December 2024

Upcoming Events and Deadlines

December 20 I Musical Theatre Honors Ensemble Registration Deadline

January 4 I Board of Directors Meeting

January 11 I 6789 Honors Choir Rehearsal

January 11 I MSHS Solo & Ensemble Festivals - D2, D5, D11

January 15 I Art Song Intensive Registration Due

January 17-18 I MSHS Solo & Ensemble Festivals - D8, D9, D16

January 21 I MSHS Solo & Ensemble Festival - D1

Click to read about the 2025 Nominees.

Voting will conclude on Friday, January 10.

Adjudication Conference

January 23, 2025

Imperial Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza

8 AM – 1 PM

Virginia Kerwin, choral adjudication clinician

Jolene Plotzke, sight-reading clinician 

Solo & Ensemble In-Service

 For those interested in Solo Adjudication

Choral In-Service

For those interested in Sight Reading, Choral, or both

Congratulations to our participants

and to students selected for State Honors Choirs!

Region A

Candace Sytsma

Coordinator

Region B

Maxwell Trombley

Coordinator

Region C

Jaylon Sims

Coordinator

Region D

Sydney Ogren

Coordinator

Registration Rates

MSVMA Member: Educator  $110

MSVMA Member: Educator ONE DAY  $80

One-day registration for Friday, January 24 or Saturday, January 25

MSVMA Member: Full-Time University Student  $25

MSVMA Member: Retired  $55

In addition to educational sessions we will also have musical performances

from our 6-7-8-9, high school traditional and Jazz Honors Choirs.

Thursday, January 23

2 PM - 6789 Honors Choir Performance

DeVos Performance Hall

Julie Rogers Davis, Director, SA Choir

Kent Wattleworth, Director, TTB Choir

Jessica Nieuwkoop, Director, SSA Choir

Friday, January 24

3 PM - Choral Hour

JW Marriott International Ballroom

Plainwell Middle School, Honors Choir, Rachel Quillan, Director

Caledonia High School, Choralaires, Kara Stevens, Director

Walled Lake Northern High School, Bel Canto, Ashley Ward, Director

H. H. Dow High School, Chamber Singers, Adam Gardner-Northrup, Director

Saturday, January 25

1 PM - Specialized and Jazz Choral Hour

JW Marriott International Ballroom

Walled Lake Northern High School, Truman Columbus, Musical Theatre Intensive Soloist

Detroit Country Day School, Dale Mylod, Musical Theatre Intensive Soloist

Forest Hills Northern Singers, Michael Wheaton, Director

Dundee Descants, Megan Sinclair, Director

All-State Jazz Honors Choir, Dr. Jeremy Fox, Director

3 PM - High School Honors Choir Performance

DeVos Performance Hall

 Eric Reyes, Director, SSAA Choir

Steven Lorenz, Director, TTBB Choir

 Erin Colwitz, Director, SATB Choir

Please include MSVMA in your year-end charitable giving plans. Your gift can help

ensure the success of an organization that plays a significant role in your professional

life and provides innovative learning opportunities for our students.

Visit MSVMA.org and click on Donate. You can use your credit card to make your gift or

if you prefer, print a form from the website and make your gift via check. Together, we

can help continue the outstanding programming and activities of MSVMA.

Thank you!

Make a charitable gift to MSVMA. 

Gift designation options include:

• General Fund which can be designated to the honors choir program, specialized festivals, state level festivals or other specific programs and activities
• Education Endowment (Grant & Scholarship Programs)
• Professional development including the Clinician/Consultant Program
• Carolyn F. Leep Scholarship
• Carolyn F. Leep Endowment

Consider a monthly gift of $10. 

Your generosity will provide ongoing support to help meet the increasing costs of our programming. We do our best to keep membership fees and event registration costs as low as possible. You can be part of achieving this goal. 

Create a lasting legacy by including MSVMA in your will. 

There are a number of ways to make a planned gift though your will which can include tax advantages to you and your family. 

• Designate MSVMA as a beneficiary in your estate plan by a bequest.
• Name MSVMA as a beneficiary of an IRA.
• Name MSVMA as a beneficiary of a retirement plan.
• Name MSVMA as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy.
• Transfer ownership of a life insurance policy to MSVMA.

If you would like assistance or information about making a gift to MSVMA, please contact

Executive Director, Erik Jacobson (erikjacobson@msvma.org), or

Director of Operations, Debra Jacks (debrajacks@msvma.org) or (231) 592-9344.

State Office closed

December 23 - January 3

Back in 1966, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp was founded on the principle of supporting arts educators and school programs through summer enrichment for students. Students benefit from a motivating and nurturing environment where they can focus on their art, away from daily distractions. Blue Lake provides quality artistic experiences that send kids back to school motivated and ready to lead in their programs. Celebrating our 60 th season in 2025, Blue Lake continues to offer significant scholarships and financial assistance for motivated students. Contact the Scholarship Office at scholarships@bluelake.org or 800-221-3796 x202 to request a visit from a Scholarship Representative in your area, or direct students to Blue Lake Scholarships where they can apply for a scholarship independently. Merit, Financial Need, Advanced Program, and All-State Honors scholarships are available.

Every year, Madrigal Chorale gives talented young vocalists the opportunity to earn scholarship monies to further their educational studies. Eligible Michigan high school students must submit a recording of two solo selections from the classical art song/aria repertoire for judging

by April 27, 2025.



Learn more