CHORAL RANGESPRING 2017 Vol. 38, No. 1THE KANSAS CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Jo-Michael Scheibe Tesfa Wondemagegnehu Jonathan Palant Pam Elrod Huffman Robert Bode

17 READING SESSIONS l 14 CLINICS & INTEREST SESSIONSINSPIRING PERFORMANCES l WORLD-CLASS CLINICIANS

Editor’s Box ..................................2President’s Pen ............................3

KSDE Teacher of the Year ...........4Convention Schedule ..................5

In this issueConvention Headliners ...............6Convention Registration ...........15

PAGE 2 n CHORAL RANGE

The Editor’s Box

Brad Vogel

The presented quote, penned by Ian Leoppky, has

lately become a favor-ite of mine, not only because it highlights the inclusiveness of music, but more im-portantly because it highlights that every-one involved in the music is important. There is not a voice in the choir that does not influence the choir . . . for good or bad! We do not use a bench to silence the voice that can’t help us “win,” and we don’t exchange singers late in the concert in order to bring home that final bravissimo! cadence: we use ‘em all and they all have to contribute.

I suppose that’s why I favor musical involvement as a means of personal growth. By this time in my career I’ve lost count of the number of students who have been personally and per-sonal-characterally (if I may borrow the German practice of making up new words) transformed by developing skill and be-coming an integral part of an ensemble. I’m fond of telling singers that if they want to learn what great power they have . . . sing a poor vowel or mushy consonant: they can, al-most singlehandedly, mess up an entire choir’s blend and intonation! Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. (I find

VOLUME 38, NUMBER 1

Choral Range is a twice-yearly publication of the Kansas Choral Directors Association, a not-for-profit professional organization affiliated with the American Choral Directors Association.

Reach us at: www.kansaschoral.com

PresidentDustin CatesCates.dustin@gmail.com(816) 304-0073

President ElectDr. Mark Bartelbartel@friends.edu(316) 295-5553

Vice PresidentLaura VanLeeuwenCoachv719@gmail.com(913) 744-9392

Newsletter EditorDr. Brad Vogelbradv@tabor.edu(620) 877-7310

SecretaryWendi Bogardwbogard@usd458.org(913) 683-4122

TreasurerSteve Millerstevenmiller55@gmail.com(620) 327-6054

Music Industry RepresentativeMarkel Portermporter@jwpepper.com(620) 330-3808

Exhibits & AdvertisementsCoordinator

Susan Scheiblersscheibleroe@olatheschools.org(913) 780-7120

Membership ChairMargie Lawrencemargiecontact@gmail.com(650) 207-8241

WebmasterTiffani ThompsonTiffani.thompson@kckps.org(318) 715-8433

CHORAL RANGETHE KANSAS CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

it incredibly amusing that this statement is attributed to Voltaire, Churchill, Teddy Roos-evelt, or . . . Spiderman.)

I still believe that we too often undersell our-selves. Whether there’s safety in not really try-ing—in order to avoid d isappointment—or we’re simply lazy, the human condition is con-

ditioned to undersell itself. Stop that. I’m also still convinced that we run out of time before we run out of talent, so we should pursue the end of our talent more aggres-sively before that great final ca-dence takes us to where the music never dies.

And so . . . are you doing ev-erything you can do to reach your fullest potential so that you can help your singers reach their full-est potential? (If not not, please ask

Continued on page 11

CHORAL RANGE n PAGE 3

KMEA State Choral ChairPam Williamsonhschoir@ksmea.org(913) 780-7150

Children’s ChoirsPending

Ethnic/Multicultural Perspectives

Hilary Mortonhmorton@usd497.org(785) 550-8623

Junior High/Middle SchoolErin Stewartestewartprt@olatheschools.org(913) 780-7280

Women’s ChoirsAmy BrownAbrown2@usd259.com(316) 393-6115

Women’s Choir AssistantLisa Cooksonlcookson@usd259.net(316) 973-2745

Men’s ChoirsJan Holthusjholthusoe@olatheschools.org(913) 660-2277

Youth and Student Activities

Dr. Tom Winetom.wine@wichita.edu(316) 687-0121

Music and WorshipKevin BoganKCB1stPres@aol.com(913) 660-8935

College and University Choirs

Dr. Mark Bartelbartel@friends.edu(316) 295-5553

Senior High ChoirsJason Sickeljasickel@bluevalleyk12.org(913) 424-6751

Two-Year College ChoirsPending

Community ChoirsCarolyn WelchCawelch@outlook.com(785) 760-3809

Jazz and Show ChoirsJohn Stafford IIjstafford@kckcc.edu(913) 288-7137(217) 979-3094

