High School Concert Choir 2013

André J. Thomas, the Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music, is Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University. A previous faculty member at the University of Texas, Austin, Dr. Thomas received his degrees from Friends University (B.A.), Northwestern University (M. M.), and the University of Illinois (D.M.A). He is in demand as a choral adjudicator, clinician, and director of Honor/All-State Choirs throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia.

Dr. Thomas has conducted choirs at the state, division, and national conventions of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) and American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). His international conducting credits are extensive. They include conductor/clinician for the International Federation of Choral Musicians, summer residency of the World Youth Choir in the Republic of China and the Philippines, winter residency of the World Youth Choir in Europe, and a premier performance by an American choir (Florida State University Singers) in Vietnam. He has been the guest conductor of such distinguished orchestras and choirs as the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in England, guest Conductor for the Berlin Radio Choir in Germany, the Netherlands Radio Choir, the Charlotte Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony, China’s People’s Liberation Orchestra and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Since 1988, he has also served as Artistic Director of the Tallahassee Community Chorus.

Thomas has also distinguished himself as a composer/arranger. Hinshaw Music Company, Mark Foster Music Company, Fitzsimons Music Company, Lawson Gould, Earthsongs, Choristers Guild, and Heritage Music Company publish his compositions and arrangements.

Dr. Thomas has produced two instructional videos “What They See Is What You Get” on choral conducting, with Rodney Eichenberger, and “Body, Mind, Spirit, Voice” on adolescent voices, with Anton Armstrong. His recent book “Way Over in Beulah Lan’. Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual” has quickly become a major source in this area of study. The African Diaspora Sacred Music honored Dr. Thomas as a Living Legend.

In 2011, Thomas’ dedication to and accomplishments in the choral arts were recognized by his peers in Chorus America, when that organization presented Dr. Thomas with its Distinguished Service Award.

He is a past president of the Florida ACDA, and the past president of the Southern Division of ACDA.

Repertoire:

1. “The King Shall Rejoice”, G.F. Handel, adapted and edited by André J. Thomas, Hinshaw Music (special new publication)
2. “Buccinate in Neomenia Tuba”, Croce/edited Alwes, Shawnee Press 35002486, SATB div
3. “Sanctus”, Randall Johnson, Santa Barbara SBMP1052, SATB piano and Timpani
4. “Cloths of Heaven”, M.E. Valverde, Earthsongs, SATB
5. “Do Lord Remember Me”, arr. André Thomas, Heritage Music Press 15/2753H, SATB, piano,bass, drums
6. “Wayfarin’ Stranger”, arr. Craig Zamer, Hinshaw Music, Inc. HMC2272, SATB, soli
7. “Shenandoah”, arr. Rollo Dilworth, Hal Leonard 08751792, SATB,fl, piano, bass, drums
8. “John Henry”, by John Miller, Hinshaw HPC7071, SATB piano and instruments

High School Reading Choir 2013

Z. Randall Stroope is one of the most active choral conductors and composers working today, with recent conducting engagements at the American School in Singapore, Canterbury Cathedral (England), Salzburger Dom (Austria), Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.), Vancouver Symphony (British Columbia), and three performances at the Vatican in the past two years. He also is Artistic Director for summer international choral festivals in Berlin, Germany and Rome, Italy. Stroope has toured 15 countries with ensembles under his direction, as well, including China and South Africa. In the United States, Dr. Stroope has conducted 35 all-state choirs (Kentucky, New Hampshire and Delaware in 2011), and does many clinics a year for professional choirs, universities, and state music organizations across the country.

At Oklahoma State University, Dr. Stroope is the Director of Choral and Vocal Studies where he conducts the Concert Chorale and Chamber Choir, oversees recruitment activities, and coordinates the undergraduate and graduate conducting program. He and the other six faculty and staff in the choral/vocal division has seen tremendous growth in the number of music majors and general university involvement in the choral program. Prior to teaching at OSU, Dr. Stroope was the Director of Choral Studies at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.

In October 2009, Dr. Stroope was featured in an hour-long interview (“Sounds Choral”) with well-known radio personality Marjorie Herman in a series with The Classical Network WWFM syndicated classical radio. In this interview, Stroope talked about his compositional study with Cecil Effinger and Normand Lockwood, both students of Nadia Boulanger (in turn, a student of Gabriel Faure’), as well as various aspects of his conducting work.

