Upcoming Events and Deadlines | | |
October 15 - Chamber Choir Festival Registration Closes
October 15 - HS Regional Honors Choir Acceptance Announced, Registration Open
October 17 - Choral/Ensemble & Sight Reading Adjudication Conference
October 18 - Campus Connections Fall Meeting
October 21 - A Capella Festival
October 22 - Chamber Choir Festival Late Registration Closes
October 24 - 6789 East & West Regional Honors Choir Rehearsal & Concert
October 24 - Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble Festival Upper Peninsula
October 29 - 6789 State Honors Choir Acceptance Announced, Registration Opens
October 29 - District 6 Middle School Honors Choir Invitational
October 30 - All-State Jazz Choir Online Auditions Close
October 30 - High School Regional/State Auditions Registration Closes
November 2 - Musical Theatre All-State Honors Ensemble Online Auditions Open
November 4 - District 6 Tenor/Bass Invitational
November 6 - All-State Jazz Choir Acceptance Announced, Registration Opens
November 6 - 6789 State Honors Choir Registration Closes
November 7 - 6789 State Honors Choir Rehearsal
November 7 - Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble Festival South and Central
November 10 - Chamber Choir Festival
November 10 - District 6 Treble Invitational
November 14 - Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble Festival East
November 20 - All-State Jazz Choir Registration Closes
November 21 - 6789 State Honors Choir Rehearsal
November 21 - Musical Theatre Solo & Ensemble Festival West
| 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. | | |
Have you thought about becoming an adjudicator but are unsure of the process? MSVMA offers professional development opportunities to assist our students and teachers to understand the role of meaningful, supportive adjudication including rubric use to increase their knowledge and enhance their performance of vocal music. All MSVMA members are encouraged to attend to learn more about adjudication and ask questions about the process.
Make plans to join us! To ensure that we have an adequate supply of Conference materials,
please register for this no-cost event at the link below. If you wish to receive SCECHs (State Continuing Education Credit Hours) for your attendance, the fee is $30 and may be paid on the website when you register or at the Conference in-person.
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Adjudication Conference - Choral and Sight Reading
October 17, 2026
8 AM – 1 PM
Grand Ledge High School
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Jillian Burgam
Lecturer of Choral Music
Eastern Michigan University
Choral Adjudication Performance Clinician
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Karen Ambs
Retired Music Teacher
Private Voice and Piano Instructor
Karen Ambs Music Studio
Sight Reading Clinician
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Performing Ensembles
Grand Ledge High School Bel Canto, Zach Everly, Director
Beagle Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Choir, Kristen Burton, Director
To register, click below.
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Adjudication Conference - Choral and Sight Reading
January 21, 2027
Michigan Music Conference
Imperial Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza
8 AM – 1 PM
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Wendee Wolf-Schlarf
Retired Choral Teacher
Traverse City Area Public Schools
Choral Adjudication Performance Clinician
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Dr. James Borst
Retired Choral Teacher
East Grand Rapids Public Schools
Choral Sight Reading Clinician
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Performing Ensembles
Allendale High School Select Women's Ensemble, Anna Bolton, Director
Middle School TBD
To register, click below.
| | For more information, please contact Kelli Falls, Director of Adjudication, at kellifalls@msvma.org. | | 2027 Michigan Music Conference | | |
The 2027 Michigan Music Conference will feature conductor Dr. Brandon A. Boyd as the MSVMA headliner. Dr. Boyd is the Mary M. and Harry L. Smith Endowed Chair. He is the Director of Choral Activities, Graduate Choral Conducting Program, and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Missouri, where he conducts MU University Singers, Sankofa Chorale, and Choral Union Symphonic Chorus. In addition to his conducting duties at the university, he teaches graduate courses in choral conducting, choral literature, and choral arranging.
As a proponent of choral singing to build community, his research interests include organizing choirs for the homeless, identifying the social and physical effects of choral singing on senior citizens, creating authentic field experiences for music therapy and choral music education students. For three years, Dr. Boyd co-directed three choral community partnerships in Florida: The Tallahassee Senior Choir, RAA Middle School Partnership Choir (university students and middle school singers), and the MTC Women's Prison Glee Club (university students singing with women housed in a correctional facility).
As an active composer and arranger, his music is sung regularly by ensembles throughout the United States and abroad. He is also the curator and editor of the "Brandon A. Boyd Choral Series," a choral series with Hinshaw Music Publications helping promote exciting and innovative works composed by both established and new composers and arrangers. His music also appears in the catalogs of Gentry Publications, Hinshaw Music Company, MorningStar, GIA, and Kjos Music Press. In addition, he is the Executive Choral Editor of Gentry Publications (Fred Bock Publishing Group) and the Abbington African American Sacred Music Series (GIA Publications).
He holds two degrees from Florida State University (Ph.D. in choral music education and M.M. in choral conducting) and earned a B.S. in music education (emphasis in piano) from Tennessee State University. He is a proud member of the Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity, Inc., Pi Kappa Lambda, American Choral Directors' Association (ACDA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM), American Guild of Organists (AGO), and Chorus America. Dr. Boyd also serves as a member of the National ACDA Composition Initiative committee.
