Upcoming Events and Deadlines | | |
September 18 - Musical Theatre Intensive Results Announced, Registration Opens
September 19 - Music Education & Vocal Performance Audition Workshop
September 21 - Choral Creativity Registration Closes
September 24 - District 3 Middle School Vocal Arts Day
September 24 - Adjudication Fast Track Event
September 25 - Art Song Intensive Registration Closes
September 25 - Musical Theatre Intensive Registration Closes
September 26 - Musical Theatre Audition Workshop
September 28 - Choral Creativity Professional Development Event, coordinated by District 8
October 1 - A Cappella Festival Registration Closes
October 2 - Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble Festival Registration Closes
October 3 - Musical Theatre Intensive
October 6 - District 9 High School Choir Invitational
October 8 - HS Regional Honors Choir Auditions Close
October 9 - Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble Festival Late Registration Closes
October 11 - 6789 Regional Online Honors Choir Auditions Close
October 13 - HS Regional Honors Choir Acceptance Announced
October 13 - HS Regional/State Honors Choir Auditions Registration Opens
October 14 - All-State Jazz Choir Online Auditions Open
October 15 - Chamber Choir Festival Registration Closes
October 17 - Choral/Ensemble & Sight Reading Adjudication Conference
October 21 - A Cappella Festival
| | If you have a disability and require accommodation to participate in any MSVMA event, please contact the MSVMA State Office at 231.592.9344 or debrajacks@msvma.org to request accommodations at least 72 hours in advance. | | We’re delighted to welcome our newest members to our MSVMA community! We look forward to sharing music, friendship, and memorable experiences with you this and are so excited to begin collaborating with you and your students! Please familiarize yourselves with the MSVMA website and join the "MSVMA Discussion Group" on Facebook. We are all here to help! Please don't hesitate to reach out! | |
Being a part of the Michigan School Vocal Music Association is more than making music - it’s about growth, connection, and inspiration. We are all part of a passionate community that truly values the power of music, the benefits of strengthening confidence and discipline, and appreciation of all genres and cultures. We strive to foster a supportive environment, surrounded by people who are cheering each other on and striving for excellence together. The friendships, the encouragement, and the shared love of music make MSVMA feel like a sanctuary to so many.
Please join us in giving our new members a warm welcome—we’re delighted to have you with us!
| Reminder - Membership Renewal | If you have not renewed your membership, this will be the last issue of Tempo! you will receive in your inbox. To continue receiving news and updates, log into your membership profile at msvma.org using your email and password. Click the Renew button and complete the process, including generating an invoice that can be paid via credit card or check. | |
Need help promoting an MSVMA event, sharing an announcement, or highlighting a program, achievement, or story? Please use this form to submit your social media content request.
Provide as much detail as possible, including key dates, messaging, links, images, and any other relevant information. Submitting your request through this form helps the State Office organize, review, and schedule content effectively while adhering to our brand and graphics standards.
Please submit requests as early as possible to allow adequate time for creation, review, and scheduling.
| Professional Development Opportunity | |
Please consider joining District 8 at Okemos High School on Sept. 28 for MSVMA's first ever Choral Creativity Professional Development.
Dr. Stuart Hill, Choral Music Education Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, will lead sessions on incorporating creativity in warm-ups, repertoire, and rehearsal. This event is open to MSVMA members, nonmembers, and college students.
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Jane Sorensen
Chair, Campus Connections
campusconnections@msvma.org
| Choral Student Leadership Conference | |
Thank you to our over 100 students (and 20 member educators) that attended our 2026 Choral Student Leadership Conference at Calvin University on September 9! What an incredible day of learning!
Our headliner, Dr. Emily Williams Burch, led students through so many exciting things!
Of note, our three focused sessions included:
- It's a marathon, not a sprint...setting goals and getting things done.
- Positive mindset...and learning to fail.
- People, personality, and perspective.
So excited for all of this to be brought back to vocal music classrooms across our state!
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Thank you to our members who have accepted the responsibility of becoming District Manager and District Co-Manager. Your Districts and MSVMA are grateful for your willingness to share your leadership skills and management experience to help us succeed!
We will be featuring a few of our amazing District Managers in each issue of Tempo! for the next few months. This month, meet Hunter, Jack, Abbey, and Anne!