Dr. Stroope has 95 published works with Alliance, Walton, Colla Voce, and MorningStar and Heritage Music Press. His compositions sell over 200,000 copies a year, and are performed regularly by esteemed ensembles throughout the world, including professional ensembles in the United States, France, Holland, Hong Kong, Spain, Japan, Australia, the Czech Republic, and Canada. Dr. Stroope has personally conducted/recorded 13 professional compact discs, and recordings of his music are heard frequently on radio and television broadcasts, including National Public Radio.

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Stroope completed his masters in voice performance at the University of Colorado (Boulder), and a doctorate in conducting at Arizona State University. He also did post graduate individual conducting study with Margaret Hillis, Chorus Master of the Chicago Symphony. As a recipient of the Australian-American Fulbright, he has also done work in western Australia.

Dr. Stroope and his wife, Cheryl – a middle school choral music teacher in Stillwater – enjoy travel and time with their Sheltie.

Repertoire:

TBA

High School Women’s Choir 2013

Dr. Mitos Andaya is the new Associate Director of Choral Activities in the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University in Philadelphia. She teaches undergraduate conducting, graduate choral literature, assists with graduate conducting, and directs the Temple University Singers. Prior to her appointment at Temple, she served as Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Georgia where she directed ensembles in early music, jazz, women’s, chamber, and symphonic chorus repertoire. There she was awarded one of the university’s highest honors, the Richard B. Russell Undergraduate Teaching Award, and twice received the Student Government Association Award for “Outstanding Commitment to Students and Academic Excellence.”

Dr. Andaya has taught choral and jazz at the university level in the United States, South Africa, and Australia. She served as guest conductor of the Netherlands Chamber Choir in Amsterdam and Arnhem in 2007; conducted the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir in concert at the Lund International Choral Festival in Sweden; and conducted the Netherlands Chamber Choir, Netherlands Radio Chorus, in Haarlem in 2005. She conducted at the 2005 Transient Glory Choral and Chamber Music Festival in New York and worked with Pulitzer Prize winning-composer, David Del Tredici. In 2004, she prepared ensembles for the BBC Philharmonic conductor/Scottish composer, James MacMillan, for his Georgia residency. She was selected to study with Marin Alsop at the Colorado Symphony Orchestra Workshop in 2003, Helmuth Rilling at the Oregon Bach Festival in 2003 and 2004, Simon Halsey and André Thomas in Haarlem, Netherlands in 2005, and Frieder Bernius in Varese, Italy in 2006. Her conducting teachers at the University of Kansas were Simon Carrington and orchestral conductor, Brian Priestman.

Her ensembles have been invited to perform throughout the United States such as at the Boston Early Music Festival, Southern American Choral Directors Association Conference, and the UNC/Greeley Jazz Festival. Her choirs have also traveled and performed in England, Scotland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Portugal and Spain. She has been a member of the conducting faculty of the Westminster Chamber Choir with Westminster Choir College of Rider University since 2007, and has served as a member of the judges panel for the International A Cappella Festival in Leipzig, Germany. In 2010, she served as clinician and guest conductor for the First Kenyan Choral Directors National Conference hosted by Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya. She continues to serve as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor for honor choruses, all-state choirs, and festivals.

Dr. Andaya has Renaissance and other editions published with Alliance Music Publications, and jazz compositions and arrangements with UNC Jazz Press and Hal Leonard. She served as the chair for Jazz Repertoire and Standards for the Georgia American Choral Directors Association, is active in the American Choral Directors Association and International Federation of Choral Music, and currently serves as President-Elect of the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO).

