OMEA All-State Middle School Tenor Bass Choir

First United Methodist Church

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022

7:00 PM

Conductor: Herbert Washington

Co-Managers: Kay Elliott and Allison Lee

Accompanist: Cindy Mair Star of Light

Kansas City Kitty

Mis On Inimene

Dies Irae

Praise His Holy Name

Herbert Washington, Conductor

Part Uusberg

Ryan Main

Keith Hampton

Herbert Washington is the Harvey K. Smith Artistic Director of the Phoenix Boys Choir. He recently served as the Director of Middle and High School Choral Activities at Gilbert Christian Schools and previously directed for the Chandler Children’s Choir and Phoenix Children’s Choir With culture and roots deeply grounded in and molded by Arizona choral pedagogy, Mr Washington is an alumnus of the Phoenix Boys Choir Recognized for his dynamic teaching style and his ability to instill a love for the choral arts, he is a frequent choral clinician, conductor, lecturer, and adjudicator for regional festivals, workshops, and conferences around the country

Beyond the scope of choral music education, Washington is a champion and an advocate for diverse styles of music He has ongoing efforts in producing, composing, and arranging radio and commercial music Mr Washington has collaborated with leaders in the music industry, including Grammy Award-winning Tori Kelly, Jordin Sparks, Bret Michaels, and Jason Derulo. While working toward his B.A., he was a tenor, counter-tenor, and soloist in the St. Olaf Choir, conducted by Dr. Anton

Armstrong, and he directed “Voices of Praise,” the St Olaf Gospel Choir Upon graduating from St Olaf College in Minnesota and earning a dual B A in Music and Fine Arts, Mr Washington went on to receive an M M in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona. While under the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth Schauer and Dr. Bruce Chamberlain at UArizona, Washington founded the all-male award winning ensemble, Cat-Call A Cappella before graduating in 2009

With a continuous thirst for knowledge and development of his craft, Washington created and founded the Choral Window This international crowdsourcing online resource engages, educates, and inspires directors to connect with each other and share innovative or learned choral and music literacy techniques that aim to energize and enhance the rehearsal environment

Washington is a proud member of the Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA), former ACDA Western Division Chair board member (WDACDA), and currently serves as the Repertoire and Resource Chair for Children’s Choirs & Community Youth for the Arizona American Choral Directors Association (AzACDA). Recently, he was selected to join the Phoenix Chorale taskforce to focus on social and racial equity within choral ensembles and non-profit sectors. Herbert resides in Phoenix with his beloved wife, Yadira, and their sons Yadian and Elian

Kay Elliott, Tenor Bass Choir Co-Manager

Kay Elliott is a proud music educator serving our youth for over 18 years . She has spent the past 16 years at Rosemont Ridge Middle School in West Linn, Oregon crafting a strong student community by fostering creativity and musical collaboration and expanding student leadership opportunities within the scope of choral performance Her mission is to prepare her students for life beyond the classroom by encouraging the arts as a vehicle for strong human connection

Kay earned her Bachelor’s degree in Vocal and Instrumental Music Education from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Master’s in Choral Music Education from Portland State University Outside of All-State Choir, Kay is also one of the Oregon Middle School Choir Co-Chairs in NW ACDA. When not filling her life with beautiful music, Kay loves to spend time adventuring in the outdoors with her family

Allison Lee, Tenor Bass Choir Co-Manager

Allison Lee is in her 17th year of teaching and is so honored to have shared those years making wonderful music with her treasured students After beginning her career in Colorado Springs teaching elementary music and then high school choir, she has now settled into the West Linn-Wilsonville School District where she teaches middle school choir and drama Now in her 4th year at Athey Creek Middle School, Allison loves challenging her students to perform wide varieties of music while striving to create a rich community of students within her classroom She believes that music can be a powerful connection between all students, and loves to watch them grow through the years into powerful, confident singers. She is a proud graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where received a BM Vocal Music Education and sang and toured with the St Olaf Choir She and her husband, Gudmund, have 3 children: Henrik, Ivy, and Silje, and live in West Linn