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District 6 Manager
Hunter Schuur
Hunter has been teaching for eight years and his favorite choral song to teach so far is Il Lampo by Ryan Main "because it got my students so excited about all the choral techniques we could use in it!" It was a hard choice, but his favorite choral song to sing is There Will Come Soft Rains by Matt Podd.
Hunter enjoys fishing, spending time with his wife, Jessica, and their friends, and hanging out with their cats. He is beginning a new role as choir director at Berrien Springs Middle School and is "so excited to work with an excellent music team" and loves teaching middle school!
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District 10 Manager
Jack Phillipson
This year marks Jack's ninth year at Northview High School. He enjoys teaching Witness by Jack Halloran and singing "anything by Palestrina!"
Away from school, Jack enjoys many activities, including but not limited to water skiing, golfing, mountain biking, and playing hockey. He will be getting married next June, recently earned his Masters degree from Michigan State University, and received the news that his students will be performing during the 2027 MMC Choral Hour!
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District 6 Co-Manager
Abbey Herrman
Abbey has been teaching for 13 years. Andre Thomas and Andrea Ramsey top her list of favorite music to teach, while Make Our Garden Grow is her favorite choral song to sing.
When not in the classroom, she enjoys being outdoors. Gardening, running, and "being with my dog and and his pet barn cat" are her favorite activities. Highlights from her summer include meeting her new nephew, bike riding, seeing her third Weird Al concert, and canning pickles.
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District 12 Co-Manager
Anne Lawrence
Anne has been teaching for 25 years. She does not have a favorite choral song to teach or sing, but she recently enjoyed teaching Where the Light Begins by Susan LaBarr. Anne enjoys a variety of music and her preferences change from year to year, or day to day, depending on her mood and anything else happening in her life.
Outside of school, Anne enjoys cooking (not baking), reading, traveling, wine tasting, and socializing. She recently went on a two week vacation to celebrate a friend's 50th birthday, exploring London before cruising to Scotland, Norway, and Iceland. It was a "fabulous trip with amazing people!"
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The All-State Jazz Choir will include up to 20 singers, who will have a day-long rehearsal on Saturday, December 13, 2026 at Rockford High School, followed by rehearsal at the Michigan Music Conference (January 21-23). Headliner Duane Davis will rehearse the choir and conduct its performance at the Specialized Choral Hour at the J.W. Marriott Ballroom on January 23, 2027.
Fees include $25 to audition and, upon acceptance, $265 to register.
Online auditions are open October 14-30, 2026.
For more information, visit our website!
| | Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble Festivals | | |
Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble Festivals are an amazing opportunity for your students to step outside their comfort zone and try something new. Students in grades 7-12 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.
Fees are $40 for soloists, $55 for duets and small ensembles, and $80 for large ensembles.
October 24, 2026 UP Site - Marquette Senior High School
November 7, 2026 South Site - Thurston High School - NEW SITE
November 17, 2026 Central Site - Midland High School
November 14, 2026 East Site - Oxford High School
November 21, 2026 West Site - Wayland Union Middle School
Registration is open until October 2, 2026. For more information, visit our website!
| | Adjudication Certification | |
Adjudication Fast Track
This event allows a candidate to "fast track" the adjudication certification process. Requirements differ from Traditional Adjudicator Qualifications:
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Candidate should have experience teaching vocal music for a minimum of ten (10) complete years in a school vocal music program and/or private teaching experience with JHMS/HS students (i.e. ages 13-17) for at least ten (10) years or should be a current DMA student.
- Candidate should explain what circumstances prevent attendance at traditional certification process.
- Candidate must submit a resume of experience, including description of background and festival ratings. This can be completed using the fillable form in the registration.
- Candidate must be an active member of MSVMA (school member or associate member).
There are only nine (9) openings available for this Fast Track Event, so registering does not guarantee placement. Candidates continue to have access to the traditional certification process (including Adjudication Conference and Inservice as appropriate).
If approved, candidates will have the opportunity to adjudicate beginning the current calendar year. Approval does not guarantee assignments.
September 24, 2026
7:15 AM - 3:00 PM
Jackson Northwest High School
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Adjudication Conference - Choral/Ensemble & Sight Reading
To be considered for adjudication assignments, candidates are encouraged to attend an Adjudication Conference as well as an Inservice day held during specified MSVMA festivals.
