HHeadliningNortheadlining CChoirshoir s Central Division Schola Cantorum de Mexico Cantus Cantus into Minnesota schools several times a year at no charge for mentor- ing with a culminating public concert in the spring. Cantus has released fi fteen albums on its own self-titled label, each to considerable acclaim. Schola Cantorum de Mexico was founded in 1980 by conductor Alfredo Acclaimed as “the premier men’s South Korea's Mendoza. Since 1993, the choir has vocal ensemble in the United States” Ulsan Metropolitan Choir been established as one of the perform- (Fanfare), Cantus is known for its trade- ing groups representing this university, mark warmth and blend and its engaging whose purpose is the dissemination of performances of music ranging from the Ulsan Metropolitan Choir provides choral music written for treble voices Renaissance to the twenty-fi rst century. the 1.2 million citizens of Ulsan with and the training of young singers to Cantus performs more than seventy a wonderful cultural experience. The interpret works of different styles and concerts each year both in national and choirs performances enable the citizens periods. international touring, as well as in its to enjoy culture and arts and include The choir has performed at gather- home of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. four or more regular concerts every ings and festivals for children and youth As one of the nation’s few full-time year, special outdoor events, and invited groups in Mexico, United States, Canada, men’s ensembles, Cantus has grown in and visiting concerts. Ulsan Metropolitan France, and Cuba, as well as in sym- prominence with its distinctive approach Choir audiences enjoy performances phonic and choral concerts with all the to creating music. Working without a in a wide variety of genres that draw major orchestras in Mexico City. conductor, the members of Cantus from traditional literature that ranges in In 2001 the group’s director, Patricia rehearse and perform as chamber musi- style from classic to modern. The choir Morales, received the Mexican Union of cians, each contributing to the entirety aspires in its choral performances to Writers of Music and Drama award. He of the artistic process. become one of the best choirs in Korea! was invited to participate in les couleurs Cantus has a rich history of col- du Monde Amiens (Amiens, the colors laborations with other performing arts Koo Chun majored in vocal music at the of the world). The choir traveled to this organizations. Cantus is the recipient department of church music in Chong- French city to premiere and record Gar- of numerous awards, including Chorus shin University and graduated from the gantua, cantata for narrator, children’s America’s highest honor, the Margaret Graduate School of Education in Han- choir, and orchestra under the direc- Hillis Award for Choral Excellence yang University. He studied choral con- tion of Mario Lavista Catalan Edmon (2009), as well as Chorus America’s ducting at Gwangju University in Korea. Colomer. He represented Mexico in Education Outreach Award (2011). He has served as asistant conductor the Songbridge project, which brought Cantus was also the 2010-2011 artist with the chorus activity in the National together leading choirs and compos- in residence on Minnesota Public Radio Chorus of Korea for twenty years and ers from different latitudes during the and American Public Media’s Perfor- guest conductor in Gwangju City Choir American International Choral Festival mance Today. (1998, 2007), Mokpo City Choir (2005), Cantat IV, held in Mexico City in 2004. Integral to the Cantus mission is its Jeju City Choir (2008), Wonju City One of the most recent activities of commitment to preserve and deepen Choir (2008), National Chorus of Korea the group in Mexico was the premiere music education in the schools. Cantus (2011), and Busan Metropolitan Chorus of Le Paradis des chats (Paradise for works with more than fi ve thousand (2013). As the conductor of National cats), a musical production for narrator, students each year in masterclass and Female Federation Chorus, he toured soloists, children’s choir, and orchestra workshop settings across the country. overseas in the United States, Canada, by the Bulgarian composer Vladimir Now in its fi fth year, the award-winning Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Fin- Kojoukharov. High School Residency program brings land, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 54 Number 6 133 HHeadliningNortheadlining CChoirshoir s Central Division Chun elevated the Choir by com- tors Association and while working as a BBrainerdrainerd Blyden-TaylorBlyden-Taylor is the conductor manding high-quality sound. He is professor in Gwangju University. of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. His pho- already known to Korean chorus as to and bio can be found on page 110. having an excellent ability to unify sound through refi ned teaching methods on the vocalization. Presently he is music Nathaniel Dett Chorale director and conductor of