Choral CompositionTimothy Tharaldsonttharaldson@benedictine.edu(913) 360-7597

NW District Representative

Dr. Terry Crulltacrull@fhsu.edu(785) 639-3200

NC District Representative

Janie Brokenickyjbrokenicky@k-state.edu(785) 313-4704

NE District Representative

Pending

SW DistrictRepresentative

Jane Vanderhoffjvanderhoff@gckschools.com(620) 540-1882

SC District Representative

Jenny Potochnikjpotochnik@usd259.net(316) 973-7279

SE District Representative

Susan Laushmanlaush88keys@hotmail.com(620) 231-1851

KCDA BOARD MEMBERS 2015-2016

In large part, one of the reasons that many of us have chosen “cho-ral director” as our profession is a

result of an inspirational moment or figure in our lives—something that caused us to know for certain that we just couldn’t do anything else but make music with others.

I, like many of you, had an in-fluential high school choral direc-tor who “adopted me.” She dem-onstrated for me the powerful impact that music teaching can have. In college I got double-inspiration under the tutelage of Dr. Charles Robinson and Dr. Eph Ehly. As I became a teacher myself, friends and colleagues continued to influ-ence me along with the even more significant inspiration from the students I had the privilege of teaching each day.

Certainly there are difficult days—days when inspira-tion seems to be the last of our concerns. However, we owe it to ourselves, our loved ones, and those whom we lead to find way to renew our perspective and get back to the business of creating meaningful experiences for our sing-ers.

How does one recharge one’s inspirational battery? Well, I’m glad you asked: that’s where KCDA comes in! Your KCDA leadership team recently adopted a new vision statement: Renew. Connect. Inspire. Sing! Each of these words encompasses our aim when we create program-ming and events for the choir directors in our state. This year’s KCDA Summer Convention is packed full of oppor-tunities to renew your perspective, connect with colleagues and friends, be inspired and to sing!

In addition to reading sessions for all levels and rel-evant interest sessions, we have a slate of world-class headliners and inspiring performances. I’d like to make a special invitation to each of you to participate in this year’s KCDA Director’s Chorus. Under the direction of Dr. Robert Bode and accompanied by organist and composer, Kurt Knecht, the Director’s Chorus will perform Faure’s Requi-em for our Thursday evening concert.

I look forward to seeing each of you at this year’s KCDA Summer Convention. Let’s Sing to Inspire!

The President’s Pen

Dustin Cates

Newsletter DesignVogel Design, Hillsboro, KShello@davidbvogel.com(620) 877-7540

PAGE 4 n CHORAL RANGE

The 2017 Kansas De-partment of Educa-tion Teacher of the

Year is a director of choirs and mentor of young peo-ple. In making the presen-tation, Kansas Commis-sioner of Education Randy Watson highlighted that Mr. Sickel “does a remark-able job teaching his stu-dents that performing arts and music are important. Jason shows students that he genuinely cares about them. He uses the arts as a vehicle to help his students grow—not only academically, but socially and emotionally, too. Jason also has demonstrated strong leader-ship skills at Blue Valley North High School. He is truly a remarkable teacher and very deserving of this honor.”

Currently in his fourth year at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Mr. Sickel be-gan his teaching career in 2004, teaching grades 6-12 at Osawato-mie. The follow-ing year he moved to Louisburg, where he began a seven year stint, followed by two years at Pio-neer Trail Middle School in Olathe before arriv-ing at his present position. Sickel has also been a mainstay on the KCDA board, serving in various positions during the past decade.

The Choral Range pinned him down for a brief interview to see what the award—as well as what teaching and his colleagues—means to him.

CR: What is your personal response to being a re-cipient of this award?JS: There are many innovative and truly life-changing educators who have been teaching far longer than I have. To have been chosen the “Kan-sas Teacher of the Year” is at first humbling and then becomes somewhat intimidating. I believe that anytime you put “of the year” after someone’s name, it can invite a myriad of feelings and emo-tions. I will be the first to tell you that I’m certainly not “the best” teacher in the state of Kansas. But, as someone who loves learning and teaching, I can also tell you that this title allows me the op-portunity to represent the very best that Kansas education has to offer. I am honored to simply be an ambassador for teachers who work diligently and tirelessly, without recognition, to create envi-ronments where students can be successful, life-long learners.