To learn more about Dr. Boyd, please click here.
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The director of the 2027 All-State Jazz Choir is Duane Davis. Duane Davis began teaching in 1969, including the Grand Rapids Public Schools, Western Michigan University, Indiana University, and Grand Rapids Community College, from which he retired in 2009. He previously served as Chorus Master for Opera Grand Rapids (31 seasons) and recently retired as director of the Grand Rapids Symphony Community Chorus (25 years).
Duane served as director of The Disney-Grammy Singers and conducted the opening of the Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom. His choral and jazz ensembles have toured the U.S., Bahamas, Canada, Japan, and Europe.
Duane is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Grand Rapids Symphony Legacy Award, Kent State Distinguished Alumni, Maynard Klein Award for Choral Excellence, Cleveland Jazz Legend 2020, the GRCC Giants Award, and Emeritus Faculty, Ellis Marsalis Jazz Educator of the Year, among others.
Duane and his wife, Kaye, of 57 years, are proud parents of Xavier (Vika), Erica, and Quincy Davis.
Online auditions for All-State Jazz Choir are open October 14-30. For more information and to register, click below:
| | Specialized Events Updates | | |
6789 Honors Choirs
Over 500 students auditioned for the 6789 Honors Choirs, and we have about 130 students participating in the Regional Day only!
S (SA): 150
A (SA): 86
S1 (SSA): 54
S2 (SSA): 53
A (SSA): 61
T1 (TTB): 42
T2 (TTB): 25
B (TTB): 35
Students will be rehearsing and performing October 24, with the 6789 State Honors Choir results being announced by October 29.
Questions about 6789 Honors Choir can be directed to Anne Lawrence, Supervisor:
annelawrence@msvma.org
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High School Honors Choirs
The results for the Regional High School Honors Choir auditions are in! A heartfelt thank you goes out to the students and directors who submitted audition recordings — your dedication and hard work are truly appreciated. This year saw an impressive number of submissions across all voice parts - over 600!
S1: 108
S2: 124
A1: 100
A2: 66
T1: 44
T2: 45
B1: 73
B2: 47
We’re looking forward to Regional/State Audition Day on December 5, 2026. Our High School Honors Choir Coordinators are in contact with directors about next steps, including updated registration/payment information for Regional Day!
Questions about High School Honors Choir can be directed to Candice Amey, Supervisor: candiceamey@msvma.org
| | Thank you for your continued support of the Honors Choir program! | | Mini-Grants Recipients Announced | | |
Congratulations to the recipients of MSVMA Mini-Grants for the 2026-2027 school year!
Sadarra Fields
Forsythe Middle School
Professional Development
Beth Simms
Waldon Middle School
Technology
Megan Sinclair
Dundee Middle & High School
Music Purchases
Michelle Wilson
Davison Middle School
Innovations
Debbie Dutcher
Perry Middle & High School
Uniforms
Anna Bolton
Allendale High School
Uniforms
Andrew LaJoie
CA Frost Middle & High School
Uniforms
We love supporting our members! We look forward to offering Mini-Grants again next year!
| | Meet Your District Managers | | Thank you to our members who have accepted the responsibility of becoming District Managers and District Co-Managers. Your Districts and MSVMA are grateful for your willingness to share your leadership skills and management experience to help us succeed! | |
Amy Swanson - District 1
Years Teaching: 19
Favorite choral song to teach: A Boy and a Girl, Eric Whitacre
Favorite choral song to sing: Mozart's Requiem
Free time fun: Running, watching her kids play sports, worship at church
Exciting things: Building a new home and taking her choir students to NYC in February
| | | Collaborative Pianist Directory | MSVMA maintains a directory of collaborative pianists around the state as a resource for our members. There is also a link on our website to submit/sign-up for the directory! | |
Need help promoting an MSVMA event, sharing an announcement, or highlighting a program, achievement, or story? Please use the form below to submit your social media content request.
Please 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.
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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.
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The Michigan State University College of Music’s Wind Symphony presents a concert featuring guest conductor Alfred Watkins and acclaimed hornist Johanna Yarbrough on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in Cobb Great Hall of the Wharton Center for Performing Arts.
The program highlights Yarbrough’s artistry in select works that feature the horn’s expressive range and distinctive voice within the wind ensemble. Recently joining the MSU College of Music as Associate Professor of Horn, she brings a distinguished career as a musician and educator, including more than a dozen years with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and most recently a faculty appointment at Louisiana State University. The concert also spotlights Yarbrough as soloist in Connection by Óscar Navarro, a contemporary work for wind and brass.
Guest conductor Alfred Watkins and acclaimed hornist Johanna Yarbrough are featured with the MSU Wind Symphony for a concert of iconic wind band repertoire.
