Alabama A&M University Choir

The Alabama A&M University Choir, directed by Dr. Horace Carney, provides students with the opportunity to experience participation in a cooperative activity. Emphasis is placed on fundamental vocal training, posture, breathing, sight-reading, expressive interpretation and tone development. The choir performs for campus convocations, off-campus concerts, religious services, radio and television appearances as well as a Christmas Musicale and spring concert. There is a prerequisite for participation: students must have had some experience in a high school choir or ensemble.

Dr. Horace R. Carney, Jr. was born in Nashville, Tennessee but grew up in Tuskegee, Alabama. He graduated with honors from Tuskegee Institute High School fourth in his class. His post-secondary education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Music at Fisk University (magna cum laude), Master of Arts in Music Theory at the Eastman School of Music as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory from the University of Iowa. He has attended choral workshops at Potsdam Choral Institute, Sarasota, New York, University of South Florida, and Georgia State University.

Dr. Carney’s career in music began in elementary school and continued through high school as a member of the choir, pianist, and leader of a dance band. While in high school, he studied at Tuskegee Institute with Lexine Weeks, Charlotte Giles, and Hildred Roach. His studies continued at Fisk University as a music major, a member of the university choir and the renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers for four years. His professional career includes Talladega College where he served for fourteen years as Choral Director and Acting Chairman of the Music Department, Lincoln University, Lincoln, PA; Coordinator of Choral Activities and Chairman of the Humanities Division for three years; and Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, where he served as Minister of Music and Coordinator of Cultural Affairs. Since 1990, Dr. Carney has been the Chairman/Coordinator of the Music Program at Alabama A & M University, Huntsville, Alabama. He is currently the Chair for the Department of Visual, Performing and Communication Arts, Coordinator of the Music Program and the Interim Director of the Alabama A&M University Choir. Dr. Carney has served as adjudicator for Birmingham City, Montgomery City and Huntsville high school choral festivals.

Professional Memberships include: The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), National Association for Music Educators (NAME), National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO), Society for Music Theory (SMT) and the Technological Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME). He is the founder and director of the Birmingham Community Chorale which was renamed by its members as the Horace R. Carney, Jr. Chorale. He is also the founder, manager, and keyboard player of Omni-Music Enterprises, a musical entertainment group for special occasions. Dr. Carney serves as Minister of Music at Bethel Baptist Church, Collegeville, Birmingham, Alabama.

Saturday, 9:15 AM BJCC Concert Hall Concert Program Ave Maria...... Anton Bruckner ...... Hal Leonard “Fecit Potentiam” from Magnificat...... John Rutter...... Hinshaw Publishing Dr. Mira Kruja Piano There is a Balm in Gilead...... Raymon Wise...... Raise Publishing Hehlehlooyuh...... James Furman...... Hal Leonard Hold On...... Marques Garrett ...... Walton Music Be Still And Know...... Stacy Gibbs ...... GIA Publishing

30 Alabama Christian Academy Concert Chorus

The Alabama Christian Academy Concert Chorus has been in existence since 2013. Under the direction of Mr. Trey Holladay, the group has grown from 11 to 64 in three years. The group has consistently received all superior ratings at the Alabama State Performance Assessment for the past three years. For two years the chorus performed as the main choir for “The Forgotten Carols,” a traveling musical made up of professional singers from New York and Los Angeles. Performances were held in Atlanta and Montgomery. The chorus has performed, by invitation, in concert with the Lipscomb University Chorus and along with the Faulkner University Band. In 2017 the chorus was asked to be a featured ensemble at the UAB Honor Choir. The group traveled to DisneyFest and competed with schools from around the nation and won best in class chorus for their division. The ACA Chorus is a 9-12 grade auditioned group. The group specializes in A cappella music.

Under the direction of Mr. Trey Holladay, the The Alabama Christian Academy Concert Chorus has grownfrom 11 to 64 in three years. The group has consistently received all superior ratings at the Alabama State Performance Assessment for the past three years. Trey Holladay has been the director of ACA choirs for four years. He came from humble beginnings as a graduate of Faulkner University’s School of Fine Arts. He holds a B.S. in Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Performance and a minor in Music. He also holds a Master’s Certificate from Berklee College of Music in Theory, Harmony and Ear Training. He is an accomplished singer, saxophonist and fiddles around with the piano a little. He currently resides in Montgomery, Alabama with his wife Heather and their two children Landon and Hayden.

Friday, 1:15 PM Concert Program BJCC East Ballroom

God So Loved The World...... Sir John Stainer (1840­1901) ...... CPDL Elijah Rock...... Arr. Jester Hairston ...... Bourne Company The Ground from Sunrise Mass...... Arr. Ola Gjeilo ...... Walton Music Ride The Chariot...... Arr. William Henry Smith...... Kjos Music Company Even When He is Silent...... Arr. Kim André Arnesen...... Walton Music Company

Join us in the BJCC Concert Hall Thursday at 7:00 PM for the presentation of the 2018 AMEA awards:

FAME Scholarship Recipient: Christopher Shorter, Hewitt­Trussville High School Ed Cleino Outstanding Young Music Educator: Justin White, Thompson High School

AMEA Outstanding Administrator Award: Dr. Mark Richardson Principal, Vestavia Hills Elementary East Alabama’s National Board Certified Teachers ­ Class of 2016

AMEA Honor Roll ­ Members who have 25 years of continuous service and increments of 5 years Young Composers Competition Finalists 31 Bragg Middle School Mixed Choir

The choral program at Bragg Middle School in Gardendale consists of 6th grade choir, 7th/8th grade Young Ladies’ Choir, 7th/8th grade Young Men’s Choir, 8th grade Honors Choir, and an after-school show choir. The 7th/8th grade Mixed Choir performing at the conference combines the separate gender choirs. Besides local concerts, the choirs have performed at the VA Hospital, Children’s Hospital, national music festivals, the AMEA In-Service Conference, and AVA State Choral Performance Assessment. The choirs consistently receive high ratings in performance and sight- reading evaluations. Choir members may also participate in the Jefferson County Music Festival, AVA All-State choirs, ACDA Young Voices Festival, and a spring musical.

Debbie Gray earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and a Masters degree in Vocal/Choral Music Education at the University of Alabama. She has been the choir director at Bragg Middle School in Gardendale for 13 years and has also taught middle and high school band, high school choir, elementary music, private piano lessons, and was an accompanist for Shelton State Community College. Mrs. Gray currently sings with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra Choir, is the pianist at Gardendale-Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church, and enjoys accompanying for local choirs.

