January 2025

Upcoming Events

January 22 I Board of Directors Meeting

January 23 I 6789 Honors Choirs Performances

January 24 I Choral Hour Performances

January 24 I Art Song Intensive Registration Closes

January 25 I High School Honors Choirs Performances

January 25 I Specialized Choral and All-State Jazz Choir Performances

January 28 I State S&E Festival Registration Closes

February 4 I All-State Selection Announced

February 7 I State S&E Festival Late Registration Closes

February 15 I State Festival Transfer Deadline

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 who are interested in Solo Adjudication

Choral In-Service

For those interested in Sight Reading, Choral, or both

We are adding a brand new opportunity for students this year, the Art Song Intensive! This event is open to soloists, grades 7-12!

MSVMA will welcome 40 singers in grades 7-12 to our Art Song Intensive on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Eastern Michigan University. Students will have the opportunity to sing for clinicians and experience a studio class setting with other performers, learning from their clinics as well. This event will foster a collaborative and inviting approach to the classical music tradition, while also providing excellent instruction to students to better prepare them for the Solo & Ensemble season!

Registration is $25 and includes clinic and accompanist. Registration Closes January 24, 2025.

Submitted by Megan Sinclair, Director of Specialized Festivals

District Choral Festival is fast approaching. This is a reminder to all High School directors who will be singing at the Intermediate level that there is a raised fourth (Fi) in this year’s sight reading (using the sequence Fa-Fi-Sol). Preparation will help ensure a successful sight reading experience.

To make preparation easier, MSVMA has assembled some practice examples for you to use in your daily sight reading. These PDF files can be downloaded and reproduced for your choirs. They include a variety of voicings with the chromatic sequence appearing in various voice parts (the chromatic sequence is only written in one voice part).

You can access these practice examples by going to the MSVMA website, then selecting Resources, next go to Repertoire & Sight Reading, and then go to Sight Reading Resources. Or you can click on the following links:

Unison Examples

HS Intermediate Examples 1

HS Intermediate Examples 2

HS Intermediate Examples 3

HS Intermediate Examples 4

Dr. Emily Williams Burch

Headliner

Biography

Headliner Sessions

The Business of Choir - Communicating value and making the most of this business

Break it Down - Focusing on ways to teach, rehearse, review, and memorize

Tossing in Creativity - Exploring ways to tap into your student’s improv skills

Making Connections at MMC 2025

MMC is an amazing opportunity to network. Here are planned activities that will allow MSVMA members to connect with colleagues and old friends and make new friends through the world of choral music education.

Thursday, January 23

All Conference Exhibit Hall Welcome Celebration

Thursday, January 23

7 - 9 PM

Exhibit Hall

There is no additional fee for this reception.

Friday, January 24

MSVMA Celebration Reception

Pantlind Ballroom

5 PM

The annual MSVMA Celebration Reception will be held on Friday, January 24

at 5 PM in the Pantlind Ballroom. Along with an annual update on the organization, members will celebrate our new Emeriti members, honors choir and choral hour conductors. The 2025 Teacher of the Year will be the 62nd member recognized with MSVMA's highest honor.

VoxGR and MSVMA Beer Choir

Creston Brewing

1504 Plainfield Ave NE

6 - 10 PM

Don’t miss the third MSVMA Beer Choir. MSVMA members never pass up an opportunity to join together in song and our MMC Beer Choir provides just that opportunity. 

Beer Choir Hymnal will be provided; attendees will be responsible for their own beverages and food.