Choralfest! is a unique choral festival opportunity for high school and community choirs that was conceived by Chorale Midwest in an effort to fulfill its educational mission. The purpose of the festival is to provide the opportunity for both directors and individual choir members to work with a highly regarded clinician and director and to provide the setting for learning and growth in classic choral literature. Benefits for all include: individual group development and improvement, the opportunity to listen to and learn from other choirs, increased audience exposure and, particularly for the community choirs, the development of relationships between organizations.


Noted conductor and teacher Paul Salamunovich was the guest clinician for the Second Annual Choralfest! April 26 and 27, 2002. Salamunovich is music director emeritus of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and served for almost three decades on the faculty of what is now Loyola Marymount University in California.

New to Choralfest! in 2002 was a composers' competition in which entries submitted from composers in several states were judged and a winning choral work was performed by Chorale Midwest at the closing concert. Entries were again performed during the Choral Midwest 2002-2003 concert season.

 
2002 Choralfest!
Mass Choir Concert

Handel: Music, spread thy voice around

Palestrina: Sicut Cervus

Alfven: Aftonen

Carter, arr: Shall We Gather at the River


 Friday, April 26, 2002

West Branch High School
Christopher Reed, director

Jefferson High School Meistersingers
Michael Reese, director

Prairie High School
Peter Westphalen, director

Washington High School
Dr. Gerald Kreitzer, director

Coe College Concert Choir
Dr. Karen Wachsmuth, conductor

 Saturday, April 27, 2002

Chamber Singers of Iowa City
Martin Dicke, director

Fort Dodge Choral Society
Bruce Perry, conductor

Choralaires of West Des Moines
Karen Strempke, director

Chorale Midwest
Michael Reese, director

Coe College Concert Choir
Dr. Karen Wachsmuth, conductor

 

 

Choralfest! began in 2001 with the help of Coe College, which played host, and guest clinician Dr.Tom Hall of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society. In addition to that position, Tom is active as a guest conductor, teacher, lecturer, and writer; and has prepared choruses for Leonard Bernstein, Robert Shaw, Helmuth Rilling, Sergiu Comissiona, Thomas Dunn, and others.

Tom developed the Baltimore Choral Arts Society Children's Concerts and the Student Composer Project. He has conducted All-State and Select Choruses in several states and is often asked to conduct master classes with teachers and students in area schools.

A graduate of Ithaca College, Tom earned a Master's Degree from Boston University, and a Doctorate from the University of Maryland.

 

2001 Choralfest!
Mass Choir Concert

Schubert, arr. Hall: Mass in G Major


 Friday, April 27, 2001

Jefferson High School Meistersingers
Michael Reese, director

Marion High School Concert Chorale
Amanda Freese, director

Washington High School Concert Choir
Dr. Gerald Kreitzer, director

Coe College Concert and Chamber Choirs
Dr. Karen Wachsmuth, conductor

Saturday, April 28, 2001

Ames Choral Society
Steven Hoifeldt, director

Bel Canto Chorale
Roger L. Hatteberg, director

Chamber Singers of Iowa City
Martin Dicke, director

Chorale Midwest
Michael Reese, director

Coe College Concert and Chamber Choirs
Dr. Karen Wachsmuth, conductor

 
Sponsored in part by the Iowa Choral Directors Association



Home