Friday, 9:15 AM Concert Program BJCC East Ballroom Sing for Joy, Alleluia!...... Sally K. Albrecht...... Alfred Publishing Winter’s Waking...... Amy F. Bernon...... Heritage Music Press To Work Upon the Railway...... arr. Earlene Rentz...... Heritage Music Press Let Beauty Awake!...... Laura Farnell ...... BriLee Music Beati in domo Domini...... James G. Cantor...... Santa Barbara Music Nine Hundred Miles...... arr. Philip E. Silvey...... Santa Barbara Music Sing With the Lark...... Laura Farnell...... Alliance Music Publications Plenty Good Room...... arr. John Horman...... Somerset Press

32 Hewitt­Trussville High School Chamber Choir

The Hewitt-Trussville High Chamber Choir is the most select choir chosen from the 144 voice choral department at Hewitt-Trussville High School. This choir had its beginning in 2010. Usually composed of 6 singers in each section (SATB), the ensemble sings quality a cappella, somewhat advanced music. This ensemble always scores straight superior ratings with near perfect sight reading scores at State Assessment. The ensemble performs for local civic organizations, hospitals, churches, airport and local television. In February members from the Chamber Choir will be presenting “Godspell”.

D. Allen Gillespie holds a Bachelor and Masters of Music Education and Education Specialist degrees from the University of Montevallo. He has taught Choral Music for 43 years in Birmingham City, Jefferson County and Trussville City Schools. He has been District III chair and is a past president of the Alabama Vocal Association and the Alabama Choral Directors Association. He has directed large and small mixed choirs and well as Women’s and Men’s groups. He is the Chancel Choir Director at Huffman United Methodist Church and has been in United Methodist Music Ministry for 40 years. His wife of 35 years, Sula is a Nurse Practitioner at The Children’s Hospital of Alabama and they have a son Desi who will be a senior at Hewitt-Trussville High School.

Thursday, 1:00 PM Concert Program BJCC East Ballroom

O Magnum Mysterium...... Tomas Luis de Victoria...... G. Schirmer, Inc. Sing Me To Heaven...... Daniel E. Gawthrop...... Dunstan House E’en So, Lord Jesus...... Quickly Come, Paul Manz...... Morningstar Music Publishers In Meeting We Are Blessed...... Troy Robertson...... Hinshaw Music Jenny...... Nick Myers & Ryan Kerr ...... Alfred Music Publishers Here, There and Everywhere...... Lennon & McCartney/ arr. Huff ...... Hal Leonard Corporation I Surrender All...... arr. Moses Hogan ...... Hal Leonard Corporation Soon­Ah Will Be Done...... William L. Dawson ...... Neil A. Kjos Music Co.

33 Hillcrest High School Wind Ensemble

The Wind Ensemble of Hillcrest High School is comprised of the premier musicians in the band program. Most students in the ensemble participate in the Alabama All-State Festival, District V Honor Band, chamber groups, and several collegiate sponsored honor bands. Since its inception in 2006, the Wind Ensemble has performed at several distinguished venues: The Midwest Clinic, College Band Directors National Association Conference, Music for All National Concert Band Festival, US-China Cultural Foundation in Beijing, China, and the Alabama Music Educators Conference. Students in this group also consistently achieve Superior Ratings at adjudicated events in which they are a part of, including Music Performance Assessment. The band programs at Hillcrest are blessed to have the support of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education, local administration, counselors, staff, and an incredible organization of parents. Their support and dedication to our students make our program successful.

Kevin Thomas, currently the Director of Bands at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, graduated from The University of Alabama in the spring of 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. While at the Capstone, Mr. Thomas served as Baritone section leader in the “Million Dollar Band”, Principal Euphonium in the Alabama Wind Ensemble, Principal Euphonium in the Alabama Symphonic Band and was a member of the student teaching staff in his last two years with the “Million Dollar Band”. While at The University, Mr. Thomas was a member of the Alabama Tuba Quartet that won the Colonial Tuba Euphonium Institute International Quartet competition. Mr. Thomas won a euphonium audition with The United States Air Force Heritage of America Band stationed in Langley, Virginia in 1997, and was a finalist for The United States Army Band “Perishing’s Own” stationed in Washington D.C. in 1998. After leaving The University he taught for two years at West Limestone High School in rural Limestone County, Alabama. Following his time in north Alabama, he accepted the Associate Band Director position at Shades Valley High School and Gresham Middle School in Birmingham, Alabama. He returned to The University of Alabama in 2003 as a graduate teaching assistant with University Bands under the direction of Dr. Ken Ozzello. While there, Mr. Thomas was responsible for assisting in the production and teaching of half-time shows, and assisted with pep rallies and appearances of the “Million Dollar Band.” Mr. Thomas was also the director of the basketball pep bands overseeing performances on ESPN, CBS and performing at the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. From 2005 to 2014 Mr. Thomas served as music consultant and instructor for The University of Alabama” Million Dollar Band.” He has also served as the assistant announcer for the University Band at bowl games and appearances around the country. Mr. Thomas served as the Director of Bands at Fayette County High School in Fayette, Alabama from 2005 to 2015. His bands consistently received superior ratings at contests and festivals. The Fayette Band is the only high school band to perform at a nationally televised University of Alabama Men’s Basketball game on CBS vs. Mississippi State in 2005. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Alabama Music Educators Association, The Alabama Bandmasters Association, the National Band Association, the National Association for Music Education and the International Tuba Euphonium Association. Mr. Thomas resides in Northport, Alabama, with his wife Sabrina and daughter, Kendall.

Friday, 1:15 PM BJCC Concert Hall Concert Program Xerxes...... John Mackey ...... Osti Music, Inc. Perseus...... Satoshi Yagisawa ...... De Haske Publications March Slave...... Peter Tchaikovsky ...... Carl Fisher, Inc. Paceline...... Tyler Grant...... TSG Musicworks Dr. Jon Whitaker ­ Professor of Trombone, The University of Alabama Ye Banks and Braes...... Percy Grainger...... G. Shirmer, Inc. To Walk with Wings...... Julie Giroux ...... Musica Propria 34 Hoover High School First Edition

The Hoover High School “First Edition” Jazz Band is the top jazz band in our jazz program of 3 jazz bands and one combo. It is one of the many performing groups in our very active school music program. The group performs at numerous school and civic functions throughout the school year. Membership in the group is by audition. The group’s instrumentation consists of 5 saxophones, 5 trombones, 5 trumpets, full rhythm section and a vocalist. Hoover High School is a public high school in the city of Hoover, Alabama which is located just outside of Birmingham, Alabama. The group rehearses each school day for 45 minutes. In 2017 First Edition was invited to open for the JALC Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at their concert in Birmingham on January 18, 2017. In 2016 First Edition traveled to Savannah, Georgia as a finalist in the Swing Central Competition. First Edition was also selected as a finalist in the Savannah Music Festival Swing Central Competition for four consecutive years 2008-2011. Also in the school year 2015-2016 the group was delighted to perform a concert and clinic with Jeff Coffin at Hoover High. First Edition performed at the Jazz Education Network Conference in Dallas, Texas in January 2014. First Edition performed at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago in December 2012. As part of that performance, internationally known trombonist Jim Pugh joined them in a feature spot. In March 2012, the group received all Superior ratings at the Loyola University Jazz Festival in New Orleans. First Edition has performed at the AMEA conference in 2012, 2004, and 2001. The group is regularly represented in the Alabama All-State Jazz Bands. The group also presents a Just Jazz Concert each April in support of Jazz Appreciation Month.