CR: Who/What have you found to be particularly helpful in your development as a [recognized] teacher?JS: My teaching really seems to be a synthesis of all the wonderful

music educators and professors who have taught me along the way. I am continually amazed at the giants in our profession who open their doors so that others can observe and witness how they cre-ate a positive and meaningful learning environ-ment. Every time I watch another choral director teach or witness a colleague teaching a lesson in my own building, my mantra is “what can I learn from this teacher and how can I effectively apply

I often have to remind my colleagues and students that performing arts teachers are unique because we are the ‘singletons’ in our buildings. It is so important that we have a vast network of colleagues and friends in a profession where we are the lone representative in our buildings!” -Jason Sickel

“

Jason Sickel2017 KSDE Teacher of the Year

Continued on page 11

CHORAL RANGE n PAGE 5

Schedule-at-a-GlanceThursday, July 67:30 AM Registration

Sunflower Ballroom

8:00 AM Reading 1: MS/JH/Training ChoirsSunflower Ballroom

9:00 AM Clinic 1: Dr. Jo-Michael ScheibeSunflower Ballroom

Rehearsal: Director’s ChorusWheat Room

10:00 AM Reading 2a: Holiday Music - HS/CollegeSunflower Ballroom

Reading 2b: Holiday Music - MS/JHWheat Room

11:00 AM Clinic 2a: Dr. Jo-Michael ScheibeSunflower Ballroom

Clinic 2b: Working with Men’s VoicesWheat Room

NOON Lunch (on your own) New Director/Student Luncheon

River Room

1:45 PM Clinic 3a/Reading 3: Dr. Jo-Michael ScheibeSunflower Ballroom

Rehearsal: Director’s ChorusWheat Room

2:45-5:30 PM Exhibitor’s Hall Grand OpeningShawnee Ballroom

3:30 PM Reading 4a: New Music - Large HS/CollegeSunflower Ballroom

Reading 4b: New Music - Unison/Two-partWheat Room

4:30 PM Reading 5a: Tried & Proven - MS/JHSunflower Ballroom

Reading 5b: Tried & Proven - HS/CollegeWheat Room

5:30 PM Dinner (on your own)7:30 PM Organist Kurt Knecht & Director’s Chorus, In Concert!

Topeka First United Methodist

8:30-11 PM KCDA Soirée: Beer ChoirShawnee Ballroom

Friday, July 77:30 AM Registration

Sunflower Ballroom

8:00 AM Reading 6a: Men’s & Women’s Training ChoirsSunflower Ballroom

Reading 6b: Music for WorshipWheat Room

9:00 AM Visit the ExhibitsShawnee Ballroom

9:30 AM Clinic 5a: Tefsa WondemagegnehuSunflower Ballroom

Clinic 5b: Choral Team BuildingRiver Room

10:30 AM Break/Door Prize DrawingsSunflower Ballroom

10:45 AM Clinic 6a: Tefsa WondemagegnehuSunflower Ballroom

Clinic 6b: Adding Creative Elements in Performance & Worship

Wheat Room

11:45-1 PM Exhibitor’s Luncheon (included w/ reg.)Shawnee Ballroom

1:00 PM Reading 7a: Tefsa WondemagegnehuShawnee Ballroom

Reading 7b: New Music - MS/JHRiver Room

2:00 PM Exhibitor’s Last Call2:30-3:10 & 3:15-3:55 PM n YOU PICK TWO SESSIONS: Session 1: Tech Show & Tell

Wheat Room

Session 2: Convention PerformancesRiver Room

Session 3: Safe Spaces for LGBT SingersBison Room

Session 4: Spring Variety ShowsBison Room

4:00 PM Reading 8a: MusicSpokeSunflower Ballroom

Clinic 7: Morning Blend - Blended Worship PlanningRiver Room

Clinic 8/Reading 8b: Honor Choirs Rep & InfoWheat Room

5:00 PM Dinner (on your own)7:30 PM Cathedral Concert: All-State Men’s and

Women’s Choirs, HRW and Prelude Award PresentationsGrace Episcopal Cathedral

Saturday, July 97:30 AM Registration

Sunflower Ballroom

8:00 AM Reading 9: Pop/Show/Vocal JazzSunflower Ballroom

9:00 AM Clinic 9: Dr. Pam Elrod-HuffmanRiver Room

10:00 AM Clinic 10/Reading 10: Dr. Jonathan PalantRiver Room

11:00 AM Closing Comments: 2018 Convention Preview, Welcome President Bartel and President- Elect & Elvis!