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Candidate should have experience teaching vocal music for a minimum of five (5) complete years in a school vocal music program and/or private teaching experience with JHMS/HS students (i.e. ages 13-17) for at least five (5) years.
- Candidate should submit a resume of experience, including description of background and festival ratings. This can be completed using the fillable form in the registration.
- Candidate must be an active member of MSVMA (school member or associate member).
After completing the certification process, the candidate may be approved by the Adjudication Committee. If approved, the candidate will have the opportunity to adjudicate beginning the next calendar year. Approval does not guarantee assignments.
October 17, 2026
8 AM - 1 PM
Grand Ledge High School
Jillian Burgam, Choral Performance Clinician
Lecturer of Choral Music
Eastern Michigan University
Karen Ambs, Sight Reading Clinician
Retired Music Teacher
*8 or more registrants required to conduct the Conference
| If you have questions about adjudication certification events, please contact Kelli Falls, Director of Adjudication, at kellifalls@msvma.org. | MSVMA offers rewarding opportunities to sing in honors choirs for students grades 6-7-8-9 and high school. Registration is open! | | |
Here are some reminders to help you register for festivals this year, beginning with Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble:
- There are 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.
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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 by credit card on the scheduling website at the time of registration.
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Instructions for registering for festivals can be found here: Choral Festival Registration
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For those of you new to MSVMA, here is a starting point for you: Welcome Information
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For those of you who would like to submit a transfer request, the instructions can be found here: Event Transfer
As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!
| Save the Date: 2027 Michigan Music Conference | | |
The 2027 Michigan Music Conference will feature Dr. Brandon Boyd, Director of Choral Activities, Graduate Choral Conducting Program, Associate Professor of Music, and Marie M. and Harry L. Smith Endowed Chair at University of Missouri as the MSVMA headliner. Dr. Boyd is an active composer and arranger, in addition to collaborating with symphonies and orchestras as chorus master, guest composer, and collaborative pianist. Please visit msvma.org for Dr. Boyd's biography.
We look forward to Dr. Boyd's sessions at MMC.
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MSVMA offers so many things to its membership: educational opportunities, specialized events, honors choirs, literature recommendations, program enrichment opportunities, networking...the list goes on and on!
Much of this is possible because of volunteers! From our amazing District Managers, site hosts, festival coordinators, and members helping out in headquarters during festivals, we see volunteerism thriving within our organization! Join us to ensure our continued success!
There are many upcoming opportunities for you to help out as we start this school year. Perhaps one of our events is close to you - either in location or to your heart!
Please check out our volunteer form under the membership tab to sign up for these opportunities or you can talk to the activity/event coordinator to get involved.
| Making the Most of your Membership | | |
When you log in to your account, you can change your password by clicking on "Change password" right next to your name.
To renew your membership, click on the green "Renew" button right above your membership level.
To change or update any of your information - email address, school address, job title, etc. - click on the green "Edit profile" button. You can change everything except for your membership level and status.
| If you would like a copy of an invoice to send to your school or keep for your personal records, first go to Invoices and Payments, select an invoice, click on the invoice number, then click on "Download PDF" in the top right corner. You can save this to your device to email to administrators or print. | | If you need to change your membership level, please contact the State Office. | |
Choralfest 2026
Friday, October 23, 2026
The Annual Albion College Choralfest brings together a number of High School choirs to meet and sing for a selected and distinguished guest clinician. Choirs will perform 1-2 selections for each other and receive feedback from the clinician. We are excited to welcome Scott Hanoian, Music Director and Conductor of the University Musical Society Choral Union and Director of Music and Organist at Christ Church Grosse Pointe. Throughout the day, participants will also hear performances from Albion’s Concert Choir and Briton Singers. This year, we are also offering Master Class opportunities to soloists who are interested in enhancing their individual performance skills. Directors have the option to select one soloist and one alternate soloist to perform in the Master Class sessions, which are led by Professor Jenny Ribeiro. All Choral and Solo genres welcomed-no specific repertoire requirements. To end the day, all of the choirs will combine onstage for the closing piece, which is rehearsed during the day. This is the exciting climax to the festival with over 200 choral members on stage!