Repertoire:

1. “Audivi vocem de caelo”, John Sheppard, Alliance Music Publications AMP-0631, SSAA unaccompanied
2. “Ave Maria”, Gustav Holst, H.W. Gray Publishing (Alfred Publishing now?) Publisher #GMOD00312, double chorus SSAA/SSAA unaccompanied
3. “Psallite superi”, Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, A-R Editions (requesting permission from A-R editions and how to proceed), SSA(A) + SSAA soli with continuo group
4. “The Singing Place”, Joan Szymko, Earthsongs S-305, SSAA divisi with piano
5. “Shenandoah Folk Song”, arr. William Lycan, Treble Clef Music Press TC-156, SSAA unaccompanied
6. “Will there really be a morning?”, Craig Hella Johnson, Alliance Music Publications AMP-0620, SA with piano
7. “My Favorite Things”, Oscar Hammerstein/Richard Rodgers, arr. Mitos Andaya, Hal Leonard Corporation Publisher #08748085, SSAA with rhythm section – piano, bass, preferably congas

High School Men’s Choir 2013

Michael Dye is in his 22nd year as choral director at Niceville High School and in his 36th year as a music educator. He received the Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Henderson State university in Arkadelphia and Master of Music Education Degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Dye began his choral music career in Arkansas at Southwest Junior High School in Hot Springs (1976) before accepting a position at Dollarway High School in Pine Bluff where he served 12 years as choral director. He served as the Arkansas state president of the American Choral Director’s Association (1984-1986). He later served as state president of the state’s choral interscholastic organization, the Arkansas Choral Director’s Association (1986-1988). In 1989, the Arkansas Choral Director’s Association selected his as the Arkansas Choral Director of the Year.

In 1990, Dye began his career as director of the Niceville High School choruses. He was selected Niceville High School’s Teacher of the Year and was runner-up for Okaloosa County’s Teacher of the Year in 2004. He served on the Florida Music Educators Association’s board of directors (2007-2009) and has recently been named the Florida Vocal Association’s liaison to the Florida School Music Association. Dye is an active member of the Florida Vocal Association which he has served as state president (2007-2009) and twice as the District 1 chairperson (1997-1999 and 2005-2007). He continues to serve the FVA board as state Music Chair and as the FVA Past-President’s Coordinator. Dye is also a member of the American Choral Director’s Association, the Florida Music Educator’s Association and the National Association for Music Education.

His Niceville Singers have sung at the Florida Choral Directors Association’s state convention and have toured and performed in Central Europe (2002), Great Britain (2004) (International Church Music Festival), the People’s Republic of China (2006) (All-China Choral Directors association’s national convention), Northern Italy (2008) and Spain (2011) as well as three time in Manhattan at Carnegie Hall and throughout the Southeastern United States. Dye is an active clinician and adjudicator.

Michael Dye is married to Wanda Thomas Dye. They have two sons, Dr. Matthew Norton, a physical therapist in Pensacola, and Timothy Norton, a Master’s Degree candidate at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in East Hamilton, Massachusetts.

Repertoire:

1. “Kpanlongo”, Derek Bermel, Santa Barbara Music Publishing 186, TTBB (2 congas/African bell)
2. “Lay of the Imprisoned Huntsman”, Franz Schubert/David Stocker, Thomas House Publications 1C0369604, TBB (HL 08739488)
3. “Like a Mighty Eagle”, L. Spohr/Morton J. Luvaas, Kjos Music ED. 2502, TTBB
4. “De Animals a-comin'”, Marshall Bartholomew, G. Schirmer 8046, TTBB
5. “Swing Down, Chariot”, André Thomas, Heritage Choral Series 15/1778H, TTBB
6. “Tenting on the Old Campground”, Leonard Van Camp, Mark Foster MF 1055
7. “Bonnie Eloise”, J.R. Thomas/Shaw-Hunter, Alfred 529 (guitar), TTBB (out of print and will not be used)
8. “Canto del Agua”, David Hill, Alliance AMP 0834

Middle School Mixed Choir 2013

Trey Jacobs has been named the Artistic Director for the Turtle Creek Chorale after serving for six months in the Interim Conductor post. Before arriving in Dallas, Mr. Jacobs was Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities for four years at Eastern Michigan University. While at Eastern Michigan University his choirs performed at the Michigan ACDA Convention and for the Michigan Music Educators Conference. In July 2011, he was the high school choral conductor for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan.

Jacobs has completed his coursework on a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University in East Lansing, a Master of Music degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from East Carolina University in Greenville. At Michigan State University, he was the conductor of the Michigan State University Women’s Glee Club, and was the graduate teaching assistant with the Michigan State University Chorale and Choral Union.

Mr. Jacobs was director of Choral Activities at Winter Park High School in Winter Park, Florida for 11 years. While at Winter Park High School, his choirs consistently received “Superior” ratings at district and state Music Performance Assessments (MPAs).

