SFYCA Choral Teachers Workshop

July 2-5, 2010 in Eugene at the Oregon Bach Festival

Spend four music-filled days in Eugene and come away refreshed, inspired, and ready with new ideas for leading your high school choirs. This new professional development workshop is held in conjunction with the Stangeland Family Youth Choral Academy, the only program of its kind in the nation.

You’ll participate actively in workshops and attend concerts. You’ll also observe rehearsals of the 80-plus high school singers of the SFYCA — some of the best in the nation — directed by acclaimed conductors Anton Armstrong and Helmuth Rilling.

Gain These Benefits

• Develop more effective rehearsal techniques
• Study scores and absorb new techniques to get the most out of performances
• Reinforce workshop topics as you observe rehearsals with Rilling, Armstrong and Bobby McFerrin
• Develop ways you can take workshop ideas home to your own classrooms
• Learn about the ways the SFYCA can benefit your students
• Refresh your craft in a collegial environment
• Further apply what you’ve learned as you attend OBF concerts

Each full day of activities is divided between an in-depth seminar, attendance at rehearsals or classes of the youth choir, and evening concerts. Sessions take place on the UO campus or in Eugene’s Hult Center for the Performing Arts.

Room and three meals a day are available at Barnhart Hall, the University of Oregon dormitory that houses the SFYCA and members of the OBF chorus, orchestra, and conducting master class. All venues are within walking distance of the dorm.

Seminars

Rehearsal Technique
This seminar explores “Teaching with the Brain in Mind,” new knowledge about the how the brain works. Participants will discuss ways to incorporate these findings into classrooms and rehearsals. Seminar material is then compared with methods used by Anton Armstrong.

Repertoire
Study Each participant receives a packet of scores for study, including pieces to be performed by the SFYCA. This session includes methods of evaluating repertoire for programming.

Conducting
Coaching On a volunteer basis, participants can step up to the podium for coaching of their conducting technique in a non-threatening, supportive environment. Class members serve as the choir.

In other sessions, participants:

• Observe SFYCA rehearsals and classes including Musicianship, Bodysinging, and Vocal Technique
• Attend Q & A sessions with Anton Armstrong and Bobby McFerrin
• Attend rehearsals of Oregon Bach Festival main event concerts.

Concerts

The Oregon Bach Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary June 25-July 11 with a stellar lineup of choral orchestral masterworks, guest artists, and special events.

The SFYCA’s headline concert with Bobby McFerrin is included with your fee. Tickets are available at a 20% workshop discount to the July 1 Thomas Quasthoff vocal recital and the July 3 Anniversary Gala with Bach works, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, Quasthoff, McFerrin, the SFYCA and the OBF Chorus and Orchestra.

Workshop Fees

The Registration Fee is $195 per person and includes all workshop materials and a ticket to the July 5 SFYCA concert with Bobby McFerrin. Other optional costs:

• Room and Board. Per night: $71 single, $59 per person double. (Housing and three meals per day in the UO dorm that houses OBF musicians)
• Ticket to Thomas Quasthoff July 1 vocal recital, $38 or $31 (reflects 20% workshop discount)
• Ticket to OBF 40th anniversary concert July 3, $47 or $36 (reflects 20% workshop discount)
• One graduate credit available from the University of Oregon for $90. Please contact Elin England for more information.

Key Personnel

Sharon J. Paul (workshop leader) is an associate professor of music, chair of vocal and choral studies, and director of choral activities at the University of Oregon. She earned her D.M.A. in choral conducting from Stanford University.

Dr. Paul served as artistic director of the San Francisco Girls Chorus (SFGC) and conductor of Chorissima and Virtuose, the organization’s acclaimed performance ensembles, from 1992 to 2000. Under her leadership, the chorus released four compact discs, premiered major works by American composers, and represented the United States at the World Conference of the International Society for Music Education, the Spoleto Festival in Italy, and the Taipei-San Francisco Sister City Celebration in Taiwan.

Dr. Paul has presented interest sessions at regional, state, division, and national music conferences, most recently in Vancouver, BC, Oregon, Washington, California, Iowa, and New York. She appears frequently as adjudicator, clinician, and honor choir director throughout the country, with past engagements in New York, Nevada, California, Oregon, Arizona, Idaho, and Hawaii, and upcoming appearances in Florida, Georgia, and as the ACDA Eastern Division High School Women’s Honor Choir conductor in Philadelphia in 2010. University of Oregon choirs under her direction have performed at MENC state and divisional conferences, and at ACDA Northwestern Division conferences.

Helmuth Rilling (OBF artistic director) is known worldwide for his mastery in choral-orchestral repertoire.

Anton Armstrong (SFYCA conductor) is director of choirs at St. Olaf College and a revered educator.

Bobby McFerrin (guest artist) is an inspiring vocalist and ten-time Grammy-winner whose YouTube videos have been viewed by millions.

Application deadline: May 25. Download print brochure with registration form. Or for more information, call Elin England, (541) 346-5666 or write eengland@uoregon.edu.