NDACDA Chorister Fall Issue 2015

www.ndacda.com | 1

The Official Publication of the North Dakota Chapter

of the American Choral Directors Association

Issue 13 • Fall 2015

2 | The Chorister • Fall 2015

North Dakota ACDA Leadership

Joshua Bronfman, president

University of North Dakota

Peggy Dahl-Bartunek, president-elect

Mike Weber, past president

North Dakota State University

Sheldon Weltz, treasurer

North Dakota Repertoire and Standards Chairs

Cheryl McIntyre, children’s choirs

James Wolter, junior high choirs

Discovery Middle School

Allyse Hoge, junior high choirs

Valley Middle School

Tom Porter, men’s choirs

University of Mary

Charlette Moe, women’s choirs

North Dakota State University

Phillip Voeller, senior high choirs

Beulah Middle/High School

Mike Seil, jazz choirs

Legacy High School

Brian Saylor, show choirs

Bismarck High School

Sara Lichtblau, ethnic/multicultural

Fargo South High School

Chris Redfearn, collegiate/university

Valley City State University

Melanie Popejoy, community choirs


Vicky Boechler, music in worship

St. Mary’s High School

Andrew Miller, student activities

Bismarck State College

www.ndacda.com | 3

In This Issue From the President 4

From the Editor 6

Meet the New President-Elect 7

Articles

Surround the State in Song 8

Cheryl McIntyre

Getting Results 10

Andrew Miller

Public School Support

of NDACDA Honor Choirs 12

James Wolter


From the President New Leadership, New Initiatives

I t has been such an honor to serve this

wonderful state as President-Elect and

conference chair, and as of July I’ve

moved into the President position. I’d

like to thank our outgoing President, Dr. Mi-

chael Weber, for his service. We are lucky

to have him in the state, and he has served

the organization well. He now moves into

the Past-President position and will serve as

an advisor as well as coordinator of Mem-

bership.

Over the past few months we have

come together to try to tighten up some of

our policies and procedures, and to look at

our current systems to determine the best

ways in which to serve our state. I thought

we should update you all on some of the

things we are working on, and some of the

things we have recently implemented.

State Conference Locations and Dates

We have tentatively scheduled our lo-

cations and dates for the state confer-

ences for the next three years. Our plan is

to update this list every August, so that we

are always three years ahead in dates and

locations. These dates and times could al-

ways change, but we think that at least

having a plan moving forward will help

everyone with their future plans. Tentative

dates and locations for the next three

years are:

2017, Feb 3-4 in Fargo

2018, Feb 2-3 in Grand Forks

2019, Feb 1-2 in Bismarck

This year’s state conference is February 5-6

at Legacy High School in Bismarck.

Conference Com-

mittee Established

We have for-

mally established

a s t a n d i n g

“ C o n f e r e n c e

Committee” to

help make the or-

ganizational struc-

ture of the confer-

ence clear. This

committee i s

charged with

planning and running the conference eve-

ry year. If you have questions, please

reach out to the relevant chairs with your

questions.

Conference and Program Chair -

Peggy Bartunek (President Elect)

Site Coordinator and Host - Mike Seil

(Legacy High School)

Concert/Hall Manager - TBA

Treasurer - Sheldon Weltz

Men’s Honor Choir Chair - Tom Porter

Mixed 7th-9th Honor Choir Chair -

James Wolter

Treble 7th-9th Honor Choir Chair -

Allyse Hoge

Annual Men’s Honor Choir

At the board meeting in February, a

proposal was put forward to move from

alternating women’s and men’s honor

choirs at the state conference, to having

the men’s choir every year. The rationale

for doing this is that we have a number of

opportunities for women only, such as All-

State and honor choirs at UND, NDSU, and

www.ndacda.com | 5

Minot, and very few for men. Since ND-

MEA has vocal jazz, mixed, and women’s

choirs at their conference, it seemed natu-

ral that ACDA would fill the void in men’s

choirs, as we do for elementary (Surround

the State in Song), and middle school. Tom

Porter is the Men’s R&S chair and has

booked Daniel Stowe, director of the Notre

Dame Glee Club, for this year’s choir. It

should be great, and I hope you all will

send a contingent of men to participate.

