Southwestern Division

SouthwesternIInvitednvited EEnsemblesnsembles Division New York Polyphony sively and participating in major concert musical scale, this vocal quintet has series and festivals throughout North transformed one of pop music’s purest America and Europe. Highlights includes and most soulful expressions into an Dallas Chamber Music Series; Miller exciting future, fi lled with limitless sonic Theatre at Columbia University Early possibility. Music Series; Ardee Baroque Festival Now six months removed from The (Ireland);Vendsyssel Festival (Denmark); Sing-Off , Pentatonix—who have all relo- Festival de Música de Morelia (Mexico); cated to Los Angeles—have continued Elora Festival (Canada); and Choral at to build upon their already loyal fanbase, Cadogan Hall in London. They have introducing a slew of new material via been featured on Performance Today for their YouTube channel, including covers American Public Media, Footprints to of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Paradise: A Medieval Christmas for Public Know” and Fun’s “We Are Young.” The Radio International, and BBC Radio 3’s two videos—featured by Perez Hilton, New York Polyphony is regarded In Tune. The Huffi ngton Post, RyanSeacrest.com, as one of the fi nest vocal chamber and Nightline—have eclipsed 8 million ensembles in the world. The four men views. Their debut EP, PTX Volume 1, is “sing with intelligence, subtlety and a celebration of their musical diversity consummate artistry,” (Richmond Times- Nathaniel Dett Chorale and sonic proof that the right fi ve voices Dispatch) applying a distinctly modern can effectively and expertly deliver a touch to repertoire that ranges from The Nathaniel Dett Chorale will be pop song. The EP includes 4 covers and austere medieval melodies to cutting- a headliner for this conference. Their two original songs. Pentatonix will be edge contemporary compositions. Their photo and bio can be found on page supporting PTX Volume 1 on the road dedication to innovative programming, 109. and online, as well as continuing to as well as a focus on rare and rediscov- create new music, consistently testing ered works, has not only earned New BBrainerdrainerd BBlyden-Taylorlyden-Taylor is the conductor any and every preconception of what York Polyphony critical acclaim and a of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. His pho- unaccompanied music is and just how devoted following but helped to move to and bio can be found on page 110. big it can be. early music into the classical mainstream. New York Polyphony’s debut album, I sing the birth, was released in 2007. New York Polyphony’s second album, Pentatonix Tudor City, spent three weeks in the top Arkansas Chamber Singers ten of Billboard’s classical album chart. New York Polyphony released its third album, endBeginning, on BIS Re- cords in early 2012. It was selected as one of the top ten notable classical mu- The Arkansas Chamber Singers sic recordings of 2012 by the New Yorker. (ACS) is an auditioned vocal ensemble New York Polyphony released its dedicated to enriching the lives of the fourth album, Times go by Turns, which people of Arkansas by performing and features Masses by Thomas Tallis and promoting the fi nest in classical choral William Byrd, as well as an enigmatic Unaccompanied sensations and win- repertoire. The ACS present a yearly three-voice Mass setting by medieval ners of season 3 of NBC’s The Sing- Off, subscription series at several venues in English composer John Plummer. Pentatonix are taking instrument-free Little Rock and around the state. A new Since its founding in 2006, New York music far beyond anyone’s wildest holiday tradition began in 2012 with the Polyphony has maintained an active expectations. Named after the world’s ACS singing a free concert series at the performance schedule, touring exten- most widely recognized five- note CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 54 Number 6 165 SouthwesternIInvitednvited EEnsemblesnsembles Division Arkansas Old State House Museum 1975, he has been the Concert Choir won the Great Ameri- on the Arkansas River. Since 1980 the director of choral ac- can Choral Festival and was awarded ensemble has commissioned works tivities at the Universi- two gold medals at the Riva del Garda by noted composers Stephen Paulus, ty of Central Arkansas International Choral Competition in Italy. David Dickau, and Gwyneth Walker. The (UCA) conducting In addition to conducting choral ensem- Arkansas Chamber Singers sang during the award-winning bles, Erwin teaches Choral Conducting both inaugural celebrations for President UCA Concert Choir and Graduate Choral Literature. For ten Bill Clinton and has performed with the and UCA Chamber years he served as Southwestern ACDA Arkansas Symphony presenting many Singers. He has received the UCA Repertoire & Standards chair for col- of the most important choral/orchestra Faculty Excellence Award, and in 2008 lege/university choirs. He has directed repertoire. In May 2013, ACS presented Erwin received the governor’s award numerous all-region and all-state choirs. Mozart’s Requiem and will sing Verdi’s for Artist of the Year from the