Sallie Vines White teaches full-time at Hoover High School in Hoover, Alabama and has been teaching in the Hoover City School System since 1990. She teaches the award-winning Hoover High School First Edition Jazz Band, Hoover Jam Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, and AP Music Theory. She is also an associate director with the marching band. The groups she conducts have consistently received Superior ratings at contests including District, State, and Jazz Contests. The First Edition Jazz Band performed in 2012 at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago and was a featured performer in 2014 at the Jazz Education Network Conference in Dallas, TX. First Edition has also received national recognition through its selection as a five time finalist in the Savannah Music Festival Swing Central Contest. Prior to that they were selected into the North Texas Jazz Festival and have received Superior ratings the numerous times they have attended the Loyola Jazz Festival in New Orleans. Many of her students through the years have been selected into the Alabama All State Jazz bands. Sallie graduated magna cum laude from Anderson University in 1982 with a B.A. in Music, Music Education and Psychology. In 1985, she received her M.M.E. in Music Education from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN where she graduated “with distinction”. She studied Jazz at IU with David Baker and Dominic Spera. In addition to her teaching Sallie is an active performer on all the woodwind instruments. Sallie has played numerous engagements with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra on saxophone. She plays lead alto in the Superjazz Big Band, and tenor saxophone in the Cahaba Saxophone Quartet. She toured for several years in various groups including Bridge, the Bill Gaither Trio, and college groups performing in 47 states and 17 countries. In addition to her performing and her full-time teaching position, Mrs. White was also the saxophone instructor at Samford University for many years and has taught part-time in the past at a number of the universities around Birmingham including Birmingham Southern, UAB, Samford, and Montevallo. Mrs. White is married to Noah and has three children and five grandchildren.

Thursday, 3:30 PM Concert Program BJCC Concert Hall Indiana (Back Home Again in Indiana).James F. Hanley and Ballard MacDonald/arr. Dave Barduhn.... Alfred Publishing Crystal Silence...... Chick Corea/arr. Mike Tomaro...... Hal Leonard Doozy...... arr.by Benny Carter/ Edited by Jeffrey Sultanoff and Rob Duboff ...... Published by Jazz Lines Foundation Inc. Tenor Madness...... Sonny Rollins/arr. Mark Taylor...... Hal Leonard Publishing Watermelon Man ...... Herbie Hancock/arr. Mike Kamuf...... Alfred Publishing Belwin Division Oclupaca (From the Latin American Suite)...... Duke Ellington/Transcribed by David Berger for Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz at Lincoln Center Library – Alfred Publishing East St. Louis Toodle­Oo...... Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Library – Alfred Publishing Herkie Jerkie ...... Wycliffe Gordon Wycliffe Gordon, Guest Soloist What You Dealin’ With?...... Wycliffe Gordon...... Alfred Publishing Belwin Division Wycliffe Gordon, Guest Soloist 35 Hoover High School Senior Honors Choir

The Senior Honors Choir is one of eight ensembles offered at Hoover High School. Currently composed of 43 seniors, there is no audition requirement for this choir but most of these students have been involved in the choir program for at least 3 of their 4 years at Hoover. This choir meets daily for 49 minutes and is conducted by John Kincaid and Amanda Slay. The class focuses on music literacy, music theory, healthy vocal production, and the performance of quality music literature. We also believe that developing a community within the choir allowing vulnerability, risk taking and trust is equally important in our discipline and our success.The students in the Senior Honors Choir represent a consistent cross section of the HHS student body containing athletes, student government representatives, Hoover Ambassadors, and of course actors and band members. Due to an always changing and more demanding schedule, many of our students are taking 8 or even 9 classes in order to remain a part of the choir program. Hoover High School is the largest and most diverse high school in the state of Alabama with almost 3000 students enrolled in grades 9-12 and consisting of almost 30% free and reduced lunch students. While recognized around the state as a leader in athletics, our student body excels in numerous disciplines and activities. Our scholars bowl, math team, visual arts, and performing arts programs are just a few of the award winning facets at Hoover. The Choir Department’s eight ensembles total over 306 participants. The foundation of the program is healthy vocal production and traditional choral literature. This focus on fundamentals allows us to also produce quality performances in other genres such as show choir, men’s pop a capella and women’s pop a capella while still maintaining a consistent and well-rounded music education for all students. We are thankful to the parents, our colleagues, administrators, and school board for the support shown to the choir program.

John Kincaid is in his twenty-second year teaching choir, his third at Hoover High School. After serving at Simmons Middle School for fifteen years, he spent four years at Mountain Brook High School, growing the choral program from 160 to 250 students, before returning to the Hoover system. Mr. Kincaid received his Bachelor of Music Education from Birmingham-Southern College and is a National Board Certified Teacher. He is currently serving as President of the Alabama chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, previously serving in the positions of Treasurer, Men’s Choir, and Middle School Repertoire and Standards Chairs. His mentors are his mother, a music minister; Ken Berg, Birmingham Boys Choir director; and Diana Mayhall, his high school choir director. He truly believes that he has the best job in the world, and recognizes that this view is possible because of the support and encouragement of his wife, Delle, and children, Matthew and Tess.

Amanda Slay has taught choral music in the state of Alabama for nine years and is currently in her third year serving as the Associate Choral Director at Hoover High School. Before teaching at Hoover High School, Mrs. Slay taught at Shades Valley High School in Jefferson County and Paul W. Bryant High School in Tuscaloosa City. Mrs. Slay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education from the University of Montevallo and a Master of Music Education from The Florida State University. She is also certified to teach AP Music Theory and IB Music. Mrs. Slay is an active member of the Alabama Vocal Association, National Association for Music Education and the American Choral Directors Association. Mrs. Slay currently serves as the Repertoire and Resources Chair for Women’s Choirs for the Alabama chapter of ACDA. Mrs. Slay and her family live in Homewood.

