May 2026

Upcoming Events

May 15 - MMC Choral Hour Submission Deadline

May 15 - Carolyn F. Leep Scholarship Application Deadline

June 15 - Registration Deadline for Choral Student Leadership Conference

June 17 - Choral Student Leadership Conference

August 11 - Board Meeting & Volunteer Retreat

August 12 - Summer Membership Event: COMMUNITY

State Choral Festival

Congratulations to the incredible coordinators and volunteers for managing successful State Choral Festivals and to the participating choir directors and students for their beautiful performances. Thank you to the adjudicators for sharing their time and expertise with our members and their students. We appreciate all of you - none of this would be possible without you!

East

Coordinator: Cate Gasco

Host: Rachel Quillian, Marysville High School


Adjudicators:

Dr. Matthew Abernathy, Associate Director of Choirs, University of Michigan

Dr. Margaret Burk, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, Carthage College

Robyn Lana, Choral Faculty, Miami University

Dr. Colin Mann, Assistant Professor of Music and Associate Director of Choral Activities, University of Georgia

Dr. Erika Tazawa, Director of Choral Activities, Wayne State University

Dr. Andrea VanDeusen, Associate Professor of Choral Music Education and Area Coordinator of Music Education & Music Therapy, East Carolina University


South

Coordinator: Monty Bishop

Host: Jason Konkel, Mason High School


Adjudicators:

Dr. Matthew Abernathy, Associate Director of Choirs, University of Michigan

Dr. Matthew Coffey, Assistant Professor of Choral Studies, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Dr. Julie Ford, Director of Vocal-Choral Activities, Saint Mary's College of California

Scott Hanoian, Music Director and Conductor, University Society Choral Union

Dr. Eric Johnson, Director of Choral Activities, Northern Illinois University

Dr. Nicole Mattfeld, Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music, Alma College


West

Coordinator: Pam Pierson

Host: Mark Stover, Trinity Lutheran Church Grand Rapids


Adjudicators:

Dr. Ryan Beeken, Director of Choral Activities and Associate Director for the School of Music, Wichita State University

Dr. Mariana Farah, Director of Choral Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dr. Erin Plisco, Associate Director of Choral Studies, Missouri State University

Shruthi Rajasekar, Composer

Dr. Katherine Rohwer, Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music, Arkansas Tech University

Dr. Brandon Williams, Associate Professor and Director of Choral Activities, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey


Central

Coordinators: Dan Farison and Thomas Larner

Host: Leticia Grutzman, Saginaw Valley State University


Adjudicators:

Dr. Alyssa Cossey, Interim Director of Choral Activities, Wellesley College

Dr. Stuart Chapman Hill, Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education, Michigan State University

Dr. Brandon Johnson, Director of Choral Activities, Eastern Michigan University

Dr. J. Christine Linschoten, Associate Director of Choral Activities, Texas State University

Dr. Gary Seighman, Director of Choral Activities and Chair of the Music Department, Trinity University

Dr. Erika Tazawa, Director of Choral Activities, Wayne State University

Choral Student Leadership Conference

High school directors may may register up to 10 students (currently grades 9-12) to attend the conference. Please complete the registration form and submit your payment by credit card or check by June 15, 2026.


Cost is $50 per student and includes CSLC Conference materials and lunch. 


Directors who are thinking about growing your student leadership program but are not ready to send students - you are welcome to attend. Please complete the registration form and check the Teacher Only level.



Invoices and checks should be mailed to:

MSMVA

P.O. Box 1131

Big Rapids, MI 49307


Registration fees are non-refundable.

Summer Membership Event

August 11, 2026

Board Meeting & Volunteer Retreat (District Managers, Supervisors, Coordinators)


August 12, 2026

Summer Membership Event: COMMUNITY

at Michigan State Capitol


More information on 2026 Summer Membership Event Coming soon!

Adjudicator Evaluation

Hello and congratulations to all festival goers!  


Please make time to fill out an Adjudicator Evaluation Form on the adjudicators at your various festival events. Your feedback is important, valued and appreciated.

Plaque Order Form

Directors may order plaques for choirs receiving Excellent (Division I) at District and State Choral Festivals by going to the Plaque Order Form.