Ulsan Met- ropolitan city. The Nathaniel Dett Chorale will be He held the offi ce of president of a headliner for this conference. Their the Federation for Korean City Choir photo and bio can be found on page and Korea Federation for Choral Music, 109. and currently leads Korean choirs as the director general of Korea Choral Direc- SpecialSNorthilElE Events t Central Division country will be in Des Moines to lead us Music Teacher’s Association. In addition, A Community through their newest creation…songs his choirs have performed throughout of our grandparents and great-grand- the United States and in over thirty That Sings III parents now available to our teachers countries around the word. America’s rich song treasury is be- and conductors. Meidl is past president of the Wis- coming a national secret. Do children consin Choral Directors Association sing with their parents anymore? Have Kevin Meidl is con- and the North Central ACDA. He was decades of educational budget cuts and ductor and music selected as secondary teacher of the arena rock concerts taken singing away department chair at year (1995–1996) for the Appleton from parents and their children? Appleton West High Area School District and the Helble Following the vision of former Wis- School. He is artis- Outstanding Teacher at Appleton West consin and North Central Division Pres- tic director of the (2007–2008). ident, Kevin Meidl, NCACDA has found Appleton Boychoir, a way to make singing an indispensible a treble voice choral program now in part of the American experience with its thirty-fi fth season. He is founder and A Community that Sings: Volume Three! It principal conductor with the Badger Vocal Jazz Experience provides excellent, royalty-free arrange- State Girl Choir and past director of the ments for our members and helps to Fox Valley Symphony Chorus. Day bring song back to our communities. His choirs have performed extensive- Compiled by Kevin Meidl, the third ly for regional and state conferences of The Vocal Jazz Experience Day will in a series of songbooks created for ACDA, NAfME, the American Guild of be an opportunity for all attendees members of North Central ACDA will Organists, the Association of Wisconsin of the conference to see vocal jazz be premiered at the conference. Our Area Kodály Educators, Intercollegiate groups from each of the six states in great team of arrangers from across the Men’s Choruses, Inc., and the Wisconsin the North Central Division as selected 134 CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 54 Number 6 Iowa • Minnesota • Nebraska • North Dakota • South Dakota • Wisconsin March 20 - 22, 2014 • Des Moines, Iowa by each state’s leadership and learn Marcy’s twenty-fi fth year at ECC. He Timothy Buchholz is a valuable information on beginning or recently received the 2013 ECC “Excel- nationally recognized enhancing a vocal jazz ensemble. Each lence in Education Award” for outstand- jazz singer, educator, group will perform and be critiqued ing teaching. Marcy is published through and arranger. As a by renowned composer, educator, and UNC Jazz Press, Walton, and Sound singer, Buchholz has performer Kirk Marcy. They will also be Music Publications. Additionally, he sings performed at Carn- given further instruction by one of our with Just 4 Kicks and Male Ensemble egie Hall, New York festival college directors in Turner Hall Northwest. City’s Lincoln Center, and has toured Jazz Center immediately after their main internationally. He has performed with stage performance. Patrice Madura many notable artists, including Bobby Built into the festival are two break- Ward-Steinman is McFerrin, Steve Miller, Bruce Horn- out sessions for each group and all professor of music sby, Patty Austin, Jon Secada, and Dave attendees to the conference to further and graduate coor- Grusin. Buchholz’s vocal jazz arrange- enhance their vocal jazz skills. “Un- dinator in the music ments have been performed throughout raveling the Mystery of Scat-Singing” education depart- the country by college and high school presented by the ACDA National Vo- ment of the Indiana jazz vocal groups, and have been used cal Jazz Repertoire & Standards chair, University (IU) Jacobs School of Music. for numerous all-state vocal jazz en- Patrice Madura from Indiana University, Madura teaches choral, vocal jazz, and sembles. Residing in Wausau, Wisconsin, and “Blend, Balance and Swing in the research methods. She is the author, Buchholz is an assistant professor of Vocal Jazz Ensemble” presented by coauthor, or editor of six books: Getting music at the University of Wisconsin nationally recognized jazz singer, educa- Started with Vocal Improvisation (MENC, Marathon County, where he directs tor, and arranger Tim Buchholz from 1999), Becoming a Choral Music Teacher the concert choir and three vocal jazz the University of Wisconsin Marathon (Routledge, 2010), Music Education in ensembles and teaches classes in music County. His demonstration group will be Your Hands: an Introduction for Future theory, aural skills, and vocal techniques.