Sunflower Ballroom

11:45 AM KCDA Board MeetingRiver Room

This schedule is up-to-date as of publication. The most current version will be posted on kansaschoral.com.

PAGE 6 n CHORAL RANGE

Headliners

Jo-Michael Scheibe chairs the Thornton School of Music’s De-partment of Choral and Sacred

Music at the University of Southern California. Currently serving as Chair of the Past President’s Council of the American Choral Director’s Associa-tion, Scheibe has served as National President, National President Elect,

Western Division President, and National Repertoire and Standards Chairperson for Community Colleges. Under his leadership, the USC Thornton Chamber Singers received the 2015 American Prize in Choral Music, performed for the 2015 ACDA National Convention in Salt Lake City (his seventh ap-pearance at that event) and were one of twenty-five choirs selected to perform at the Tenth World Choral Symposium in Seoul, South Korea in 2014.

Prior to his appointment at USC, Scheibe served as Director of Choral Studies at the University of Miami’s Frost School of

n Jo-Michael ScheibeMusic, Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Long Beach City College, Vin-tage High School in Napa, California, and Huntington Beach High School. He received his DMA from the Univer-sity of Southern California and his BA and MM degrees from California State University at Long Beach, where he was presented with the distinguished alumnus award.

Scheibe regularly commissions and performs new works of choral lit-erature. Music publishers Walton, Col-la Voce Music, Pavane, and Santa Bar-bara distribute the Jo-Michael Scheibe Choral Series internationally. He is in demand nationally and internation-ally as a clinician, conductor, and ad-judicator for choruses at all levels.

n Jo-Michael Scheibe’s interest sessions:

CONSONANTS: THE KEYS TO INTONATION! IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE VOWELS!Let’s have a look at intonation and the role of consonants. Vowels are commonly the only focus in a choral rehearsal. This presentation will explore the importance of consonants and their affective role in phona-tion and tuning within an ensemble.

THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN WARM-UPSWell-crafted warm-ups are a crucial tool in planning an effective and productive rehearsal. This presenta-tion will explore the purposes of various warm-ups as they relate to rehearsal elements, including physical and mental focus, breathing, vocalization, and tuning.

CHORAL RANGE n PAGE 7

Headliners

Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, Direc-tor of Choral Ministries at West-minster Presbyterian Church in

Minneapolis, previously served as the conductor of The Radio Choir from American Public Media and manager of APM’s Choral Works Initiative, in St. Paul, MN. As a high school teacher, he was named Orange County Public

School’s Teacher of the Year and received the Macy’s National Magic of Teaching Award. He led his choirs in performances at state conventions of the American Choral Directors Associa-tion and the Florida Music Educators’ Association, and most recently presented a clinic at the 2015 American Choral Direc-

tors Association National Conference.Wondemagegnehu is widely in

demand as a guest conductor and lec-turer. He has performed, presented workshops, and conducted honor choirs across the United States, Can-ada, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Costa Rica.

Tesfa holds a Master of Music de-gree in Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance from the Florida State University and a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis.

n Tesfa Wondemagegnehu

n Pamela Elrod HuffmanPam Elrod-Huffman’s interest sessions:

THE REHEARSAL TECHNIQUES OF ROBERT SHAWIn terms of rehearsal disciplines, Robert Shaw believed that attempting to teach “everything at once” led to a confused and imprecise artistic product. In Shaw’s re-hearsals, skills were layered one element at a time—as each new element was add-ed, the previously taught elements were further reinforced. Using examples from the standard choral repertory, this session will demonstrate how Shaw progressed from note-learning stages to the final product, utilizing rehearsal techniques that were beautifully efficient and pedagogically sound.

