...for the dynamic choral music educator, church musician, and high school chorister

The Invitational High School Choral Festival
Held annually during the month of November, the High School Choral Festival welcomes high school choirs from all over Eastern North Carolina to sing for each other and receive constructive responses from ECU School of Music Faculty. The 2001 High School Choral Invitational hosted a capacity 27 choirs from 19 schools - a total of nearly 1300 high school singers. Each choir receives written critiques of performances (no rating will be given) and an on-stage clinic. If space permits, teachers may choose to have their choir audit the day’s activities, rather than sing. The day culminates in a brief collage performance presented by the Vocal Studies Faculty and School of Music Choirs. For more information, contact Dr. Bara.

Religious Arts Festival
Held annually on the third weekend of January, this growing festival features three days of extensive workshops and performances geared to inspire and inform today’s church organists, choir directors, choristers, clergyman, and lay assistants. This year Dr. Bara will serve as the choral clinician, offering conducting masterclasses and open rehearsals with the Festival Choir on the Fauré Requiem. The Festival will culminate in a performance of this beloved masterpiece presented in the resplendent acoustic of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. For complete information on all of the concert and workshop contents, contact Dr. Janette Fishell, festival coordinator, and see the RAF web page.

NEW! The East Carolina University High School Honor Choir
Designed as a unique honor choir experience for the high school chorister who may have been overlooked, or was not eligible for the All-State Honors Choir, this two-day event will feature a rigorous and intense rehearsal schedule with the ECU choral faculty, and will culminate in a performance in the University’s Wright Auditorium. High school music educators will be asked to nominate and prepare a balanced ensemble of 4, 8, 12, or 16 singers (space permitting) from his or her high school choir and accompany them for the two day festival. In addition to open rehearsals, workshop sessions will be offered to the music teachers on the topics of “Preparing your high school chorister for a college audition,” “Group vocal techniques,” and “Conducting: From score study to rehearsal to arm waving.” In addition to rehearsing and performing, students will have the opportunity to enjoy the university recreation facilities, meet with School of Music voice faculty, as well as many other enriching opportunities! For more information, contact Dr. Bara.

The ECU Summer Choral Conducting Institute
Dr. Daniel Bara, Clinician
After unprecedented success in its inaugural season, the ECU Summer Choral Conducting Institute will re-open its doors to choral music educators and church musicians seeking enrichment and inspiration in the areas of conducting technique and artistry. Twelve conductors will be afforded the opportunity to conduct the Institute Choir in master classes and twelve additional auditors will take part in interest sessions on conducting, rehearsal techniques, score study, group vocal techniques, and repertoire building. This week-long workshop is bound to inspire confidence and enthusiasm in all who take part! For more information contact Dr. Bara.

The ECU All-State Choir Preparation Clinic
For high school choristers interested in auditioning for NC All-State Honor Choir, this day-long workshop will be offered by ECU choral faculty to help students familiarize themselves with the audition repertoire in order to prepare for the audition. Details forthcoming.