Officer Comments Finally, I must say a huge word of thanks to my family and colleagues. My co-workers have handled my service to TCDA with a wonderful, gracious spirit. They have always been understanding and supportive of my service and encouraging throughout my seven years on the Board. Their support has been a blessing. My family is my treasure. Connie, Andrea, and Ben have all
experienced TCDA with me. Connie served as a Board member, too, when I was not serving. Andrea and Ben have both been selected for TCDA Honor Choirs, and Andrea attended High School Student Day last summer. I will always be grateful to them for their love, encouragement, and support. I am looking forward to their continued involvement in our wonderful organization.
Finally, to you, my colleagues, I extend my thanks and appreciation. Your confidence in me as a servant is humbling. Your willingness to serve our organization makes us strong and unique. Your wisdom, expertise, and love makes us all better. We are made better as musicians and people.
College/ Community
opening-day reception (Wednesday, July 27) where they will “meet and greet” the TCDA Board members and also be treated to what promises to be an invaluable presentation by Danny Detrick (Director of Fine Arts, Birdville ISD) and Robert Stovall (Director of Fine Arts, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD). The session will feature some indispensible tips on building resumes, interviewing for jobs, and much more. In the current climate where jobs are few and far between, this will be a discussion that all college students (and perhaps their teachers) will want to attend.
stamina, comfort, and ease of vocal production. Virginia will also present a vocal techniques session for the high school students who attend High School Student Day on Friday, July 29. At the close of last summer’s Convention, one of you submitted the following suggestion: “Offer a new teacher luncheon to enable Q & A on the part of new teachers and to enable new teachers to rub shoulders a bit with colleagues and experienced teachers.” While we can’t offer lunch (I’ll bring peppermints, though!), we have taken the gist of this wonderful idea and expanded it into a two-part session entitled “If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now . . . .” Part I will feature a panel of young teachers who will share some of their freshly-learned hard lessons. Toni Ugolini (Schrade MS, Garland), Carisa Niemeyer (Forest Meadow JH, Richardson), and Ryan Forkner (North Mesquite HS, Mesquite) will be the panel – those of you who know these three can attest to the high quality of story-telling and humor that is promised. For Part II, we have invited veteran teachers Florence Scattergood (Reicher Catholic HS, Waco), Vicki Baker (Texas Woman’s University, Denton), and Dennis Boyter (retired public school choral director; currently University Supervisor for Student Teachers, Sam Houston State University) to offer their own perceptions from the vantage point of long and distinguished careers in choral conducting and music education. Both sessions will feature Q & A opportunities – so plan to come rub these shoulders. They carry lots of wisdom. And there will be another fantastic Q & A opportunity during this Convention. You know the name, Craig Hella Johnson (Artistic Director of Conspirare: A Company of Voices). We attend
Pam Elrod
Looking Into the Crystal Ball . . . . . . I see a busy and stimulating TCDA Convention in your future! So I’m excited to be able to share Convention 2011 news with you in this issue. The Board has been shaping this Convention since last September – and during our recent February meeting, our enthusiasm grew steadily as we put the final touches on the schedule. There are incredible sessions going on in all the divisions, and the College/Community Division is no exception. Student Conductors
Eighteen separate colleges have nominated their best and brightest to serve as student conductors in the Treble/Bass Reading Session this year. These future podium stars will be coached by Dr John Silantien, Director of Choral Activities at UTSA, and Dianne Brumley, Director of Choral Activities at UT Brownsville. Your attendance at this session is strongly encouraged — it’s a rich learning experience for the students and a wonderful way for the rest of us to support our future colleagues. In addition to working with their terrific conducting coaches, our student conductors, along with the other student members in the College/Community division, will be invited to attend an Spring 2011
Conducting Masterclass
The Conducting Masterclass has become an integral part of the Annual Convention. This session offers attendees an opportunity to examine their own conducting techniques, whether as participants or observers. The featured clinicians this year will be Dianne Brumley and John Silantien. They will work with four conductors on repertoire that represents four separate stylistic periods. These conductors will be chosen early in the summer and will prepare their assigned pieces in advance. If you are interested in being considered as one of the conductors for this masterclass, please email me at pelrod@smu.edu by June 1. Interest and Reading Sessions
“Singing is an athletic event.” So says Virginia Dupuy, Professor of Voice at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts. Virginia will explain her statement fully in Wear Your Gym Clothes, a session devoted to exploring that all-important but sometimes slippery concept – breath support. She will demonstrate how singers can use their muscles to sing, while still avoiding the tension associated with muscular singing. The result is TEXAS√SINGS!
Dear People, Thank you. √
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