Interest Sessions and Groups

Dear friends and colleagues,

It is with great regret that I announce the postponement of the Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses National Seminar that was to be held next week here at Albion College. The College administration has directed us to postpone the event for health reasons.

Our current plan is to hold the event here in the spring of 2021. The exact dates will be established soon – we hope that many of the choirs and presenters that planned to appear will be able to appear then.

For those registered for the Seminar, we will be offering an opportunity to credit your fees for registration for the 2021 event. If you instead would like a refund, we’ll give you an opportunity to do that in the near future. Concert tickets will also be refunded.

If you made hotel reservations, please contact your hotel to cancel those reservations. The Courtyard Marriott in Albion has indicated it will be offering full refunds.

Thanks so much – I was so much looking forward to seeing all of you, and will be focusing on making that happen in 2021.

Clayton Parr, Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, Albion College

Interest Sessions

“Male Chorus Intonation and Polyphony”

Clinician: Jameson Marvin, Conductor Emeritus, Harvard Glee Club
Demonstration ensemble: The Ohio State University Men’s Glee Club, Robert Ward, conductor

Friday, March 20, 2:00 p.m.

Jameson Marvin was Director of Choral Activities, Senior Lecturer on Music at Harvard University for 32 years. From 1978 to 2010, Harvard's Choral Program garnered a distinguished national reputation. Under his conductorship, the Harvard Glee Club, Radcliffe Choral Society, and the Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum, rose to be among the premier collegiate choruses in America. These ensembles appeared at nine Eastern Division and seven National Conferences of the American Choral Directors Association, and the Choral Program at Harvard was named by Classical Singer magazine the top collegiate choral program in the United States.

Through his publications of important articles on choral style and performance practices as well as his many editions of choral literature of the Renaissance, Dr. Marvin's well-known strengths as a choral scholar are revealed. His book published by GIA publishers in January 2019, Emotion in Choral Singing… Reading Between the Notes, mirrors Dr. Marvin 50 years of choral experience, with a Foreward is by Simon Carrington. His many folk song arrangements and compositions for mixed, men's, and women's choirs appear in numerous publications and are performed throughout this country. Some 50 of his former Harvard students now hold significant choral positions in the United States.

Since retirement Dr. Marvin held a sabbatical leave replacement at Stanford University as Visiting (Choral) Professor; he has directed workshops and lecture demonstrations at USC, Cal State, Pomona College, Universities of Oregon, Illinois, Michigan, Boston, and Yale. Fall 2010, he formed the Jameson Singers that perform concerts in Boston each year. The Jameson Singers were selected to perform at the Chorus America National Conference, 2014, and the ACDA Eastern Division Conference, 2013.

“Conducting Men’s Choirs, A New Book Written by Eighteen Authors on Topics Pertaining to Tenor/Bass Singing”

Clinician: Donald Trott, Director of Choral Activities, University of Mississippi

Friday, March 20, 3:30 p.m.

Dr. Donald Trott is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in Oxford. He conducts the Concert Singers, Men's Glee and shares conducting duties for the University Chorus. His choirs have performed on several state, regional and national conventions of the ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) and the MMEA (Mississippi Music Educators Association). ACDA performances occurred in 1998, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2016 and will include a performance by the Concert Singers at the 2020 Southern Region Conference in Mobile.

Choirs under his direction have performed in France, Germany, Czech Republic and Austria. As coordinator of the graduate choral conducting program, he teaches choral conducting and choral literature and supervises all graduate conducting recitals. Dr. Trott is a past president of the Southern Region of the ACDA and of the Virginia chapter of ACDA. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree cum laude from Westminster Choir College and both the Master of Music degree in choral conducting and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of Oklahoma, under the direction of Dr. Dennis Shrock. Dr. Trott's work on late eighteenth-century performance practice has resulted in articles in The Choral Journal as well as presentations at conventions for ACDA and the College Music Society. He is the author of the ACDA monograph titled Nineteenth Century Choral Music — An Annotated Bibliography of Music Suitable for College and University Choirs. He is the editor and contributor of a new book titled Conducting Men's Choirs which was published in 2020 and is available through GIA Publications.