New for 2026:

Directors may also order plaques for earning Good (Division II) or The Festival Experience (no rating notated).


Paid orders of $50.00 per plaque will be placed by the State Office. Plaques will be shipped to the address indicated on the Plaque Order Form.


Directors who would like to order plaques for years prior to 2024 may contact the State Office.

MMC Choral Hour Submissions

MSVMA is proud to feature outstanding ensembles at the Michigan Music Conference. We are privileged to showcase up to 4 ensembles annually, chosen by a blind panel of vocal music professionals.  


Traditional Choral Hour submissions are open to Junior High/Middle School or High School Choral ensembles. Specialized Choral Hour submissions are open to Junior High/Middle School or High School ensembles, and include (but are not limited to) jazz, pop, a capella, gospel, show choir, musical theatre, barbershop, non-western traditional and other alternative genres.


For more information, visit our website.


Application deadline:  May 15, 2026 

Carolyn F. Leep Scholarship

The Carolyn F. Leep Scholarship was established in 1988 in honor of Carolyn‘s service to the Michigan School Vocal Music Association. In her position as head of the Choral/Vocal Department of Malecki Music Inc., Carolyn worked tirelessly for 20 years to provide MSVMA members with the materials to better perform our jobs as music educators.


The scholarship is awarded to an MSVMA member during the Summer Membership Event.


Applications will be reviewed by the Carolyn F. Leep Scholarship Committee which is chaired by the past president.


Application deadline:  May 15, 2026 


Please submit questions to Sarah Stockton, Past-President - sarahstockton@msvma.org

Choral Music Education Scholarship Update

The Michigan School Vocal Music Association is proud to offer one, $10,000 scholarship to an outstanding high school choral student who is pursuing a degree in choral music education. The scholarship is paid in increments of $1,250 per semester for the duration of a 4-year college degree.


The application deadline was May 1, 2026 for the 2026-2027 academic school year. The Selection Committee is hard at work reviewing the submissions from these amazing choral music education students! The recipient will be contacted by mid-May and will be announced publicly at the Summer Membership Event.  

2026 All-State Festival

Our 2026 MSVMA All-State Festival was a tremendous success! From our Specialized Gala Concert (featuring the All-State Musical Theatre Honors Ensemble and others), Traditional Gala Concert (featuring Outstanding Choirs and others), Recitals (9am and 1pm), and All-State Honors Choir, we can't wait to celebrate in our All-State Festival Special Edition of Tempo!


If you have any pictures from this event, please send them to kathybalch@msvma.org.

Announcements

The MSVMA State Office will be closed May 25, 2026, in observance of Memorial Day.

Now in its 60th year, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp is proud to offer outstanding summer programs for vocal music students led by distinguished conductors and faculty. Our vocal program supports students of all abilities, from grades 7 - 12. Significant scholarship assistance remains available for vocalists in the upcoming season.


Schedule a Scholarship Representative: Contact the Scholarship Office at scholarships@bluelake.org or 800-221-3796 x202 to request a visit from a Blue Lake vocal music representative in your area. Representatives are scheduling appointments now, and are ready to meet your students to share more about Blue Lake and the scholarships that are available to help with camp tuition.


Students can also apply for tuition support independently: Direct students to Blue Lake Scholarships where they can apply independently for a scholarship to help with camp tuition. Merit, Financial Need, Advanced Programs, and All-State Honors scholarships are available.


Nominate a New Student: You may also nominate a student for an Arts Educator Award valued at $475 toward Blue Lake’s camp tuition for all arts areas and instruments. Visit Arts Educator Nomination to complete the application. Note that these introductory scholarships are only available to new-to-Blue Lake students who are not alumni and not currently enrolled.


Camp Registration IS OPEN!


Since 1966, Blue Lake has provided students with motivating musical experiences in a great environment filled with artistic growth and a good dose of camp fun. All abilities welcome, no application fee, and no audition required to enroll. We look forward to welcoming your students this summer!


www.bluelake.org


800-221-3796


This booster club partnership is not only for athletics. School music programs and music booster organizations are also invited to participate in this program sponsored by the Michigan Gaming Control Board aimed at reducing youth betting activities.

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