September 2024

Upcoming Events and Deadlines

September 15 I Chamber Choir Festival East Application Open

September 16 I Musical Theatre S&E Festivals East, West and Central Registration Open

September 20 I Musical Theater Intensive Application Due

September 21 I Musical Theatre Audition Workshop Registration Due

September 28 I Musical Theatre Audition Workshop

September 28 I Music Education/Vocal Performance Audition Workshop

September 28 I Adjudication Conference

October 1 I Vocal Jazz Intensive Application Due

October 4 I Musical Theatre S&E Festivals East, West and Central Registration Due

October 4 I 6789 Honors Choirs Online Audition Deadline (midnight)

October 4 I High School Regional Honors Choir Online Audition Deadline (midnight)

October 5 I Musical Theatre Intensive

October 11-13 I High School Regional Honors Choir Online Auditions Adjudication

October 12 I 6789 Honors Choirs East & West Regional Rehearsal and Concert

October 14 I All-State Jazz Choir Online Auditions Opens

October 15 I Chamber Choir East Festival Application Due

If you are not a member of MSVMA, this is your last issue of Tempo!

September 28, 2024

Charlotte High School

8 AM – 1 PM



Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble Festival - You should try it!

Fees are $35 for soloists, $50 for duets, and $80 for large ensembles (3-20 participants)

November 2, 2024 Central Site Charlotte Middle School

November 9, 2024 East Site Oxford High School

November 16, 2024 West Site Wayland Union High School

Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble Festivals are an amazing opportunity for your students to step outside their comfort zone and try something new. Students can participate as a soloist, in a small ensemble, or in a large ensemble. Musical Theatre lends itself well to addressing the unique qualities of individual voices and many students who may not have that traditional classical sound may flourish at a Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble Festival.

I’ve found that my students want to participate in this event more than any other throughout the year. This year alone I have more than thirty events going from my small school and that doesn't even include my large ensembles. 

Here are a few words from Dundee High School students about Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble Festival: 

“It’s a great experience to go through with your choir - it’s almost like a bonding experience. It’s one big group effort and it pays off when you show people how hard you’ve worked. The judges can make it even better by giving tips and tricks that they have learned from their experience.” 

- Megan P., Senior

“Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble is a unique experience to express your love for musical theatre and singing. Showing your skills and allowing yourself to truly feel the character in every piece is such a memorable learning experience.”

- Livi S., Junior

“Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble is a memorable experience to show and express your love for music, especially musical theatre. After you perform you feel complete even if you mess up. It’s a good learning experience for new people who have never been to MT Solo & Ensemble and I applaud anyone willing to try. It’s awesome for feedback and growth.”

- Alexis P., Junior

Submitted by Megan Sinclair, Director of Specialized Festivals

It is that time again….registration for our festivals is about to begin with MT S&E festival opening on September 19. Please read these refreshers and updates for this year!

• NEW THIS YEAR - You no longer have to get your festival invoices signed and mail them in! There are new checkboxes in the invoicing process that replace the need to sign and send your invoice. If you are paying by check or PO it is helpful to send your invoice with your payment but not required.
• If your membership has not yet been activated, you may login to the scheduling website, but you won’t see any school information nor will you be able to schedule for any of our events. Make sure that you both renew at msvma.org and submit payment to avoid this situation.
• Payment for festivals can be made by credit card on the scheduling website or you can print an invoice to submit a check or PO - this must be mailed by the registration deadline. Late registration will be open for one week following the deadline with an additional fee and must be paid for by credit card on the scheduling website at the time of registration.
• Instructions for registering for festivals can be found on the event pages on msvma.org.
• For those of you new to MSVMA, here is a starting point for you: 1 Welcome information.docx
• For those of you who would like to submit a transfer request, the instructions can be found here: 2 Event Transfer.docx

As always, if there is anything that I can do to help you, please do not hesitate to ask. I am happy to provide support for anyone who needs it. I hope you are having a great start to your year and I look forward to seeing you and your students at a festival this year!