“Degendering Musical Spaces: Welcoming Trans and Nonbinary Singers in Choirs”

Clinician: William Sauerland, Director of Choral Studies, Purdue University-Fort Wayne, Indiana

Saturday, March 21, 1:45 p.m.

William Sauerland is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies for the School of Music at Purdue University — Fort Wayne. He was previously a Lecturer in Voice at San Francisco State University, and the Director of Choral and Vocal Studies at Chabot College in Hayward, CA, where he received an Educator of Excellence Award from the Chabot Black Scholars. Dr. Sauerland has presented at regional, national, and international conferences for the American Choral Directors Association (2015), Chorus America (2017, 2019), Society for Music Teacher Education (2017), College Music Society (2018), Royal Musical Association (2019), and the National Forum for Music Education in Puerto Rico. Dr. Sauerland's research interests include social justice pedagogy in vocal music education, trans and non-binary vocality, and student-centered teaching. His publications appear in the Journal of Singing, Journal of Music Teacher Education, and VOICEPrints (Journal of the New York Singing Teachers' Association). As a countertenor, Dr. Sauerland has sung throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe as a former member of the Grammy Award-winning ensemble Chanticleer. He holds a Doctorate of Education in Music from Columbia University, a Master of Music from the Royal College of Music, and a Bachelor of Music from Miami University in Ohio.

Groups

Cantus

Acclaimed as "the premier men's vocal ensemble in the United States" (Fanfare), Cantus engages audiences in a meaningful music experience and ensures the future of ensemble singing by mentoring young singers and educators. Cantus was founded on the ideals of collaborative music-making: The ensemble works together to reach new levels of artistic excellence, innovation and audience engagement. Their vision is to give voice to shared human experiences.

Hart Middle School

Students of the Hart Middle School choral program have the chance to participate in a high-quality, collaborative, and inclusive music-making experience with students of all ability levels. Singers will learn a diverse array of repertoire from different cultures and time periods, perform throughout the year, build musicianship skills, and work individually and in groups on assignments in composition, research, and music analysis, creating a well-rounded music education for every student. The Tenor/Bass Chorus at Hart Middle School was created in 2014, when we made the switch to gender-based choirs in seventh and eighth grade. The non-auditioned ensemble meets daily and includes all of the Tenors and Basses in choir. We sing mostly TTB literature, and work toward TTBB pieces by the end of the school year. The Tenor/Bass Chorus was featured at the Michigan Music Conference in 2017, and consistently earn top ratings at festival. The ensemble often performs in combination with the Treble Choruses from Hart, and also enjoy combining with the 6thgrade Tenors And Basses for large festival choirs.

Case Men's Glee Club

Case Men's Glee Club joined the Department of Music in fall 2018 as the lower voice choral ensemble open to all students enrolled in the University who enjoy singing. CMGC has the distinction of being the oldest continually operating student organization on its campus, dating back to 1897! Long-standing traditions of fellowship and excellence in singing continue this fall as CMGC becomes an official Department ensemble. The ensemble performs a wide variety of accompanied and a cappella repertoire written specifically for tenor, baritone, and bass voices.

Grand Valley State Varsity Men

University of Illinois Varsity Men’s Glee Club

Founded in 1886, the Varsity Men's Glee Club is the oldest recognized Registered Student Organization on campus, and from its beginning, it has upheld a standard of musical excellence and brotherhood that continues today. As the premiere all-male ensemble within the School of Music Choral Division, the Varsity Men's Glee Club (VMGC) members serve as ambassadors of the University of Illinois while participating in numerous US and international tours and campus events, such as Dad's Day and Mom's Day festivities. Not only is the Varsity Men's Glee Club a part of the School of Music, but it is also the oldest Registered Student Organization on campus, celebrating over 125 years of excellence. The Varsity Men's Glee Club consists of both undergraduate and graduate students. We are all gathered for our love of music and passion for singing. In addition to the main chorus, Varsity Men's Glee Club also features a smaller subset a cappella group.

