Issue 32 • Winter 2022
In This Issue: Conference Schedule The New Teacher What’s in the Folder? The Official Publication of the North Dakota Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association
North Dakota ACDA Leadership Dean Jilek, president, University of North Dakota
Connie Stordalen, president-elect, Horizon Middle School Cheryl McIntyre, past president, Jamestown High School Sheldon Weltz, treasurer
North Dakota Repertoire and Resources Committee Repertoire-Specific Coordinator: Tom Porter, University of Mary • Men’s Choirs: Tom Porter • Women’s Choirs: Lauren Brandenburg, Fargo South HS/Eielson MS • Vocal Jazz: Mike Seil, Bismarck Legacy High School • Showchoir: Connie Stordalen, Horizon Middle School • Ethnic/Multicultural Music: Phillip Voeller, Beulah Middle/High School
Youth Coordinator: Sarah Barnum, Discovery Middle School • Children and Community: Brady Gudgel, Mandan Middle School
• Middle School/Junior High:
Lacey Hanson, Center-Stanton Public School Paige Bondley, Edgeley Public School • Senior High School: Brian Saylor, Bismarck High School
Collegiate Coordinator: Chris Redfearn, University of Jamestown • Youth College/University: Chris Redfearn • Student Activities: Melanie Popejoy, University of North Dakota
Life-Long Coordinator: Sara Lichtblau, Fargo South High School • Community Choirs: Sarah Barnum • Music in Worship:
Traditional: Vicky Boechler, St. Mary’s High School, Contemporary: Sara Lichtblau Brent Rogers, Dickinson State University Editor and Designer, The Chorister brent.w.rogers@dickinsonstate.edu
Contents Conference Schedule
4
The New Teacher
6
Patrick McGuire, Sts. Anne & Joachim What’s in the Folder?
10
Brent Rogers, Dickinson State University
Visit NDACDA online at ndacda.com, or by clicking below.
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Conference Schedule Friday, February 4th, 2022
St. Mary’s Central High School 5802 Ridgeland Dr, Bismarck, ND
12:30
Membership Registration • (St. Mary’s main entrance, Door #1) Honor Choir Registration • (St. Mary’s main entrance, Door #1) NDSU Professional Development Registration Link
1:00
Treble Choir • Directed by Dr. Kira Winter (A119 Choir Room) Mixed Choir • Directed by Victor C. Johnson (A111 Band Room) Men’s Honor Choir • Directed by Dr. Kevin Johnson (St. Mary’s William J. Schmidt Auditorium)
1:10-1:30
Reconnect/Coffee Time (B111 Forum Room)
1:30-2:20
“Technique, Tips, and Repertoire Lists for the Young Soloist from Beginner to Advanced” (B111 Forum Room) Kathryn Ring, Vocal Instructor and Adjudicator
2:30-3:20
“Creative Student Projects for the Music Class” (B111 Forum Room) Cheryl McIntyre, Jamestown High School NDACDA Past-President/Membership, NDMEA All-State Committee Chair
3:30-3:50
Music Reading Session (B111 Forum Room)
4:00-4:50
“The Class B Balancing Act” (B111 Forum Room) Annette Hovey, New Rockford-Sheyenne School NDMEA East-Region Choral Rep Dinner Break (St. Mary’s Cafeteria) 5:00 Mixed Choir 5:30 Treble Choir 6:00 Men’s Honor Choir
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North Dakota ACDA Showcase Concert (St. Mary’s William J. Schmidt Auditorium) Simle Middle School Simle Singers Director: Mr. James McMahon
7:30
Red River High School RRHS Madrigal Singers Director: Mr. Alex Hovey University of North Dakota Concert Choir Director: Dr. Dean Jilek 2022 Honor Choirs and Director Awards $5 Admission fee
Saturday, February 5th, 2022
9:00
ND ACDA Membership Meeting (B111 Forum Room)
10:00-10:50
“Popejoy Phonics: You Don’t Dance Like You Walk, So Don't Sing Like You Talk!” (B111 Forum Room) Melanie Popejoy, Teaching Assistant Professor/ Associate Director of Choral Activities UND
11:00-11:50
Q & A Teacher Talk Mentor Forum (B111 Forum Room) Lunch Break (St. Mary's Cafeteria) 11:30 Treble Choir 12:00 Mixed Choir 12:30 Men's Honor Choir
1:30-2:20
“The Essential Components of a Good Choral Program – Big or Small – Young or Experienced” (B111 Forum Room) Dr. Jo Ann Miller, Director of Choral Activities NDSU
2:30
Doors open for the NDACDA Honor Choir Concert
3:00
North Dakota ACDA Honor Choirs Concert (St. Mary's William J. Schmidt Auditorium) 2022 Honor Choirs and Director Awards $5 Admission fee
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T
The NewTeacher
hink back: You just graduated, maybe you have the job locked up, maybe you’re still figuring out a living situation, perhaps you have no idea what’s next. Those first few months (and dare I say years) into your professional career weren’t easy. No one said they would be! For many of us it seems so long ago, yet so familiar as we think back on the places we’ve been, the music we’ve sung, and the lessons we’ve learned. When is the last time you relived your first year as a teacher/choir director? Do you ever stop and take inventory of how you have grown as a conductor, pianist, organizer, therapist, comedian, philanthropist, nurse, and everything else that comes with the territory? It is good to reflect on where you have been, to help you determine where you are going!