Submitted by Julia Holt, State Scheduling Coordinator and MSVMA Treasurer 

ATTENTION ALL CHORAL FESTIVAL DIRECTORS!

This year, there will be a bit of a challenge in the HS Intermediate sight reading at District Choral festival, using the raised fourth (Fi). This chromatic movement has always been allowable under MSVMA sightreading guidelines. We want to make sure you are prepared for this challenge, and work to give your students the most successful festival experience possible. We also feel that this will lead to even stronger musicians this season and beyond. To that end, our fantastic composer, Andy Nowak, has prepared a number of examples for you to use throughout the year that will help introduce and solidify the movement of Fa-Fi-Sol with your singers. Be sure to check our "Sightreading Resources" page to download all the examples!

Submitted by Erik L. Jacobson, Executive Director

2025 Michigan Music Conference - January 23 - 25, 2025

The 2025 Michigan Music Conference will feature Dr. Amanda Quist from Western Michigan University as the MSVMA headliner. Dr. Quist joined WMU’s Irving S. Gilmore School of Music as Director of Choral Activities beginning September 2024. The New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and New York Classical Review have described Amanda Quist’s work as “transformative,” “beautifully prepared, gripping,” “bridging the vocal and instrumental textures with perfect intonation,” and “leaving the audience breathless.” We look forward to Dr. Quist’s sessions at MMC. 

January 24, 2025

10:30 a.m. - noon, Sessions 1 & 2, JW Marriott International Ballroom

Building Sound and Spirit

"Nothing can dim the light that shines from within -

Maya Angelou"

Our voices illuminate what is inside our mind. The potential colors of a voice or group of voices carry expressive impact into singing and the choral rehearsal and performance. This immersive session will look at the intersection of the pedagogy and science of voice in a group setting, and the spiritual nature of collective singing. Topics will include group resonance, overtones, singer's formant, easy to use software, and vocal tips and tricks that will help build the choir's sound and spirit.

2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m., Session 3, JW Marriott International Ballroom

Voicing and Seating the Choir

A session focused on methods for voicing choirs, and different options for inspiring your singers to feel engaged and comfortable as they find a space that allows their voice to shine within the group.

January 25, 2025

10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Session 4, Amway Grand Plaza

We are the Choir

This session will include repertoire that builds on the previous sessions' concepts, with an emphasis on a diverse body of composers and pieces. We will sing pieces that aid us in teaching concepts of group singing, while honoring our singers' varying backgrounds and experiences.

11 a.m. -11:45 a.m., Amway Grand Plaza

Q & A Panel Session

Stay tuned for 2025 MMC registration information in October.

Submitted by Matthew Callaghan, Director of Choral Activities, Haslett Public Schools

The MSVMA MMC Planning Committee is excited to invite you to the 2025 MSVMA Conductor Symposium at the Michigan Music Conference on Thursday, January 23rd. Our clinician will be Dr. Amon Eady, Director of Choral Activities at Central Michigan University.  

This event is a meaningful opportunity to learn and grow as a conductor by working with a choir during the Symposium and receiving instruction from Dr. Eady. More information on the Symposium will be provided in the October Tempo!

As registration for MMC begins later this fall, please consider registering for this pre-conference session as a conductor. If you wish to attend the Symposium, but do not wish to conduct, you can do so by registering as an observer only. 

Submitted by Matthew Callaghan, Director of Choral Activities, Haslett Public Schools

Educational Tours, Inc. is a student group tour operator dedicated to delivering powerful educational experiences with worry-free travel in the U.S. and internationally. They take the guesswork out of trip planning and put all the services you need into one place. 

Come and join our Intergenerational Tenor/Bass Choir at the Michigan ACDA Fall Conference (October 18 and 19, 2024). Under the direction of Erich Wangeman, this choral experience will be open to all high school, college and community choirs as well as individual singers. If you are interested in participating or would like to learn more information, please fill out the form below. If you have any questions, please email Aaron Polet at apolet@springlakeschools.org.