Bowling Green State University Men’s Chorus

An auditioned large ensemble, open to all male students at Bowling Green State University, the chorus' motto and reputation as "America's Finest Singing Machine" is well deserved, emanating from over forty years of musical excellence. The ensemble encompasses students from all majors; over half are non-music majors, representing all seven colleges at the University. The chorus organizes and presents two tours each academic year. Fall finds the singers traveling to locations in Ohio and Michigan, performing at high schools during the day and various concert venues in the evenings. The spring tour ventures to a new location each year, and past trips have taken the men to Colorado, Florida, New York City, Washington D.C., and Toronto. These off-campus pursuits provide opportunities to perform for diverse audiences, serve as musical ambassadors for BGSU, see different parts of the country, and bond and create lasting friendships with fellow chorus members. The ensemble, which has produced numerous CDs, has performed with distinction at a number of regional and national ACDA conferences, as well as the North Coast Conference of NAfME, OMEA state conferences, and IMC National Seminars. The group has commissioned works by composers including Dave Brubeck, Timothy Takach, Michael Cox, Stacey Gibbs, and Zebulon Highben.

Michigan Brothers in Song

MEME

MEME (Michigan Educators Male Ensemble) is a group of music teachers, dedicated to strengthening the choral art in the state through performances and workshops. Their members teach music at the elementary, junior high, high school and college levels, and lead church and community groups as well. Founded in 2013, MEME has performed with the United States Army Chorus and the Battle Creek Symphony, and for the Intercollegiate Men's Choruses National Seminar, the Michigan Music Conference, and the Bay View Music Festival. For more information about MEME, consult their website at michiganmeme.com

Langsford Men's Chorus

One evening in the fall of 1999, six men casually gathered around a piano and began to sing. While this event might not seem particularly unusual, it did hold a special significance in that the men were holding the first rehearsal of a group that is now known as The Langsford Men's Chorus. Since that first informal session, the LMC has evolved into a world class male choral ensemble, now numbering 60 men. The Chorus was formed in part to honor its namesake, Dr. Harry M. Langsford, who founded the WSU Men's Glee Club in 1945 and was its sole director for almost half a century. Dr. Langsford was committed to the attainment of vocal excellence through the performance of the finest, and often the most challenging choral literature written for men's voices. The Langsford Men's Chorus has proudly carried on this tradition. In the summer of 2008, the LMC gained international acclaim by placing second in the male chorus competition in the prestigious International Musical Eisteddfod held in Llangollen, Wales. The group returned to Europe in the summer of 2012 for a successful concert tour of Scotland, England, and Wales. Also, in 2012, LMC was a featured performing group for the American Choral Director's Association of Michigan Fall Conference. In 2014, LMC completed a concert tour of the Washington, D.C area, singing at several national monument sites and performing a joint concert with the US Army Chorus. The chorus has also performed the national anthem several times for the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park In Spring 2019, under the direction of founding member and conductor Steven SeGraves and associate conductor Justin Umbarger, the Chorus took the stage to perform "Made in America" as a part of its semi-annual Spring Concert series at several Detroit area locations. Audience Retreated to a concert of all-American music, featuring spirituals, folk songs, popular standards, and patriotic favorites. The group also embarked on a Chicago area concert tour in June including an opportunity to perform at the "House of Blues Chicago". The chorus celebrates its 20th anniversary in the Fall of 2019!

Chiaroscuro

Chiaroscuro Community Men's Chorus is a community men's choral experience for men within driving distance of Lenawee County, Michigan. Our mission is to touch the hearts and minds of our listeners with beautiful expressive singing. We strive for excellence as choral musicians. Members of the chorus represent a diversity of professions and ages, however, all of the men in the group love to sing and enjoy the camaraderie that comes with singing in an all men's group. We are artists-in-residence at Adrian College, Adrian, Michigan.