Selecting Honor Conductors

In the past we have selected honor

choir conductors during the school year in

which they would be conducting. We are

moving to selecting honor choir conduc-

tors 18 months out. By the end of Novem-

ber, we should know all of the honor choir

conductors for the 2017 state conference,

and by August of 2016 we should know the

conductors for the 2018 conference. We

are trying to move the markers a little far-

ther out so that we can get some of the

best names in the business, who are typi-

cally booking much farther in advance

than we have operated in the past.

Commissioning Projects

Starting in 2017, we will begin commis-

sioning one piece per year to be premi-

ered at the state conference by one of the

honor choirs. The commission will rotate be-

tween each honor choir, starting with the

men in 2017, treble in 2018, and mixed in

2019. It’ll be a wonderful opportunity for

our students, and in short time there will be

a pool of new music out there written for

our state conference that will hopefully

have a life outside our state. We are very

excited about this initiative. In addition,

Andy Miller, Tom Porter, and Vicky Boechler

are exploring the creation of a commis-

sioning competition, to be held annually or

biannually, sponsored by ND-ACDA. That is

in the early stages of planning, but we

should hear more about it at the February

annual meeting at the state conference in

Bismarck. Stay tuned for that.

I’m looking forward to serving this organ-

ization for the next two years. We are look-

ing at a number of ideas and projects to

help our organization and the singers within

it. The board recently voted to raise rates

for honor choir conductors and accompa-

nists to put them more in line with national

rates. We are able to do this (and the com-

missioning projects), due to the responsible

fiscal management of our most recent

past presidents, board members, our ex-

ceptional treasurer, Sheldon Weltz, as well

as some positive income flows. We are also

looking at makeup of the board and struc-

ture of R&S positions, to ensure we have

fair representation, while being efficient in

our use of people’s time. There are a few

other ideas out there, but for now, if you

have thoughts or suggestions about how to

improve what ACDA does for you, we

would like to hear from you.

Best to all, and I hope you have a won-

derful year.

Josh

Joshua Bronfman


NDACDA President


From the Editor A

s somebody who’s brand new to

the state, I feel a bit silly offering

any kind of advice. I don’t know

most of you, and therefore don’t

know which of the many lessons I’ve learned

over the course of my career to this point

might be of use to you. But when the oppor-

tunity arose to edit The Chorister, I felt I

couldn’t pass it up, and these sorts of publi-

cations always have a Letter from the Editor.

So I’ll just tell you a bit about myself, and of-

fer a few bits of wisdom that you probably

already know.

My experience as a choral musician runs

the gamut in more ways than one. As an ed-

ucator and conductor, I have worked with

children of all ages, taught at a rural com-

munity college, worked at two large universi-

ties as a graduate instructor, and now teach

at Dickinson State University. I feel fortunate

to have had such varied teaching experi-

ence because it has helped me to ferret out

those principles which apply across the

board, and which can be of benefit to any

choir of any size at any level.

As a performer, I have sung in choirs span-

ning the range from inexperienced church

choir to university and professional choirs of

national and international caliber. Singing in

less-experienced choirs has taught me how

valuable it is to have at least one strong sing-

er in a section, who can lead the rest of the

members of the section not only in singing

correct pitches, but in finding a beautiful

tone and appropriate stylistic approach to

the piece. At the other end of the spectrum,

singing with high-level university and profes-

sional choirs, I have learned the importance

of each singer in the ensemble fully contrib-

uting to the overall sound and style of a

piece of music. When even one singer in the

group does not contribute equally, the en-

semble is made

poorer.