Thursday, 1:00 PM BJCC East Ballroom Concert Program Cum Sancto Spiritu...... Antonio Vivaldi ...... CPDL #00857 Ave Verum Corpus...... William Byrd...... Oxford University Press, Catalogue No. 43.232 J’entends le moulin...... Donald Patriquin...... earthsongs Amazing Grace...... Arr. E. W. Stradtman III...... MusicSpoke Walk Together, Children...... Arr. Moses Hogan ...... Hal Leonard Corporation

36 Indian Springs School Concert Choir

Hailed as the school's "symbol of excellence," the Indian Springs School Concert Choir and smaller Chamber Choir perform across the country and around the world, delighting audiences of all ages and diverse backgrounds in cathedrals, universities, and arts centers from San Antonio, Chicago, and New York City to Beijing, Dijon, and Vienna, where they have performed with the Vienna Boys Choir. The New York Times described the choir’s Lincoln Center debut as "a superb projection that would have done credit to any professional chorus." The choirs continue to garner critical praise for their sensitivity and "exciting, vibrant" singing. “The choir is disciplined, focused, and maturely expressive in a manner way beyond their young age,” says William Trafka, Music Director of St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York. Led by Director of Choral Music Andrew Dibble, the groups sing an extraordinary range of music, including major Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th-century works; Broadway tunes; Spirituals; arrangements of well-known pop hits; and traditional folk songs performed in up to 15 original languages.

Conductor Andrew Dibble currently serves as the Director of Choral Music at Indian Springs School in Birmingham, AL. At Springs, Andrew leads four choral ensembles, and conducts a yearly Concert Choir tour and biannual international tour with the Chamber Choir. Prior to moving to Birmingham, Andrew conducted numerous choral ensembles in the Baltimore-D.C. area as the director of the Maryland Chamber Artists, the Assistant Conductor for the Maryland Choral Society, and the choir director at the Community College of Baltimore County. In 2015 Andrew was selected as one of six to work with Dr. Andrew Megill at the Montreal Choral Institute and in 2017 was selected as one of twelve conductors to study with grammy award winning artists Craig Hella Johnson at his Choral Conducting Symposium. Andrew holds a masters degree in Choral Conducting from Houghton College and lives in Indian Springs, Alabama with his wife, Amy.

Friday, 1:15 PM Concert Program BJCC East Ballroom Hine Ma Tov, Hebrew Folk Song...... arr. By Neil Ginsberg...... Santa Barbara Music Publishing He Watching Over Israel, from Elijah...... Felix Mendelssohn...... public domain In Remembrance...... Jeffery Ames ...... Walton Music Corporation Saints Bound for Heaven...... arr. Alice Parker and Robert Shaw ...... Lawson­Gould Music Publishers Homeward Bound...... Marta Keen/arr. Mack Wilberg ...... Alfred Music Publishing Co.

37 JSU Jazz Band/Latin Ensemble/Steel Band

The Jacksonville State University Jazz Program has more than doubled in size in the past 6 years to include 4 Big Bands, 6 Combos, a Vocal Jazz Group, a Latin Ensemble, and an annual educational Jazz Festival (in it’s 7th year). The program released it’s first CD under the direction of Dr. Nevala, “Everything In It’s Right Place”, released in 2015, and it resulted in winning an award in Downbeat Magazine for “Outstanding Performance, Undergraduate Jazz Ensemble”. Auditions for jazz scholarships are held every spring, and information can be found on the JSU Jazz Studies Website: http://jsujazz.webs.com. The JSU Steel band was formed in 2009 with the arrival of Dr. Tony McCutchen. It performs regularly throughout the community and the region.

Dr. Andy Nevala currently directs the Downbeat Award Winning Jazz Ensemble I (2015), Jazz Ensemble II, Jazz Ensemble III, Jazz Ensemble IV, The Latin Ensemble, oversees the Jazz Combo program, produces the annual Jazz Festival (in it's 7th year), and teaches several private jazz students. As director of Jazz Studies he has helped the program more than double in size in 5 years. Jazz Ensemble I is a recording and touring ensemble, and performs regularly at festivals and schools throughout the southeast as well as records a CD every two years. Our first CD, “Everything In It’s Right Place” was completed in 2015 and was recognized in Downbeat Magazine for “Outstanding Performance, Undergraduate Jazz Ensemble”. Our second CD will be released in the fall of 2017 and features JSU Jazz I, the Latin Ensemble, and the JSU Steel Band. Dr. Nevala has been recognized by Downbeat magazine on 10 different occasions, winning individual Downbeat Music Awards for composition (2002), arranging (2003), and performing/directing (2000, 2001, 2002, 2015).He is widely in demand as guest conductor and clinician, conducting the 2010 Campbell Union District Music Festival Jazz Ensemble in San Jose, CA, serving as a clinician at the Delta College Jazz Festival (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), the Folsom High School Jazz Festival (2008, 2010), the CMEA Hanford Jazz Festival (2009), the Sacramento State University Jazz Festival (2008, 2009), the Manteca High School Combo Festival (2010), The Boise State University Gene Harris Jazz Festival (2003, 2008), the Casper College Jazz Festival (2007), the Rome, GA District 7 Jazz Festival (2012,2013), and was the 2013 Alabama Music Educators Association Gold All-State Jazz Ensemble Director. Dr. Nevala holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Jazz Piano Pedagogy from the University of Colorado, Boulder, a Master of Music degree in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Boise State University. His professional affiliations include ASCAP, JEN, AMEA, and AMA.

Tony McCutchen is Professor of Percussion at Jacksonville State University, and Professor Emeritus of the University of Georgia (UGA), where he served as Professor of Percussion for more than 30 years. He also taught percussion and band at Auburn University and at the University of Mississippi. He is director of the JSU Percussion Ensemble and Steel Band. He has performed at PASIC, IAJE, Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic, MENC, MTNA, CMS and GMEA conventions, as well as various PAS "Days of Percussion." Dr. McCutchen's professional experience includes performances with the Fort Worth Symphony, Savannah Symphony, Augusta Symphony, Augusta Opera, Macon Symphony (featured on drum set), the National Opera Company (North Carolina) and at the Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, South Carolina. He has performed concerti with the Santa Fe Orchestra (Argentina), Symphony Orchestra of Porto Alegre (Brazil), and University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra. Dr. McCutchen performed with the RBTT Redemption Sound Setters for the Panorama finals in Trinidad & Tobago in 2005 and 2008. Dr. McCutchen has degrees from Auburn University (B.S.), East Carolina University (M.M.), and the University of North Texas (D.M.A.).