In that spirit, I interviewed one of our newest teachers in the state and thought it would be a nice refresher for many of us to hear what that process is like for some-
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one who is currently living it in this time of uncertainty and change. When most of us started teaching, it wasn’t in the middle of a pandemic! Emily Lech began her professional teaching career in the Fall of 2020 at Nativity Elementary in Fargo, and has since become the Director of Choral Activities at Shanley High School & Sacred Heart Middle School. She had some wonderful perspectives and experience to share with us… Talk about your first year out of college: what was that transition like? My first year out of college was tricky at points, but an absolute joy. I taught at Nativity Elementary first, and having less experience in elementary I knew I had a lot of learning to do. I found that the most difficult part was learning how to manage a classroom of elementary students verses middle and high schoolers. Although it took a bit of time to get used to this fast-paced environment, my colleagues, students, and their families made the first year much easier and so enjoyable. What are the biggest lessons you have learned in your first few years? Although it seems very obvious, I have loved seeing how different each day is and getting to know each individual student. I have learned that quite often things may not go as planned, but everything always ends up being okay. Since I am working with individuals who are all different and have their own ways of thinking, I often end up learning valuable lessons about teaching from my students that I can apply in years to come. I truly get to learn something new every day!
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What is your philosophy about your work? As an educator and conductor, what are the things that are most important to you? What do you hope to impart upon the people that walk into your room each day? I believe that music is a lifelong skill and can provide joy at any stage of life. Often times people assume they have to be a strong musician right away to succeed at it, and I hope to show my students of all ages that they are all capable of getting there. Although they need to understand it will take time and effort, they will be amazed at what they are capable of if they do put forth the effort and trust the process. What are some goals and aspirations you have for yourself, your students/choristers, or anything else in your career? I hope that over my career I continue to love music more and more. I also hope to show my students how rewarding music can be. So many individuals work hard for sports or other activities willingly, while they are not willing to give music a chance when it gets hard. I hope to show them how rewarding their hard work can be and how exciting creating music both together and individually is. I find myself starting to take a little more inventory in year six of what my early career has taught me. I hope that seeing what Emily is doing, and her passion for why she does it, can be as empowering to you as it is to me. My favorite answer is the last one she gave: “I hope that over my career I continue to love music more and more.” Perfectly said. I need to be reminded of my “why?” and so do you. There is a reason each one of us got into this profession, that is at the core of who we are. There is maybe even a better reason or two for why we have stayed with it for one year, or fifty, as our careers go on. Remember your roots, and remember those early days when you first got your start: Be proud of your accomplishments great and small, and keep that passion you have for our noble profession.
Patrick McGuire Sts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church
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What’s in the Fold er?
N
ext month the DSU choirs will be presenting a concert celebrating the music of the Lutheran Tradition as part of our “Sacred Music in Sacred Spaces” series. This series has previously included a concert featuring music of the Roman Catholic tradition, and I have future plans for the Anglican and other faith traditions which have made important contributions to the choral art. Below are some favorites, some of which I’ve known for a while, and some that are new to me. I hope these are useful to you—we’re certainly enjoying them! (Score previews and recordings for each piece are available through JW Pepper by following the hyperlink.)
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” arr. Tom Anderson This is a wonderful, lively arrangement of this old hymn that also includes “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (Old 100th). Fun, jazzy harmonies and a sparkling piano accompaniment make it enjoyable for the choir, and limited division (only a few measures of soprano division, and one bass division at the end) keep it accessible to most SATB groups. “My Song in the Night,” arr. Paul Christiansen While not a specifically Lutheran hymn (I can’t actually figure out where the hymn comes from, except for the note on the score saying “American Folk Hymn”), this arrangement is connected to the Lutheran choral tradition through its arranger, who conducted the Concordia Choir from 1937-1986. It is a gorgeous setting of a beautiful hymn, that divides only the altos and basses, and only for about 1/4-1/3 of the piece, which keeps it doable.
(continued)
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“Amazing Grace,” by Michael John Trotta Again, not a specifically Lutheran hymn, but one that is included in the Lutheran hymnal, this piece is more of a meditation on the traditional hymn text with only occasional references in the descant to the traditional tune. A few measures of bass and soprano division, but otherwise stays in four parts. “Eatnemen Vuelie,” by Frode Fjellheim, arr. Emily Crocker This piece was the basis for the soundtrack to the opening sequence of Disney’s Frozen. (There’s an interesting interview with the composer here about the process of turning this piece into the version used for the soundtrack.) The piece is a combination of two contrasting musical traditions in Norway: the traditional Sami yoik, and the German Lutheran hymn “Fairest Lord Jesus” (aka “Beautiful Savior”). The yoik part, sung by the basses and tenors (and sometimes altos), is easily learned and a lot of fun to sing; the hymn part is sung by the sopranos and altos, and is also fairly straightforward, though with some division required in the alto section. My sopranos
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and altos got really excited when we started reading it and they realized it was from Frozen. The tenors and basses, maybe not so much. But they’re coming around.
“Nearer, My God, to Thee,” arr. James Stevens Originally performed by BYU’s a-cappella group Vocal Point backed by the BYU Men’s Chorus, this arrangement is challenging, but very rewarding. Every section divides frequently, much of the piece is in 7/8, and there’s a lot of dissonance. But it’s SO FUN.
Brent Rogers Dickinson State University Editor and Designer, The Chorister
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Photo Credit: Max Pixel