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Guest conductor Alfred Watkins joins the ensemble for the concert, bringing decades of experience as a conductor and educator. As musical director and conductor of the Cobb Wind Symphony in Georgia, Watkins has earned national recognition for his leadership of concert bands and a distinguished career guiding generations of student musicians. He will conduct The Pathfinder of Panama by John Philip Sousa and Armenian Dances by Alfred Reed. The concert also features Sandra Snow, MSU professor of choral conducting and director of choral programs, conducting Two Chorale Preludes (arr. Guenther) by Johannes Brahms, drawn from the composer’s final opus.
Completing the program are Candide Suite (arr. Grundman) by Leonard Bernstein and Circus Polka by Igor Stravinsky, two spirited works by iconic twentieth-century composers. Together, the selections span a wide range of styles, from entertaining audience favorites to vibrant contemporary works. Conductors for the evening include Kevin L. Sedatole, joined by guest conductors Alfred Watkins, Sandra Snow, and Michael Gabriel.
“This concert brings together an outstanding guest conductor, an exceptional artist-faculty colleague, and some of the most beloved works in the wind band repertoire,” said Kevin L. Sedatole, professor of music and director of bands at MSU. “From the energy of Bernstein and Sousa to the rich colors of Reed and Navarro, the program offers something for every listener. We’re excited to welcome Alfred Watkins and showcase Johanna Yarbrough in her first featured appearance with the Wind Symphony.”
Also appearing that week, MSU’s Symphony Band performs on October 20 in Cobb Great Hall, featuring MSU Woodwind Faculty as guest artists in works by Andrew Blair, Johan de Meij, Richard Strauss, and David Maslanka.
This concert is presented during the MSU College of Music’s “20 Years of Momentum” anniversary season, celebrating two decades as an independent college while building on a musical tradition at MSU that spans more than 160 years
Tickets: General admission tickets purchased at the door are $14 for adults and $12 for seniors (age 60+). Admission is free for students and those under 18 with valid ID. Tickets may also be purchased online at music.msu.edu/events or by calling (517) 353-5340; tickets purchased online or by phone include a $1.50 processing fee.
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The MSU College of Music Jazz Studies program welcomes two distinguished guest artists this fall as part of continuing residency programs that connect students with leading performers, educators, and mentors from across the jazz world. Guitarist Ed Cherry and drummer Dr. Professor Leonard King will spend time on campus collaborating with MSU musicians and performing alongside ensembles in public concerts.
Together, the residencies highlight both nationally recognized jazz artistry and Michigan's rich musical traditions while providing students opportunities to collaborate with accomplished performers from different corners of the jazz world.
A respected jazz guitarist known for his expressive sound and deep roots in the tradition, Ed Cherry joined the MSU Jazz Orchestras on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 3 p.m. in Fairchild Theatre. A longtime member of Dizzy Gillespie's ensembles, including the United Nation Orchestra, Cherry has performed and recorded with acclaimed artists including Paquito D'Rivera, Henry Threadgill, and Roy Hargrove. Cherry’s activities are part of the MSU Federal Credit Union Jazz Artist in Residence program.
Detroit-born drummer and bandleader Dr. Professor Leonard King joins the MSU Jazz Nonets on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in Fairchild Theatre. With deep roots in Michigan's jazz and soul traditions, King has performed with artists including James Carter, Bettye LaVette, and The O'Jays, bringing decades of performance and collaborative experience to the stage. King’s presence on campus is part of the Jazz Nonets Guest Artist Series.
In addition to rehearsals and performances with the ensembles, both residencies include outreach activities that connect MSU Jazz Studies with local and regional communities across Michigan, creating opportunities for audiences to experience jazz alongside educational engagement and artistic mentorship.
“One of the great things about our program is the chance for students to work closely with outstanding artists who are actively shaping the jazz world,” said Rodney Whitaker, University Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass and director of Jazz Studies at MSU. “Ed Cherry and Dr. Professor Leonard King bring incredible experience, creativity, and perspective. One comes with a long international performing career, the other with deep roots in Detroit's musical community, and both have so much to offer our students and audiences.”
Additional guest artists appearing during the 2026–27 season include Andrew Martin, jazz trombone (Dec. 6); Peter Martin, jazz piano (Feb. 5); John Patitucci, jazz bass (Mar. 18); and Ralph Moore, jazz saxophone (Apr. 23). To learn more about these artists and other upcoming jazz performances, visit music.msu.edu/jazz-events.
The MSU Federal Credit Union Jazz Artist in Residence program enters its 13th season thanks to support provided by the MSUFCU endowment. The inaugural Jazz Nonets Guest Artist Series is supported by Jill Canny and Robert Last.
These concerts are presented during the MSU College of Music's “20 Years of Momentum” anniversary season, celebrating two decades as an independent college while building on a musical tradition at MSU that spans more than 160 years.
Tickets: Reserved seating tickets purchased at the door are $19 for adults, $17 for seniors (age 60+), and $9 for students and those under 18 with valid ID. Tickets may also be purchased online at music.msu.edu/events or by calling (517) 353-5340; tickets purchased online or by phone include a $1.50 processing fee.
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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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