PAGE 8 n CHORAL RANGE

n Pamela Elrod Huffman2017 All-State Women’s Honor Choir Clinician

Pamela Elrod Huffman’s conduct-ing career spans all levels—from elementary and secondary

schools to university, symphonic, and church choirs—and has included po-sitions in Texas, New York, Illinois and Georgia. Since 2007, Dr. Huffman has served as the Director of Choral

Activities at SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, where she oversees the M.M. Choral Conducting program and directs the University’s choral ensembles.

An accomplished vocalist, Huffman has appeared as a guest artist with numerous university, professional, commu-nity and church choirs throughout the country. From 1988 un-til 1999, she sang with the late Robert Shaw, performing and recording with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, the Robert Shaw Choral Institutes, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Cho-rus, and the Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus. Since 2003 she has been a member of the Grammy Award-winning pro-fessional choral ensemble, Conspirare, under the direction of

Craig Hella Johnson.Huffman regularly serves as a

choral clinician and adjudicator in Texas and throughout the United States. In addition, she is a sought-after workshop clinician, particularly in the area of the choral techniques of Robert Shaw. Her article on Shaw’s warm-ups can be found on the Singer Network website, and an article on Shaw’s rehearsal techniques appears in the February 2013 issue of TMEA’s professional journal, Southwestern Musician.

Huffman holds the BM and MM from the University of Texas at Austin, and a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

n Jonathan Palant2017 All-State Men’s Honor Choir Clinician

Jonathan Palant teaches choral music at the University of Texas at Dallas and is founder and con-

ductor of Credo, a 115-member com-munity choir, and the Dallas Street Choir, a musical outlet for those expe-riencing homelessness and disadvan-tage. In addition, Dr. Palant is minis-

ter of music at Kessler Park United Methodist Church, adult choir director at Temple Shalom Dallas, and is employed by the Dallas Independent School District to mentor middle and high

school vocal music teachers. In 2016, Musical America named Palant one of their “Innovators of the Year” for es-tablishing the Dallas Street Choir.

From 2007 to 2011, Dr. Palant served as Artistic Director of Dallas’ Turtle Creek Chorale. Under his lead-ership, the Turtle Creek Chorale en-joyed milestone events, including the Texas premiere of Night Passage, a one-act opera by Robert Moran based

Headliners

CHORAL RANGE n PAGE 9

on the arrest of Oscar Wilde in London, and the premiere of the Turtle Creek Chorale commis-sioned work, Our Better Angels, composed by An-drea Clearfield, with text by Robert Espindola. An-other first was the Chorale’s performance with the United States Army Chorus and the Dallas Wind Symphony—marking the first GALA-affiliated chorus appearance with a United States military music ensemble.

Dr. Palant sits on the board of directors of the

Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses and has served on the state board of the Michigan chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and Youth First Texas where he was founder and conductor of Dallas PUMP!, a choir serving at-risk youth.

Both Palant’s book, Brothers, Sing On! Conduct-ing the Tenor-Bass Choir and Brothers, Sing On! The Jonathan Palant Choral Series are published by Hal Leonard Co.

n Dr. Robert Bode2017 KCDA Director’s Chorus Director

Dr. Robert Bode is the Raymond R. Neevel/Missouri Professor of Choral Music and Director of

Choral Activities at UMKC.Prior to his appointment at UMKC,

Dr. Robert Bode served on the faculty at Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA,

where he was the Alma Meisnest Endowed Chair in the Hu-manities and Fine Arts and Director of Choral/Vocal Studies.

Robert Bode received his doctorate in Conducting from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, OH. Prior to attending the Cincinnati Conservatory, Dr. Bode won a conducting scholarship at the prestigious Aspen Music Fes-tival, where he studied opera conducting with Fiora Contino.

In 1982, Bode studied in Wales as a Conducting Fellow at the University-College of Music in Cardiff. He made his Carne-gie Hall conducting debut in 1990, conducting the Walla Walla Symphony Chorale in the New York premiere of John David Earnest’s The Waking. In addition to his distinguished teach-ing career, Dr. Bode has enjoyed a successful international conducting career as guest conductor of the Kammerorches-

ter Leipzig, Germany; Filharmonia Sudecka, Walbryzch, Poland; Vratca Philharmonic, Vratca, Bulgaria; and the Yunnan Provincial Chorus, Kun-ming, China; among many others.

