The City Choir of Washington Hosts World Premiere
The City Choir of Washington’s second season will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Grammy Award-winning conductor, Robert Shafer and his many contributions to the Washington, D.C. area’s musical vitality. Shafer, who was recently honored for his 25 years as Artist-in-Residence at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Va., will conduct the world premiere of his new work, “Lux Aeterna”, for chorus and orchestra at The City Choir’s April 19, 2009 concert at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.
Visit www.thecitychoirofwashington.org to learn more.
ACDA National Convention 2009
Twelve new choral compositions will have their world premiere performance at the 2009 American Choral Directors Association National Convention in Oklahoma City, March 4-7, 2009. The new compositions will feature the work of some of today’s leading composers.
Educational credit is available for attendees of the 2009 ACDA National Convention. Credit may be used for re-certification of teaching licenses, salary lane changes, and those seeking promotion and tenure.
For more information and to register online, visit www.acdaonline.org.
Music Matters Grants 2009
Music Matters Grants for 2009 will focus on educational reform in school music programs and independent nonprofit music programs. Grants will be awarded to schools and music programs throughout the United States. Music education, vocal or instrumental, must be the key component of any music program requesting funds. Public school programs (qualifying for Title I federal funding and serving a minimum of 70 percent low-income students) or nonprofit 501(c) (3) programs directly funding music education (serving students regardless of their ability to pay) are eligible to apply.
Schools and programs must already employ a music educator(s) and have an existing music program in place. Grant requests must articulate specific music program needs for existing and/or planned programs.
Priority will be given to music education programs serving students in grades K-12, programs involving innovative educational reform, programs serving economically disadvantaged children, programs having established collaborative partnerships with parent-teacher-student associations and other community groups, and programs focused on the basic need of music instruments and educational materials.
Grant amounts for this cycle will range from $1,000 to $12,000 each. Grants are made on an annual one-time basis. The deadline is February 4, 2009.
For an application, go to www.heart.muzak.com.
JCCIC Announces Inaugural Program
Senator Dianne Feinstein, chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, has announced the program for the 56th Presidential Inauguration, which will take place on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2009.
The program participants were invited by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and chosen by the Chairman, the Presidential-elect and the Vice President-elect. Among those selected to perform at the event are the United States Marine Band, the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus, Aretha Franklin, and a quartet featuring Itzhak Perlman (Violin), Yo-Yo Ma (Cello), Gabriela Montero (Piano), and Anthony McGill (Clarinet), which play a piece written for the occasion by famed American maestro John Williams.
Visit the JCCIC Web site, inaugural.senate.gov, for more details.
Vivace Cathedrals Choir Performance
On February 27, 2009, the Vivace Cathedrals Choir will perform at the Pantages Theater in Tacoma, Wash. The Vivace Choir, led by composer/conductor Andrea Klouse, has performed at venues from the National Cathedral to Carnegie Hall. This group prepares a wide range of challenging choral repertoire. The concert will also feature the winner of the Tacoma Concert Band’s 2009 Student Soloist Competition.
For more information, visit www.vivacechoral.com or www.tacomaconcertband.org.
Montana’s International Choral Festival
Applications are now being accepted for the International Choral Festival to be held July 15-19, 2009, in Missoula. Participation is open to choirs of all ages and voicing. Choirs are screened by the selection committee based on their musical ability and participation in the Festival is by official invitation only. Selected choirs are expected to participate in the entire Festival program. Participating choirs also waive all fees and rights to audio and video recordings made or authorized by the International Choral Festival during the course of the festival, and agree to sign a release waiver relative to these rights upon their arrival in Missoula. There are no application or participation fees associated with the International Choral Festival. Once selected, all choirs must finance their travel to and from Missoula. Choirs who travel from outside of the United States will be housed with local families and provided all meals during Festival week. Domestic choirs are responsible for arranging their own accommodations and meals. There is no official deadline for submitting an application, however because applications will be reviewed in the order received, interested choirs are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Invitations will not be extended after the maximum capacity for participation has been reached.
More information can be found at www.choralfestival.org.