Thursday, 1:00 PM BJCC Concert Hall Concert Program

JSU Steel Band Number 2...... Dave Longfellow ...... Engine Room Publishing Everlong...... Dave Grohl ...... No Publisher Chant...... Liam Teague...... No Publisher Pan in A Minor...... Aldwyn “Lord Kitchener” Roberts ...... Panyard, Inc. JSU Latin Ensemble Summertime...... George Gershwin/ arr. Andy Nevala ...... No Publisher JSU Jazz Ensemble I The First Circle...... Pat Methany and Lyle Mays/arr. Bob Curnow ...... Sierra Music Empty House...... Jim McNeely ...... UNC Jazz Press Sponge...... Randy Brecker/Arr. Vince Mendoza...... Vince Mendoza Music, Suspended Music (ASCAP) Oyelow Que Te Convience...... Eddie Palmieri/arr. Tony McCutchen ...... No Publisher 38 James Clemens High School Mixed Choir

James Clemens High School recently opened for its first school year in 2012. At that time, the choir program consisted of 25 members and was led by the school’s assistant band director. The enthusiasm exhibited by these early members would help the choir to grow over the coming years. By August 2015, the James Clemens Choir had grown so much that a full- time choir director was needed. The choir program now has just over a hundred students that still share the same enthusiasm felt by its original members. Though the ensemble has changed over the past five years, our students maintain the same dedication to succeed. The choir’s first competitive success came in April 2016 at the Heritage Festival Competition in Nashville, Tennessee. James Clemens received all superior ratings and was awarded first place large group ensemble, first place overall, and the Spirit Award for professionalism. The following school year, the program continued to grow by forming the school’s Women’s Choir. Both of these groups received all superior ratings at State Performance Assessment. This past March, the program attended Festival Disney in Orlando, Florida. The Mixed Choir ranked fourth out of 41 vocal groups, again receiving all superior ratings. The James Clemens Mixed Choir aspires to sing collegiate level repertoire, and students dedicate themselves to constant self-critique in the hope of performing such difficult music well. Central to the program’s identity is a strong sense of family and the fact that no one member is more important than another.

Harris Gessner is a native of Madison, AL, where he now serves as choir director of James Clemens High School. In addition to the chorus, Mr. Gessner has founded the school’s guitar program and Tri-M chapter, and he feels honored to be giving back to his former school system. He holds a BME in Vocal Studies from Auburn University, and a MM in Choral Conducting from Emory University. His experience comes from both teaching in schools and working in music ministries. He also enjoys remaining active as a tenor soloist.

Friday, 9:15 AM Concert Program BJCC East Ballroom

A Prayer of the Middle Ages...... Howard Hanson ...... Earthsongs S­219 In This Place...... Will Todd ...... Boosey & Hawkes 48024191 Nelly Bly...... arr. Jack Halloran...... Gentry 08738674 Six chansons pour choeur mixte, 1. La Biche...... Paul Hindemith...... Alfred Publishing AP111 Three Latin Motets, 3. Beati quorum via...... C.V. Stanford...... CPDL #18961 John Saw de Numbuh...... arr. Stacey Gibbs...... Gentry 08748581 Stars Fell On Alabama...... arr. Joel Thompson...... Commissioned (First Performance)

39 Mitchell Elementary School Honor Chorus

Mitchell Elementary School Honor Chorus was started in 1996 by Sharon Reynolds. It is an auditioned group comprised of fourth and fifth graders from Mitchell. The students rehearse once a week for 45 minutes. Every year, this group performs at the Veteran’s Day program, Christmas play, Beta Club Induction, awards day programs, and graduation. They are a part of the system-wide Elementary School Showcase held at Gadsden City High School every year. In addition, this year they were invited to participate in the Etowah Youth Orchestras Rock and Roll Christmas concert and to perform for the Gadsden Music club’s “Music in Our Schools” program. The group is directed by Doris Day who worked with Mrs. Reynolds and the honor choir from 1999-2002, and has returned to Mitchell after Mrs. Reynolds retired.

Mrs. Doris Day started her teaching career in 1997 in the Gadsden City School system at Mitchell and other elementary schools teaching strings and chorus. After 6 years, she moved to Etowah Middle and High to teach choir, drama, and music appreciation for 14 years. Returning to Gadsden City after so long away has been like coming home. She graduated from Emma Sansom High School and attended Gadsden State Community College and earned a B.M.E. from Jacksonville State University in 1996. She was a member of the A capella choir, Chamber Singers, and Show Choir. She was a charter member of the Madrigal choir, and performed with the drama department. Her other activities include performing as much as possible on the stage with groups such as the Theatre of Gadsden, Characters Entertainment, and other theatrical groups. She has been the choir director at First United Methodist Church of Attalla for 13 years. She has served as a Girl Scout leader for 7 years. She has three very active daughters: Megan, a senior at JSU studying music education, Erin a freshman at Southside High School, active in band, choir, and the Etowah Youth Orchestras, and Sydney, a seventh grader at Rainbow Middle, also in choir and Band.

Friday, 4:00 PM BJCC East Ballroom Concert Program A Joyful Song...... Mary Lynn Lightfoot ...... Heritage Music Press Sarasponda...... Ruth Boshkoff ...... Santa Barbara Music Publishing Tue, Tue...... Ruth Morris Gray...... Alfred Music We Honor You...... Roger Emerson ...... Hal Leonard Corporation Solfege Symphony...... Cristi Cary Miller...... Hal Leonard When in Doubt, Tell the Truth...... Nick Page ...... Hal Leonard Turn the World Around...... arr. Mark Hayes ...... Shawnee Press

40 Mountain Brook High School Chamber Choir

The mission statement of the Mountain Brook High School Choral Department is to develop young men and women of strong character into leaders in their school, community and the professional world through the study, rehearsal and performance of quality choral music at the highest levels of achievement. The Mountain Brook High School Chamber Choir is the premiere ensemble at the high school, and strives everyday in rehearsal to fulfill and share the mission statement of the choral department. The Chamber Choir is composed of 27 10th-12th graders that undergo a rigorous audition process that evaluates sight-singing ability, solo performance, and ensemble and harmonization skills. Students are required to memorize all selections for performance, and it is expected that each student spend time working on his/her music outside of class time. The Chamber Choir places a strong emphasis on musicality and expression and the ability to sing pieces differently according to time period and style. Students in the Chamber Choir have shared the importance of being close with each other and how it relates to making great music together, often saying that Chamber Choir is the best part of their day, and that choir doesn't feel like the rest of the day at school, it's something separate. These students even enjoy sharing the restorative power of music making, as they often will sing in classrooms and hallways to bring it to other students and teachers. Over the last few years, the Chamber Choir has distinguished itself at a high musical level. This group earned Superior ratings at SCPA for the last three years, and was awarded the "Distinguished Musicianship Award" last year for their performance of Josquin's "Mille Regretz" and Grieg's "Ave Maris Stella." For the last three years, the Chamber Choir has traveled to the Ole Miss Choral Festival in Oxford, MS, the only Alabama choir to do so, and has received a Superior rating each year. Further, the Chamber Choir was invited last year to be the performing choir at the Alabama Secondary Principals' Conference in Mobile. The Chamber Choir would like to thank Mrs. Hood, MBHS principal, their parents and teachers, and each other for the opportunity to perform for you today. This choir feels as though there is nothing better than working hard and singing with a group of your friends, and hopes you thoroughly enjoy their singing today