Arkansas Requiem and Haydn’s Theresien Mass Arts Council. Choirs under his direc- in 2014 with the Arkansas Symphony tion have performed for two national Orchestra. ACDA Conferences, nine Southwestern ACDA Division Conferences, and seven John Erwin has served as the artistic Arkansas All-State Conferences. In addi- director and conductor of the Arkansas tion, his choirs have sung for the national Chamber Singers since 1999. Since conventions of MENC and MTNA. The SouthwesternSSpecialpecial EventsEvents Division tionally, the renowned choral ensemble Houston Baptist University from Houston Baptist University, Schola Beauty through Cantorum, conducted by John Yar- Schola Cantorum Brokenness rington, will be featured in the service. Choral selections will include; Moth- erless Child, arranged by Craig Hella An ecumenical service of song Johnson, Melissa Givens, soloist; For the Sake of Our Children, Jeffery Ames; and Come worship with us as we explore a commissioned piece from Exsul by “Beauty through Brokenness.” Together composer Daniel Gawthrop. we will acknowledge the brokenness of Terry York, Professor of Christian self, society, and relationships within the Ministry and Church Music at Baylor hope of reconciliation. You will hear Little University’s Truett Seminary will write Rock area choirs from St. James United and present interpretations of each Schola Cantorum is the most advanced Methodist Church, conducted by Tracy theme and section of the service. choir in the Houston Baptist Univer- DePue; First United Methodist Church, sity School of Music. They have been conducted by Kyle Linson; and Exsul, priviliged to have sung in weeklong conducted by Michael Ekbladh. Addi- residencies with Alice Parker, Dan For- 166 CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 54 Number 6 Arkansas • Colorado • Kansas • Missouri • New Mexico • Oklahoma • Texas March 19 - 22, 2014 • Little Rock, Arkansas rest, James Jordan, Daniel Gawthrop, and range of literature. Musicians of America National Seminar. Morten Lauridsen. Of his residency with Her passion for congregational singing this choir, composer Morten Lauridsen has been developed as a Melodious Ac- wrote: “this was among the fi nest, both cord Fellow—earned through attending on a college and professional level. Their St. James United Methodist Church two weeklong song-leading workshops sense of pitch, vocal color, and interpre- Chancel Choir taught by Alice Parker. tation of the music is very high.” This year’s choir of forty-fi ve highly selected The Chancel Choir sings each Sunday voices continues the tradition. during the traditional worship service Exsul at St. James United Methodist Church, John Yarrington is di- Little Rock. In addition, it provides music Exsul was founded in January of 2013. rector of the school for seasonal services throughout the The members seek to excel in choral of music and chair of year. Each December, their Carols & music by advancing their technical choral studies at the Candles concert features works with skills through recording experiences Houston Baptist Uni- professional orchestra. All of the singers in all styles and genres. By developing versity (HBU). Addi- are volunteers. The choir had the privi- partnerships with schools, religious tionally, he is director lege, in this past year, of singing for the institutions and other community orga- of the Chancel Choir at the First Presby- Installation Service for the new bishop nizations, they strive to train singers of terian Church of Houston. He founded and for the commissioning service of the all backgrounds so they may be better the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Arkansas United Methodist Conference. equipped and encouraged to participate Chorus. He was also artistic director of in choral ensembles across Little Rock the Arkansas Chamber Singers. Tracy DePue joined and the state of Arkansas. After graduating from the University the staff of St. James of Oklahoma with a BME, Yarrington United Methodist Michael E. Ekbladh completed his MSM at the Union Theo- Church in Little Rock has served numer- logical Seminary in New York City, and as the director of ous choirs in Texas, DMA from the University of Oklahoma. music, worship, and Illinois, and Arkansas. His published choral compositions the arts in July 2010 He holds an MM in are with Augsburg-Fortress, Choristers after serving as director of music at conducting from Texas Guild, Abingdon Press, MorningStar and Grace Presbyterian Church in Plano, Christian University GIA. Published books include Building Texas, for almost nineteen years. She and pursued a MSM from Southern the Youth Choir, Somebody’s Got My Robe, earned a BM in piano performance Methodist University. Ekbladh currently Somebody’s Got My Hymnal, Choir Crack- from Maryville College in Tennessee and serves as director of choirs for Pulaski ups, and Have We Had This Conversation. an MM in choral conducting from the Technical College and is founder and Yarrington has served as South- University of Houston. DePue directed artistic director for Exsul Choir in Little western ACDA Division president.

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