Baldwin-Wallace Men’s Chorus

The BW Men's Chorus is an offering of the Community Arts School and is open to men high school age and up from throughout the Greater Cleveland community including BW faculty, staff and students. This collaborative effort seeks to bring outstanding male chorus singing to Northeast Ohio. The group has performed to standing-room-only audiences, has collaborated in concert with several outstanding music organizations and has received rave reviews from throughout the Greater Cleveland Community. The chorus performs a wide variety of chorale literature written especially for the male voice. This includes classical literature, as well as some pop and Broadway. Members should have some background in music (instrumental or vocal) and a basic knowledge of music reading and pitch matching.

YPAS Louisville Gentlemen’s Ensemble

The YPAS Gentlemen's Ensemble is one of four curricular ensembles at the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, Kentucky. The Youth Performing Arts School is part of DuPont Manual High School and serves as Jefferson County Public Schools' magnet high school for the performing arts. The Gentlemen's Ensemble has been given the honor of performing at the 2014 IMC Seminar at Rutgers University and the 2016 Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference in 2016 in addition to their numerous local engagements. Members of the Gentlemen's Ensemble also participate in at least one other curricular ensemble and solo repertoire requirements similar to those of college vocal majors. While participating in their magnet programs in vocal music or musical theater, Gentlemen's ensemble students also participate in a wide range of athletic and academic activities. Graduates of the YPAS Vocal Department have received numerous college scholarships and professional singing engagements.

Measure for Measure

Measure for Measure was founded in 1988 by five alumni of the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club, to provide an opportunity for men to perform music composed and arranged for male chorus. Under the leadership of its founding conductor, Dr. Leonard L. Riccinto, Measure for Measure debuted with seventeen singers in April 1989.The men of Measure for Measure embrace the belief that singing is for a lifetime, and every season hold concerts that encourage young men to continue singing. Measure for Measure's efforts to promote male choral singing have led to collaborations with the men's choruses from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Azusa Pacific University, Ball State University, Bowling Green State University, Grand Valley State University, Miami University (OH), and Ohio University, among others.

University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club

The University of Michigan Men's Glee Club is the second oldest collegiate chorus in the United States, and has long been acclaimed as one of the finest male choruses in the world. It is the oldest musical group on campus, as well as the oldest student organization at the University. Once only a group of six or eight men, it has blossomed into a group of 100 men representing a majority of the schools and colleges at the University of Michigan.

Ohio State Men’s Glee Club

The Men's Glee Club at Ohio State is a brotherhood that commits itself to excellence through artistry, achievement in academics, and outreach to the community. The Men's Glee Club has been sharing music with the OSU campus, community and around the world since 1875. They are active throughout the year with fall tailgating before football games, multiple concerts on and off campus and frequent trips both within the U.S. and abroad.

Harvard Glee Club (Cancelled)

Regretfully, the Harvard Glee Club announces that it will not be able to embark on its 2020 Heartland Tour. This announcement is the result of Harvard University administration’s preventative restrictions on domestic travel for students and faculty, placed in early March due to health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19. These and similar restrictions have impacted student group travel, on-campus activities, and day-to-day life across the University. The Glee Club is deeply grateful to its partners, collaborators, and all others in Ithaca (NY), Pittsburgh and Latrobe (PA), Athens, Marion, and London (OH), Ann Arbor, and Albion (MI) who provided support for the tour. For more information about Harvard's response to the coronavirus, visit https://www.harvard.edu/coronavirus.

Michigan Brothers in Song

The Michigan Brothers in Song is a combined effort among six high school choral programs from across the state of Michigan (Ann Arbor Pioneer, Clarkston, Rockford, South Lyon, Traverse City Central, and Traverse City West High School). This collaborative project brings together over 150 high school tenors and basses for a weekend of rehearsals, community, and song. We are honored to unite our voices in a shared program, developed collaboratively by the participating directors. Michigan Brothers in Song rehearsals are open to Seminar attendees on Thursday and Friday. We are grateful to the Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses for allowing us to share in this brotherhood of song and raise our voices together!