Charles F. Henry is in his third year as Choral Director at Mountain Brook High School, having previously taught at Pinson Valley High School and Spain Park High School. Choirs under Mr. Henry’s direction have consistently received Superior ratings at state and regional festivals, and have received Superior ratings in sight singing for nine consecutive years as well as the “Distinguished Musicianship Award” from the Alabama Vocal Association for the last six years. Mr. Henry is also an active arranger for choirs and show choirs, with specific attention and emphasis placed on functionality as a singer. In 2015, Mr. Henry’s arrangement of “Win” by Brian McKnight was selected as “Best Ballad” by Show Choir Perks, an online community of show choir directors and performers. Mr. Henry has taken choirs to perform in Carnegie Hall as well as the Alabama Music Educators’ Winter Conference. Mr. Henry is a cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a degree in Vocal/Choral Music and is currently pursuing the Master’s of Music Education at Samford University. Mr. Henry is a member of the National Association for Music Educators, American Choral Directors’ Association, and the Alabama Vocal Association. Mr. Henry is also an active performer in the Birmingham community. He has been a staff singer at Cathedral Church of the Advent for the last four years, and is a charter member of Highland Consort, an early music vocal ensemble founded by Dr. Frederick Teardo in 2013.

Thursday, 1:00 PM Concert Program BJCC East Ballroom Ubi Caritas et Amor...... Gregorian Chant (ca. 5th century)/Edited by Drew Collins...... www.cpdl.org If Ye Love Me...... Thomas Tallis (1505­1585)/Edited by Rick Wheeler...... www.cpdl.org Rise Up, My Love, My Fair One...... Healey Willan (1880­1968) ...... Oxford University Press Berusa Er!...... Sten Källman (b. 1952) ...... Walton Music This Marriage...... Eric Whitacre (b. 1970)...... Hal Leonard And I Love Her...... John Lennon (1940­1980) and Paul McCartney (b. 1942)/arr. Bob Chilcott (b. 1955)..... Hal Leonard Night and Day...... Cole Porter (1891­1964)/arr. by Jay Althouse (b. 1951) ...... Alfred Music Publishing Nelly Bly...... Stephen Foster/arr. Jack Halloran ...... Gentry Publications

41 Pelham High School Wind Ensemble The Pelham High School Band has a rich tradition of musical excellence dating back to the program's inception in 1974. The Pelham High School Band Program is composed of two concert ensembles, two jazz ensembles, two marching bands (competitive and non-competitive), a color guard, a winter guard, a dance team, and majorettes. The Pelham High School Marching Band is an active participant in Bands of America and Music For All. The Pelham Wind Ensemble, the premier performance group at Pelham High School, has performed at numerous state and regional conferences and competitions including the Music for All National Festival, Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic (SEUS), Grand National Adjudicators Invitational, The Atlanta International Band & Orchestra Conference, Southern Instrumental Conductors Conference and the Alabama Music Educators Association In-Service Conference (1990, 1994, 2005, 2010, 2013). Under the direction of Justin P. Ward, the Pelham Wind Ensemble has been invited and performed as a featured ensemble at the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic (2015), The University of Alabama Honor Band Festival (2016), the Kennesaw State University Concert Band Invitational (2017), and the UAB Concert Band Invitational (2017).

Justin P. Ward is the Director of Bands at Pelham High School in Pelham, AL where he oversees all activities of this storied band program. Under his direction the Pelham Wind Ensemble has been a featured ensemble at the 2017 Kennesaw State University Concert Band Invitational, 2017 UAB Concert Band Invitational, 2016 University of Alabama Honor Band Festival and the 2015 Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic. He previously served at Pelham High School as the Associate Director of Bands. In 2012, Justin received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from The University of Alabama School of Music Faculty and Pi Kappa Lambda. He previously served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (The University of Alabama) with the University Bands Department within the School of Music. Mr. Ward holds a B.S. in Music Education (2005), M.A. (2010) in Music and Secondary Education, and an Ed.S in Secondary Education and Curriculum Design (2011) from The University of Alabama. In 2011, Justin was selected as the Most Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the College of Education and Music Education Faculty. Prior to his appointment at The University of Alabama, Justin taught for three years in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina as the Director of Bands/Orchestra at Aynor Middle School and the Assistant Director of Bands/Orchestra at Aynor High School. During this time, Mr. Ward also served on the staff of Coastal Carolina University. Justin has designed marching band drill and written over 125 music arrangements for over 40 high schools and universities. He is currently one of the arrangers for The University of Alabama “Million Dollar Band.” Justin’s arrangements have been heard at the nation’s top sporting events from the NCAA Final Four and NIT Final Four to the AllState Sugar Bowl (2008 & 2014), Citi BCS National Championship (2010), AllState BCS National Championship (2012), the Discover BCS National Championship (2013), and the College Football Playoff (2015, 2016, 2017). In January 2013, Justin presented a clinic entitled “Warming up our Concert Bands before MPA: What we Gleaned from Experts, Experience, Observation, and Research” at the Alabama Music Educator’s Association In-Service Conference in Montgomery, AL. The research study was recently published in UPDATE: Applications of Research for Music Education.