His choirs performed for three different American Choral Directors Association State Conventions and for the National A.C.D.A. Convention in San Diego, California. He conducted his choirs three times at Carnegie Hall.

Mr. Jacobs was a founding director of the Orlando Children’s Chorus and was co-conductor of the Bach Children’s Choir at Rollins College, conductor for the Orlando Concert Chorale, and conductor of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s Holiday Choir. He has conducted the Florida All-State High School Women’s Chorus, honor choirs in Florida, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee, and has adjudicated in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, and Missouri.

Mr. Jacobs is an active member of ACDA, MENC, NATS, OMEA, MSVMA and GALA and maintains a private voice studio.

Repertoire:

1. “Mungu Ni Pendo”, E. Robinson/R. Gower, SATB, Colla Voce 36-20122 ($1.65)
2. Kyrie from Missa Brevis, k. 275, W. A. Mozart/arr. Leininger, SATB, AMP 0505 ($1.70)
3. Kyrie from Caribbean Mass, Glenn McClure, SATB, earthsongs ($1.60)
4. “A Living Song”, David Brunner, SSA, 48019421 ($1.80)
5. “Show-Down”, Dan Davison, TTB, HL 08501790 ($2.25)
6. “I Loved All Lovely Things”, Andrea Ramsey, SATB, SBMP 950 ($1.95)
7. “Muie Rendera”, C.A. Pinto Fonseca, SATB, earthsongs ($ 1.85)

Middle School Treble Choir 2013

Elena Sharkova, Artistic Director of the Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale, is recognized nationally and internationally as an inspirational and effective conductor, choral clinician and music educator. She has conducted professional, university, children’s and community choirs and orchestras in North America, Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, and the Middle East, and has served as an adjudicator at numerous national and international music festivals and competitions. An expert on Russian choral music, Ms. Sharkova has lectured extensively on its repertoire and performance practices and conducted several U.S. premiers of Russian contemporary compositions.

In her eleventh year as Artistic Director of Symphony Silicon Valley Chorale (formerly San Jose State University Chorale), Maestra Sharkova has prepared and conducted the chorus in over 30 major choral-orchestral works such as Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Poulenc’s Gloria, Bruckner’s Te Deum, Brahms’s Nanie, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and many others. Regarded for her passion for non-Western, cross-genre and multi-cultural music, Ms. Sharkova and Chorale delighted South Bay audiences with performances of such folk-inspired compositions as Navidad Nuestra and Missa Criolla by Argentinean composer Ariel Ramirez, Caribbean Mass by contemporary American composer Glen McClure, and jazz-inspired Mass in Blue by English composer Will Todd.

Artistic Director of the 180-voice strong Cantabile Youth Singers since 2004, Maestra Sharkova conducts CYS’s top choirs, Vocalise and Ensemble, and oversees all educational and performance aspects of the program. Under her direction, Cantabile made its Carnegie Hall debut in 2005 and will be returning to its legendary stage in June 2010.

Elena Sharkova was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she received an undergraduate degree in music education and piano, and a graduate degree in conducting from St. Petersburg State Rimski-Korsakov Conservatory. From 1988 to 1993, Ms. Sharkova served Chair of the Choral Department of the Preparatory Music School at the Conservatory where she conducted four children’s choruses and taught the innovative Ogorodnov Method to graduate students. Before moving to the U.S in 1993, she toured extensively for five years with one of the finest Russian professional choirs, Lege Artis. Besides concertizing throughout Russia, Europe and the United States, the ensemble also recorded five CDs for the SONY Classical label and won numerous prizes at European choral festivals and competitions.

Repertoire:

1. “Dubula”, arr. Stephen Hatfield, SSA, 480212272 ($1.90)
2. “Psalm 150”, David Willcocks, SSA, Oxford ($2.25)
3. “Seeren (Lilacs)”, Rachmaninoff, arr. Sharkova, SSAA, self-published (download)
4. “Snow”, Edward Elgar, SSA, NOV160075R ($3.50)
5. “Billy and Ming”, Ron Newman, SSA, SBMP 445 ($1.95)
6. “Libertango, Piazolla” arr. Oscar Escalada, SSA, Kjos 6353 ($2.05)
7. “This is the Day”, Gerald Smith, SSA, 48004896 ($1.95)