Dr. Bode is noted for his dedica-tion to the commissioning and per-formance of music by American composers. At Whitman he initiated the Whitman Commissioning Project, which commissioned new works by David Conte, Richard Hundley, John David Earnest, Giselle Wyers, Gwyn-eth Walker, and others. Dr. Bode is also the Artistic Director of Choral Arts, a semi-professional chamber chorus in Seattle, WA. In spring 2010, the organization received the Marga-ret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, presented by Chorus America. Choral Arts’ CD, Mornings Like This, was re-leased by Gothic Records in 2010.

Headliners

Championing ChorTeach,ACDA’s Online Magazine

Session 1: MS/JH Training ChoirsSean Boller & Jodi Reese

Session 2A: HS/College Winter HolidayJenny Potochnik & Dr. Christopher Smith

Session 2B: MS/JH Winter HolidayMatt Nutter & Rebecca Schnackenberg

Session 3: Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe

Session 4A: New Music: Large HS/CollegeJason Sickel & Juli O’Mealey Simmons

Session 4B: New Music: Unison/2 partJanie Brokenicky & Margie Lawrence

Session 5A: Tried & Proven: MS/JHErin Stewart

Session 5B: Tried & Proven: HS/CollegeLaura VanLeeuwen & Dr. Tom Wine

Session 6A: Men’s & Women’s Training ChoirsPam Williamson & Gretchen Bixler

Session 6B: Music In WorshipDr. Brad Vogel

Session 7A: Tesfa Wondemagegnehu

Session 7B: New Music: MS/JHGretchen Harrison & Eli Jones

Session 8A: MusicSpoke

Session 8B: Honor Choir Repertoire

Session 9: Pop/Show/Vocal JazzJohn Stafford

Session 10A: Dr. Pam Elrod Huffman

Session 10B: Dr. Jonathan Palant

Reading Sessions

The spring issue of ChorTeach, ACDA's online journal, is available. Go toacda.org/publications, scroll down three items,and click on ChorTeach. This issue includes:

End of the Year Activities in the Music Classroom

Singing in a Chorus—Do’s and Don’ts for Church or Community Chorus Members

Changing the Expressionless Faces that Sing in your Choirs

Moving Toward More Progressive Choral Music Teacher Education Programs

Considering Choral Competition—Perspectives on Motivation

CHORAL RANGE n PAGE 11

SICKEL, continued from page 4

it to my own teaching?” I am grateful to so many of my music educator colleagues who still help me with strategies, techniques, and repertoire every time I ask! Finally, I want to pay tribute to my college choir director and mentor, Dr. Terry Barham, Emporia State Choral Director Emeritus. Dr. Barham was an incredible force in solidifying my choice to become a choral music educator. His compassion, his energy, his perspective on life—all of these have made a lasting impression on me.

CR: How has your involvement in ACDA/KCDA contributed to your work as a choral music edu-cator?JS: My wife, Heather, an elementary special edu-cation teacher, knows that when we get to that week after July 4th, her husband will be in To-peka for the KCDA convention. It is the highlight of my summer and I’m grateful (again!) to Terry Barham for encouraging me to be involved in this organization. I often have to remind my col-leagues and students that performing arts teach-ers are unique because we are the “singletons” in our buildings. It is so important that we have a vast network of colleagues and friends in a pro-fession where we are the lone representative in our buildings! ACDA & KCDA have connected me with resources, repertoire, and wonderful col-leagues that I will cherish for the rest of my ca-reer.

Sickel’s colleagues and administrators rein-force the positive affects educators—and especial-ly music educators—have on the lives of young people. Tyson Ostroski, assistant principal at Blue Valley North, affirmed “I can think of no other professional more deserving for this year’s Kansas Teacher of the Year Award than Jason Sickel. It is because of him that young people feel empowered to grow not only as students but as people. There is little doubt that there will be countless people many years from now who will always remember the lessons learned in Mr. Sickel’s choir class.”

But perhaps most telling is Jason’s own ex-perience with parents who were educators. “My childhood was essentially a comprehensive, con-structive and creative teaching methods class,” Sickel wrote in his application. “I loved growing up knowing that my parents were amazing teach-ers who were respected, valued and loved for their unwavering commitment to students and the community. By the time Mr. and Mrs. Sickel retired, both had taught a combination of 72 years and had touched the lives of thousands of stu-dents.”

Congratulations, Jason, from your family of the Kansas Choral Directors Association!