Friday 8:30 PM BJCC Concert Hall Concert Program Irrational Joy...... Steven Bryant...... Steven Bryant/Gorilla Salad Productions Magnolia Star...... Steve Danyew ...... Steve Danyew The Cruel Moon...... John Mackey ...... John Mackey/Osti Music Freebirds...... Scott McAllister ...... Scott McAllister/Lyd Music Carmina Burana (Selected Movements)...... Carl Orff, arr. John Krance...... Schott

42 Redstone Brass

Founded in the winter of 2014, Redstone Brass is Alabama's Premiere Brass Choir dedicated to the highest caliber artistic performance of brass choir literature. Comprised of professional and semi-professional musicians, the ensemble is under the direction of Bill Connell, award-winning director of the Grissom High School bands in Huntsville, Alabama. Members include symphonic musicians, college professors, military musicians, high school and middle school music educators, engineers, writers, sales representatives, and other professionals. Redstone Brass has performed such works as Eric Ewazen’s “Symphony in Brass”, Holst’s “The Perfect Fool”, Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium”, Percy Grainger’s “Lincolnshire Posy”, Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma”, Ravel’s “Pavane for a Dead Princess”, as well as Tchesnokov’s “Salvation is Created” and Giancarlo Castro D’Addona’s “Grand Fanfare”.

Bill Connell is one of the founding members of Redstone Brass Choir and has been Conductor and Music Director since its inception. His knowledge of brass and percussion ensemble pedagogy has helped propel this ensemble to the level of excellence that you will experience today. Mr. Connell is also Director of Bands at Grissom High School in Huntsville and has served in that position since 1986. The ensembles of Grissom are known throughout the United States for the exceptional proficiency of performance and challenging caliber of literature.

Friday, 3:45 PM Concert Program BJCC Concert Hall Grand Fanfare...... Giancarlo Castro D’Addona...... Editions Bim Symphony for Brass and Percussion...... Alfred Reed ...... Sam Fox I. Maestoso II. Largo III. Con moto Urlicht (Primordial Light)...... Gustav Mahler/arr. Michael Allen...... Boulder Brass Brombones for Brass Choir...... Howard J. Buss ...... Brixton Publications V. Night Encounter Three Brass Cats...... Chris Hazel ...... Chester Music Music III. Borage Canzon septimi toni No. 2...... Giovanni Gabrieli...... Robert King/Alphonse Leduc Jazzalogue No. 1...... Joseph Turrin...... C. Alan

43 Southside High School Wind Ensemble

The Southside High School Band has a long and well-earned reputation of musical excellence. Since its founding in 1958, the Southside Band has won many prestigious awards and participated in several featured performances both with the marching and concert ensembles. 2017 marks the 30th of consecutive superior rating at State Music Performance Assessment, and the Southside Band remains the only band in Etowah County to perform at the AMEA Conference. Founded in 2015, the Wind Ensemble is the premier auditioned performance ensemble for the Southside Band and has been awarded all superior ratings along with the Symphonic Band at State MPA. The mission of the Wind Ensemble and the entire Southside Band program is to provide our audiences and members alike with memorable concert experiences; to foster music and music education in the state of Alabama; to provide for the musical and entertainment needs of our community; and to provide for musical expression, growth and fellowship of our members.

Matt Weaver is currently in his fifth year as Director of Bands at Southside High School. Mr. Weaver is a 2012 graduate of Jacksonville State University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. He performed with a number of ensembles while at JSU including the Marching Southerners, Chamber Winds, the competitive Tuba Quartet, Brass Chior, and the JSU Pep Band Hardcorps. Mr. Weaver also served as a section leader for the Marching Southerners for three years. In 2008, he was a scholarship member of the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute in Denver, Colorado and was a founding member of the Pelham Street Brass Quintet. He currently serves as Principal Tubist for the Alabama Winds under the direction of Professor Randall O. Coleman. Mr. Weaver is a member of the International Tuba Euphonium Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the National Association for Music Education, and the Alabama Bandmasters Association. Mr. Weaver is an active musician and arranger. He is happily married to Mrs. Haley Weaver who serves as The PRIDE's Colorguard Instructor. They met while in college at JSU during Southerners rehearsal. They have a new, handsome baby boy named Benton and a yorkie Maggie. They attend Rainbow Presbyterian Church of Rainbow City.

Thursday, 10:15 am BJCC Concert Hall Concert Program For the New Day Arisen...... Steven Barton...... Daehn Publications Gathering at the Ranks of Hebron...... David Holsinger...... TRN Music Publishing Company Trust in Angels...... Brian Balmages ...... unpublished Featuring Chris Probst, Trumpet Who’s Who In Navy Blue...... John Philip Sousa, Edited by Frank Byrne ...... Wingert­Jones Music Danse Carnivale...... Randall D. Standridge...... Grand Mesa Music Badge of Courage...... John Fannin ...... Arrangers Publishing Company

44 Spain Park High School Chamber Choir

The Spain Park High School Choral Department was established when Spain Park High School opened its doors in 2001. Each year a number of students are selected to participate in the Alabama All-State Chorus Festival, Collegiate Honor Choirs, and the Alabama Music Educators Association Honor Choir. The SPHS Choral Department has produced numerous college music majors, many of whom were recipients of scholarships. The choirs annually perform and place in choral competitions and festivals across the state, Southeast, and country. While the students of each choir strive for excellence in their musical endeavors, they also apply life lessons and discipline learned through choral singing to their everyday lives. The Spain Park High School Chamber Choir is an advanced, auditioned ensemble open to students at Spain Park High School who are members of one of the three curricular choirs: Women’s Ensemble, Concert Choir, and/or “Rhapsody In Blue” Show Choir. The Chamber Choir rehearses during AO (Advanced Opportunity) three times a week. Rehearsal emphasis is on advanced musicianship, vocal production, vocal technique, and ensemble performance. The Chamber Choir has been honored to receive the Distinguished Musicianship Award at Alabama State Performance Assessment for the past seven years. Each year students have the opportunity to experience several performance and travel opportunities. Select members travelled to New York City in 2017 to participate in the Choirs of America for Top Choirs festival at Carnegie Hall. The Chamber Choir performs music from all languages and genres including jazz, classical, and traditional.

Mr. Jim Schaeffer is the Choir Director and AP Music Theory instructor at Spain Park High School in Birmingham, Alabama . In 2017 he earned a Master of Music Education from Florida State University, where he studied conducting under Dr. André Thomas. Mr. Schaeffer received his B.S. in Choral Music Education from The University of Alabama where he was a member of the University Singers and Men’s A Cappella Group Subject to Change. Mr. Schaeffer was the first recipient of the Outstanding Young Music Educator Award presented by the Alabama Music Educators Association in 2014. Mr. Schaeffer holds memberships with the American Choral Directors Association and National Association for Music Education. He currently serves as treasurer and Webmaster for the Alabama Choral Directors Association. Mr. Schaeffer has spent summers on stage with the Red Mountain Theatre Company and is a former member of the Birmingham Chamber Chorus under the direction of Dr. Terre Johnson. Mr. Schaeffer is an avid English Premier League soccer and Alabama football fan.

