Introducing the Inaugural


Michigan Elementary Choral Festival, 2012 March 3, 2012


We are excited to announce a new choral event for your Choir- hungry students – the MMEA Elementary Choral Festival. This event is open to 4-6th grades. The cost for participation is $10 per student.


The purpose of the MMEA Elementary Choral Festival is to promote children’s joy of singing. Choral members will have an opportunity to perform high quality choral literature under the direction of expert master clinicians. Our goals are to further develop children’s musicianship skills, nurture a deeper appreciation of the choral art through communal singing, and foster a life-long love of choral singing.


The date for the Central part of the state will be Saturday, March 3, 2012, to be held at Okemos High School Auditorium located at 2800 Jolly Road (NW corner of Jolly Rd and Hulett Rd) Okemos, MI, 48864


Schedule for this event will be as follows: 8:15 a.m.


Registration begins


9:00 a.m. Meet the Head Clinician; Warm-ups: Erich Wangeman, Kristin Zaryski Performance by a guest ensemble


9:30-11:00 Rotating Sectionals: Children work with each of the three guest conductors!


11:00 Break


11:10 a.m. Gather in the auditorium for full choir rehearsal 11:45 a.m.


Performance for parents and teachers.


While students are learning their pieces, parents and teachers will meet with representatives from the Michigan Youth Arts organization to discuss advocacy issues.


We welcome all students who have an interest in developing their singing voice and enjoy working in a large group setting. Students should belong to the chorus/choir at their home school. If there is no such ensemble, teachers can choose students to attend. Please provide one or two chaperones (teachers or parents) per school; we recommend one for every 5 children.


Teachers will have the opportunity to present the literature to the students ahead of time. A Choral Octavo for the song “Afternoon on a Hill” by Cynthia Gray (Heritage 15/2519H or JWPepper #10067521) will be mailed to each school site. A recording of the piece can be found on the J.W. Pepper web site. Students will be given a copy to use, which they must return as it will be used throughout the state for other Festivals. The other piece will be from the public domain, and will be sent as a link or a .pdf file to those who indicate an interest. A third piece will be “Music Alone Shall Live” as found in Get America Singing Again. If you need a copy, please request one by emailing Barbara O’Hagin at: barbara.ohagin@okemosschools.net


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Please go to the web site www.mmeamichigan.org where you will find a sample Permission slip that you can edit and pass along to your choir members and their parents, and a Registration form that needs to be returned by Monday, February 20, 2012.


We will need your payment in advance in order to receive copies of the octavo, so mail your check to Barbara O’Hagin, Elementary Choral Festival Co-Chair, Kinawa School, 1900 Kinawa Drive. Okemos, MI 48864. If you cannot mail the check by the due date, fax a copy of it to 517-347-9827 and bring your registration fee to the event but email the form. One check per school, please, made payable to MMEA (Michigan Music Educators Association) and we can only accept checks from the teacher or the school (not parents). Feel free to send your email of interest, questions or concerns any time before that to Barbara O’Hagin at: Barbara.ohagin@ okemosschools.net


Return the registration page either electronically to barbara. ohagin@okemosschools.net or by snail mail to Kinawa School, 1900 Kinawa Drive, Okemos, MI 48864. Please send by Monday, February 20.


Please forward this email to a teacher you think may be interested in this event with 4th-6th grade singers. Schools without choral programs are encouraged to send students they feel would benefit from this event as well.


In addition to Head Clinician, Julie Skadsem from the University of Michigan, we will have guest clinicians, Erich Wangeman (Haslett High School) and Kristen Zaryski (Michigan State University Children’s Choir) lead the groups in favorite warm-ups and sectionals. Please note that we will also need volunteers to accompany the sectionals. Please indicate your interest to do so on the Registration Form or send an email message to me.


Two things we request you do before the event: Divide your group evenly between Part 1 and Part 2 (the song “Afternoon on a Hill” has Part 2 singing melody for part of the time) and bring a duo-tang style folder per participant to hold music.


I look forward to seeing you and your students at this wonderful event! See you on March 3rd!


Musically yours,


Dr. Isabel Barbara O’Hagin MMEA Elementary Choral Festival Co-Chair Kinawa School Choral Director 517-897-1068 Barbara.ohagin@okemosschools.net


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