VOGEL, continued from page 2

the question Why not?!) To be fair, sometimes we don’t know what the next step should be, which is all the more reason to immerse ourselves in any and every opportunity to experience and learn. Do I have any suggestions? Well, I have plenty. (Of course I do.)

For starters: the Kansas Choral Directors Sum-mer Convention! This event is not just for those who have all the answers and have it all figured

out. (And what a small convention it would be if that were the case—how about an attendance of zero?) Please join us on the journey to the end of our potential; it truly is a road that never ends, but regardless, you’ll end your journey further down the road than where you began.

Isn’t that the point?

PAGE 12 n CHORAL RANGE

© Joshua Wells OddQuartet.com

CHORAL RANGE n PAGE 13

KANSAS CHORAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION AWARDS

Award nominations submitted online at www.kansaschoral.com.Yearly nomination deadline: May 1.

The Harry Robert Wilson Award is awarded annually to one outstanding member of the Kan-sas Choral Directors Association. Awardees will demonstrate:

Excellence in choral music training, performance and scholarshipCommitment and contributions to choral music in the state of KansasPositive and supportive collegial interactionActive participation, leadership and service to KCDAMust have a minimum of 20 years in the Choral Music Profession

Selection ProcedureNominations will be solicited from the general membership of KCDANominees must be current members of KCDA (posthumous nominations accepted)Nominators must submit biographical information, a letter of nomination and may be asked to submit additional letters of support from KCDA members and/or colleagues, stu-dents and familyThe KCDA Executive Board will select the most qualified nominees which will be present-ed to the current full boardCurrent members of the KCDA Full board will vote to determine the HRW Award WinnerCurrent members of the KCDA Executive Board are ineligible for nominationNominations are carried forward for two subsequent years and thereafter may be resub-mitted

Formerly the Young Director Award, the Prelude Award will be given annually to one outstanding member of the Kansas Choral Directors Association with at least three and no more than five years of experience as a choral director in the State of Kansas. Awardees will demonstrate:

Successful teaching and performance in choral music in KansasProfessional demeanor in interactions with colleaguesPotential as an exemplary professional with an extended career in choral musicA spirit of service through active participation and involvement in KCDA and/or KMEA

Selection ProcedureNominations will be solicited from the general membership of KCDANominees must be current members of KCDA in their 3rd, 4th or 5th year of experience as a choral director in KansasNominations must include biographical information, a letter of nomination from a cur-rent member of KCDA and a letter of support from an administrator, supervisor or mentorThe KCDA Executive Board will serve as the selection committee for reviewing nomina-tions and voting to select a recipientCurrent members of the KCDA Executive Board are ineligible for nominationNominations may be resubmitted anytime during the eligibility period (3 to 5 years) but are not automatically carried forward for future consideration.

Harry Robert Wilson Award

Prelude Award

PAGE 14 n CHORAL RANGE

New Membership 1.

Renewal: # (Please print clearly)

Mailing Address

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I would like to receive email noti cations from ACDA.

Choir & Activity Types - Mark your current areas of involvement. Mailings are based upon these selections

Primary Choir Type: Primary Activity Type:

Boy ACDA Student Chapter

Children & Youth Community College & University

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Men Music in Worship

SATB / Mixed Professional

Show Choir Sr. High School

Women Supervisor / Administrator

Two-Year College

Youth & Student Activities

Online Renewal: www.acda.org Fax or mail:ACDA545 Couch DriveOklahoma City, OK 73102-2207Phone: 405-232-8161 x110Fax: 405-232-8162 (no cover sheet please) membership@acda.org

Name First Name Middle Name Last Name Suf x Last 4 # of SSN

(If there are no changes in your membership info skip to #6)

© ACDA Revised May 17, 2016

ACDA Membership - Including Choral Journal Subscription One Year Two Years Three Years

Active (US and Canada) $125.00 $250.00 $375.00

Active Iowa (Active members who live in the state of Iowa) $128.00 $256.00 $384.00

Active Minnesota (Active members who live in the state of Minnesota) $140.00 $280.00 $420.00

International (Those outside the US & Canada - payment must be in U.S. dollars) $45.00 $90.00 $135.00

Retired $45.00 $90.00 $135.00

Retired Minnesota (Retired members who live in the state of Minnesota) $60.00 $120.00 $180.00

