing Stars in the East – a new educational symposium for advanced and aspiring choral conductors scheduled to take place on January 14-16, 2010.
In the brochure, you will see that the focus and emphasis of this three-day event is to provide an opportunity to observe three outstanding conductors as they do what they do best: teach. Since this event does not culminate in a performance or performances with each visiting conductor, it is my hope to be able to intimately observe these teachers in an environment geared to illuminate honest evaluation, diligent rehearsal techniques, and the many interpersonal and musical skills that uniquely combine to make a national caliber conductor and clinician.
Personally, I am eager to watch these fine conductors as they rehearse with the acclaimed ECU Chamber Singers on excellent collegiate & professional-level choral repertoire, as well as with excellent high school choirs from North Carolina. I look forward to hearing their thoughts and techniques for effecting changes in subtleties of tone, diction, tuning, interpretation, and even the methods in which they motivate and inspire.
In short, I am eager to be a fly on the wall as these fine conductors go about their work.
Additionally, these guest conductors will each teach a conducting master class – primarily made up of ECU graduate conducting students – on repertoire from the Symposium as well as other repertoire from the Chamber Singers concert season. Here, these teachers will offer input on gesture, aural acuity, and rehearsal techniques. We will have a very limited amount of time for guest conductors (probably 2-4 slots). If you are interested in conducting in a master class setting, let me know by email immediately, and please send a brief conducting resumé with your registration and payment.
Finally, a public interview with each of the conductors will also be coupled with a class on resources and literature for the collegiate conducting student and teacher. It is my hope that these days will be intimate, fun, and informative for all who are in attendance. I have always found that I learned the most as a conductor and teacher by observing outstanding conductors work with all types of choirs and conducting students.
And so, it is with this spirit in mind that this symposium has been assembled. I am eager to share this opportunity with other fellow conductors and conducting students who would enjoy and benefit from being part of such an environment.
For more information, please contact
Dr. Daniel Bara.