Fee: $10 per student, Checks made payable to Albion College
Lindsay CieChanski, Director of Choirs, Albion College
Registration Form (below) Due September 28, 2026
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Scott Hanoian, Clinician, is the Music Director and Conductor of the University Musical Society Choral Union where he conducts and prepares the Grammy Award winning chorus in performances with the world’s finest orchestras and conductors. Choruses prepared by Mr. Hanoian have sung under the batons of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Leonard Slatkin, Ivan Fischer, Dennis Russell Davies, Osmo Vänskä, Kenneth Kiesler, and Peter Oundjian. Mr. Hanoian is active as a conductor, organist, lecturer, continuo artist, accompanist, choral adjudicator, and guest clinician. He is the Director of Music and Organist at Christ Church Grosse Pointe, where he directs the church’s four choirs and oversees the yearly concert series. Mr. Hanoian has served on the faculty of Wayne State University and Oakland University and was the artistic director and conductor of the Oakland Choral Society from 2013–2015. As an organist and conductor, Mr. Hanoian has performed concerts throughout the US and has led choirs on trips to Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, France, and Spain. Most recently, Mr. Hanoian led the Christ Church Choirs during weeklong residencies at York Minster, Durham Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey.
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MSU’s Season of Music Highlights Anniversary Celebration
Tickets on sale now for MSU College of Music 2026–2027 concerts.
EAST LANSING, Mich. –– Tickets are now on sale for the Michigan State University College of
Music's 2026-2027 season.
In addition to exceptional performances and distinguished guest artists, this year marks the 20th
anniversary of Music's designation as an independent college within the university. The anniversary
theme “20 Years of Momentum” honors a history of music on campus that spans more than 160 years while focusing on the tremendous growth and upward trajectory of the College today.
“Since becoming a college in 2007, we have expanded opportunities for students, strengthened our
faculty, enhanced our facilities, and broadened our impact through performance, scholarship, and
community engagement,” said College of Music Dean James Forger. “This season celebrates that
momentum while looking ahead to an exciting future for music at MSU.”
The season offers audiences a wide variety of musical experiences, from orchestra, band, choral, and jazz ensemble performances to opera productions, chamber music, contemporary works, artist-faculty recitals, and appearances by guest artists. Performances take place throughout the academic year in campus venues ranging from the intimate settings of Murray Hall, Cook Recital Hall, and Fairchild Theatre to Cobb Great Hall at Wharton Center.
Among the season's highlights are performances within the MSU Federal Credit Union Showcase Series and Jazz Artist in Residence Series, the Joanne and Bill Church West Circle Series, The Taylor Johnston Early Music Series, the Ken and Sandy Beall Cello Plus Chamber Music Festival, Worthington Family Foundation Opera Theatre Season, and a full calendar of student ensemble and faculty performances.
The season will come to an end with a joyful and distinctive Collage Concert: A 20th Anniversary
Celebration at Wharton Center on May 1, 2027. The special performance will bring together students, faculty, and ensembles from across the College of Music in a fast-paced program showcasing the breadth, creativity, and collaborative spirit that define music at MSU.
Tickets for concerts range from $9 to $24, with many offering free admission to MSU students and
anyone under age 18. Hundreds of performances and events create numerous opportunities for audiences of all ages to experience the artistry of the College of Music. Tickets are now available to the public.
Browse the complete season schedule at music.msu.edu/events. Download the 2026-27 season brochure at music.msu.edu/brochure. Learn more about the College's anniversary celebration and the story behind 20 Years of Momentum at music.msu.edu/momentum.
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K-12 Music Educators,
This Music Educator Satisfaction Survey is being conducted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to measure trends in educator satisfaction and to understand the impact of (or need for) specific interventions in retention and advocacy. With over 3,000 responses every year, we need your help to ensure that we have feedback from every area of the country! If you have taken this survey in the past, please complete it again. With multiple years of data, the NFHS can begin to track and interpret trends and impacts of interventions to build more complete resources for you. The survey should only take a few minutes to complete and includes sections on:
- Why you became an educator
- Your satisfaction as an educator
- The future of your program
- Basic demographic information
The survey link can be found here: Music Educator Satisfaction Survey
This link is also where you can see survey results on a national or state-specific dashboard.
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The Michigan School Vocal Music Association would like to thank
our higher education partners for their dedicated support to our mission.
Educate. Empower. Experience.
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We are grateful to those who help ensure our continued success
in delivering the highest quality vocal music programming to our students and their teachers.
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Instagram: @msvmasings
Facebook page (public): MSVMA
Facebook group (members only): MSVMA Discussion Group
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