Student (full and part-time students at any level) $35.00 $70.00 $105.00

Associate (Choral Singers, Administrators & non-directors) $45.00 $90.00 $135.00

Associate Minnesota (Administrators & non-directors who live in Minnesota) $60.00 $120.00 $180.00

Institution (Ensemble or School/Church Music Dept.) $110.00 $220.00 $330.00

Industry (Music-related businesses) $135.00 $270.00 $405.00

Paying Life** (Make a lifetime commitment) $2,000.00 Annual Installment of $200.00 or greater $__________

**(To qualify for life membership, you must have been an active member of ACDA for a minumum of 10 years)

Donation: ACDA Endowment $___________ Fund for Tomorrow $___________

Payment - Payable to ACDA in US Dollars. Total Amount Paid $

Check #_________________ (Enclosed) Do not fax if mailing a check PO_______________ (PO form & this form must arrive together)

Visa MasterCard Discover American Express Membership will be renewed upon receipt of payment.

___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ - ___ ___ ___ ___ Expiration Date: ___ ___ / 20 ___ ___ C V V 2 Code: ___ ___ ___

Name on Card:__________________________________________ Signature: _______________________________________________

Billing Address:___________________________________________ Date: _______________________

______________________________________________________

I agree to pay the total according to the credit card issuer agreement and acknowledge that all sales are nal unless duplicate payment is made,

Membership Form

Visit our web site for a description of these types. www.acda.org/membership

CHORAL RANGE n PAGE 15

Date ACDA Membership # Exp. Date Name Guest Name School/Institution or town (for badge) Home Address City/Zip Home Phone ( ) School/Institution Name Work Address City/Zip Work Phone ( ) Alt. Phone ( ) Email: Alt. Email:

Areas of Interest: Elementary Middle Level High School Collegiate

Church Choir Community Jazz/Show Choir Women’s Choir Men’s Choir

Pre-Registration (before June 1, 2017) After June 1/On-Site Registration Active Members* $100.00 Retired Members* $70.00 New Members* (since Sept.) $55.00 Student Members* $20.00 Guests (reading packets not included) $25.00

Active Members* $125.00 Retired Members* $85.00 New Members* (since Sept.) $30.00 Student Members* $30.00 Guests (reading packets not included) $40.00

*Registration includes 10 reading packets (not including Honor Choir Literature). Select reading packets below. Additional reading packets may be purchased for $5.00 (per packet)

Special Offers KMEA Special - $85.00

One-Day Members – Pre-Registered: (circle one) Thursday Friday Saturday - $50.00 One-Day Guest/On-Site Registration - $65.00

Reading Session Packet Selection Members registered before June 1st will be guaranteed reading packets. KCDA cannot guarantee packet availability for registrations after June 1st.

Simultaneous Reading Sessions Single Reading Sessions ❑ Holiday – HS/Col ❑ Holiday – MS/JH ❑ New Music – HS/Col ❑ New Music – Unison/2-Part ❑ Tried & Proven – HS/Col ❑ Tried & Proven – MS/JH ❑ Men’s & Women’s Training ❑ Music for Worship ❑ Tefsa Wondemagegnehu ❑ New Music – MS/JH ❑ Music Spoke ❑ Honor Choir Literature ❑ Jonathan Palant ❑ Pam Elrod-Huffman

❑ MS/JH/Training Choirs ❑ Dr. Jo-Michael Schibe ❑ Pop/Show/Vocal Jazz

Purchase Orders Not Accepted. Online registration (with credit card) may be completed at: www.kansaschoral.com If your ACDA membership expires before July, please renew your membership before registering for the convention.

New/renewing members paying by check must write two checks: one payable to KCDA for registration and one to ACDA for membership dues. Visit acda.org for membership forms and fees.

Mail-In Registrations (with payment): Wendi Bogard, KCDA Secretary, 904 Cottonwood Dr. Lansing, KS 66043

OFFICE USE ONLY: Check # Amount Date Received

Summer Convention Registration Form Capitol Plaza Hotel & Convention Center | For Reservations: 1.800.579.7937

For special hotel offers, go to www.capitolplazahoteltopeka.com

PAGE 16 n CHORAL RANGE

Kansas Choral Directors AssociationTabor College400 N. JeffersonHillsboro, KS 67063

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY!KANSASCHORAL.COM