Thursday, 1:00 PM Concert Program BJCC East Ballroom Cry Out and Shout...... Knut Nystedt ...... Alfred Publishing Co. Inc Kyrie (Mass for Four Voices) ...... William Byrd ...... Public Domain Jubilate Deo...... Peter Anglea...... Hinshaw Music, Inc Pure Imagination...... arr. Matthew Nielsen ...... Santa Barbara Music Publishing Õhtul...... Pärt Uusberg ...... Walton Music The Wisdom of the Moon...... Susan LaBarr ...... Walton Music Unclouded Day ...... arr. Shawn Kirchner...... Boosey & Hawkes, Inc

45 Thompson High School Jazz Ensemble

The Thompson High School Jazz Ensemble is proudly from Alabaster, Alabama, a sprawling suburban city located in the Heart of Alabama. This audition-only group is made up of 20 of the finest musicians of Thompson High School, and together they have consistently received superior ratings at local, state and national conferences. Students in the ensemble often make all-state jazz band, and many often earn music scholarships and pursue music degrees. In 2017, the THS Jazz Ensemble was selected as one of twelve finalists in the Swing Central National Jazz Band Competition. The ensemble was selected as performers for the 2016 Alabama Association of School Board Conference and earned superior ratings at the Loyola University Jazz Festival that same year. The ensemble is under the direction of Mr. Justin White, Associate Director, and Mr. Jon Bubbett, Director of Bands.

Justin White is a native of Russellville, Alabama. After graduating from Russellville High School in 2007, he attended the University of Alabama where he graduated magna cum laude with a B.S.Ed. Mr. White was a Master’s Conducting Associate at the University of North Texas, where he earned a M.M. in Wind Conducting with a related field in Music Education in 2014. While at UNT, he was a conducting student of Nicholas Enrico Williams, Dennis Fisher and Eugene Migliaro Corporon. Mr. White is a published research assistant for two volumes of Teaching Music through Performance in Band, volume 10 and beginner band volume 3. He is a sought after conductor and adjudicator; recently judging the King’s Royal Trophy International Band Competition in Bangkok Thailand. His professional memberships include Phi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, National Association for Music Education and the Alabama Music Educators Association.

Thursday, 9:00 AM BJCC East Ballroom Concert Program Little Liza Jane...... Traditional/arr. Wycliffe Gordon ...... Alfred Music Publishing Sombody New...... Wycliffe Gordon...... Coup de Cone Music, Inc. In a Sentimental Mood...... Duke Ellington/arr. Mike Tomaro...... Hal Leonard Manteca...... Dizzy Gillespie, Walter Gil Fuller and Luciano Pozo Gonzales/arr. Mike Tomaro ...... Hal Leonard Sugar Hill Penthouse...... Duke Ellington/arr. Christopher Crenshaw ...... Alfred Music Publishing Duet...... Neal Hefti/arr. Jon Harpin ...... Lush Life Music Footprints...... Wayne Shorter/arr. Mike Tomaro ...... Hal Leonard Wind Machine...... Sammy Nestico...... Hal Leonard The Woogie...... Wycliffe Gordon...... Coup de Cone Music, Inc.

46 University of Alabama University Singers

The University Singers is the premier vocal ensemble of the UA School of Music. This advanced choir consists of music majors as well as students from other academic disciplines across the University of Alabama. University Singers performs a wide variety of repertoire, including significant contemporary works, spirituals, world musics, and masterworks of the historic choral canon. Under the direction of Dr. Andrew Minear, the new Director of Choral Activities at the University of Alabama, the University Singers has a renewed mission for outreach, with recent or upcoming performances in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Starkville, Mississippi. In addition, four members were selected to perform in the 2017 National Collegiate Honor Choir at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Continuing a tradition of excellence in the performance of choral masterworks, the University Singers performed the Bernstein Chichester Psalms with the Bach Missa Brevis in A Major in 2017, and will perform the Mozart Requiem with the UA Huxford Symphony in 2018. Previous major works have includ- ed the Bach Johannes Passion, Brahms Ein deutches Requiem, Britten Cantata misericordium, Duruflé Requiem, Mendelssohn Elijah, Orff Carmina burana, and Verdi Requiem. The UA University Singers has performed three times at the internationally-renowned Spivey Hall of Atlanta, Georgia, and they have been included in concerts with Ward Swingle, James Earl Jones, Della Reese, and William Warfield. They have made multiple recordings, premiered choral pieces at the Society of Composers National Conference, and appeared at the Southern Division Conference of the American Choral Directors Association.

With over one hundred appearances across thirteen states, Dr. Andrew Minear is an active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and presenter. Recent or upcoming engagements include all-state choirs in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Dr. Minear’s dedication to students and passion for expressive music-making have been cultivated through teaching experiences in children’s, church, community, middle school, high school, and collegiate choral settings. Dr. Andrew Minear serves as Assistant Professor in Choral Studies and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Alabama where he leads the university choirs, oversees the graduate choral conducting program, and teaches courses in conducting and choral literature. During his doctoral studies in choral conducting at Michigan State University, Andrew Minear served as the director of the MSU Campus Choir and assistant director of the MSU Men’s Glee Club. During his tenure as Choral Director at Dr. Phillips High School, home of the Visual and Performing Arts Magnet for Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, choirs under his direction performed to acclaim at State (2011), Southern Division (2012), and National (2013) Conferences of the American Choral Directors Association. The DPHS Concert Choir performed with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and Minear’s students were selected over 180 times for All-State and ACDA Honor Choirs. A proponent of lifelong singing, in 2014 Andrew Minear founded the Keep Singing Project, a service that connects graduating high school chorus seniors with choral organizations in their community or at their chosen college or university. He received his BME and MME from Florida State University, and DMA from Michigan State University. For more info or to be in touch, visit www.andrewminear.com. Saturday, 9:15 AM Concert Program BJCC Concert Hall Holy Is the Lord (Heilig ist der Herr)...... Andreas Hammerschmidt (1611­1675)/ arr. Mueller Concordia Publishing House 97­6314 Si ch’io vorrei morire...... Claudio Monteverdi (1567­1643) Choral Public Domain Library There Is Sweet Music Here ...... Eric William Barnum (b. 1979) Graphite Publishing EWB1035 La Passeggiata...... Gioacchino Rossini (1792­1868) Isabella Powell, Soprano Hinshaw Music Inc. 08765102 Love’s Tempest (Op 73, No 1)...... Edward Elgar (1857­1934) Choral Public Domain Library City Called Heaven...... Spiritual/ arr. Poelinitz (b. 1944) Isaiah Crawford, Baritone Colla Voce Music 21­20105 47