So my simple

advice to you—

which is really more

of a reminder, I’m

sure—is threefold:

1) Never be afraid

to address the ba-

sics, even if you’ve

already done it

umpteen times be-

fore. Even the best choirs need to be remind-

ed to listen for intonation and maintain con-

nection to the breath. 2) Never be afraid to

address stylistic issues, especially in the early

stages of the rehearsal process. If they spend

the first six weeks singing that phrase without

shape or articulation, and only spend a week

shaping and articulating, the odds are good

that these stylistic elements will disappear in

performance. Even the least experienced

ensembles can add some style. 3) Give your

best attention and best efforts to each of

your singers. Each of them is capable of

some degree of excellence, and that thirty

seconds you take helping that boy whose

voice is changing to sing a little better in tune

will pay rich dividends in the long run.

I look forward to getting to know each of

you over the course of my time in North Da-

kota. My sense is that we have a remarkable

group of musicians and educators here who

are doing some remarkable things. I look for-

ward to contributing to the choral communi-

ty here in whatever way I can.

Brent Rogers

Dickinson State University

Editor and Designer, The Chorister

www.ndacda.com | 7

Meet Your President-Elect I

consider myself to be an atypical

NDACDA President-Elect because I en-

tered choral directing through the back

door as an accompanist. Although I

sang in high school and college choirs, my

plan was to complete a music degree with

the minimal amount of effort so I could

start a piano studio. I had no intention of

teaching in public schools; I didn’t take

choral methods because it wasn’t re-

quired; and being a choir director simply

wasn’t on my radar. Although I accompa-

nied countless voice lessons I never took

lessons for myself. I was going to be a pi-

ano teacher. This is your new President-

Elect?

Fortunately, in my junior year at UND my

music methods teacher, Dr. Barrie Wells,

observed me working with middle school

students and saw something he described

as “special”. He urged me to give up

thoughts of teaching private piano and to

apply for a public school position. I am

convinced that Dr. Wells was instrumental

in finding me my first job and a career in

music education that has given me happi-

ness, inspiration, and fulfillment.

As a new teacher, I had much to learn

and it took several years of “doing”, listen-

ing, and studying. I learned an untold

amount through my colleagues and bene-

fited greatly through membership in profes-

sional organizations including ACDA.

When I was asked if my name could be

placed on the NDACDA ballot, I asked my-

self, “How can I say “no” to an organiza-

tion that has given so much to me?”

“Organization” sounds formal and imper-

sonal. It is the PEOPLE that make this a re-

markable group. Although this six-year ob-

ligation will be a

great deal of

work, I consider it

an honor and

privilege to serve.

The qualities I’ll

bring to the table

will be organiza-

tional and people

skills. I am pas-

sionate about

music, people, learning, and the art of

teaching. My primary responsibility this year

is organizing the Feb 5-6 2016 state confer-

ence at Legacy High School in Bismarck.

Visit http://www.ndacda.com/#!state-

conference/c1nyb for conference infor-

mation which will continue to be updated.

Please contact me anytime at:

[email protected]

Home: 701-352-2565

Cell: 701-360-0167

YouTube Channel: Peggy Bartunek

Facebook: Peggy Dahl-Bartunek

Thank you for the gifts you bring to our

wonderful profession. I am grateful for the

friends I have and for the new friends I will

make in NDACDA.

Peggy Bartunek

NDACDA President-Elect

http://www.ndacda.com/#!state-conference/c1nyb

http://www.ndacda.com/#!state-conference/c1nyb

mailto:[email protected]


Surround the State in Song N

orth Dakota’s ACDA provides

many opportunities for students

of all ages. On October 10th, ND

ACDA presented Surround the

State in Song in six locations in North Dako-

ta. A record 487 students in 5th and 6th

grades participated in this event. A final

concert was held simultaneously in each

location using the same musical selec-

tions. Each concert began with the Star

Spangled Banner. Other selections includ-

ed “Get on Board This Train” arranged by

Besig and Price; “Jubilate Deo” by Praetori-

ous, arr. by Rao; “Pirates Life” by Donnelly

and Strid; “Zum Gali Gali” arranged by

Schwartz; and “Firefly” by Beck. Trudy

Fraase Wolf noted that her students en-

joyed the day and wanted to do the ac-

tions to “Zum Gali Gali” at their upcoming

concert.

The guest conductors for this year’s Sur-

round the State in Song were Danielle Lar-

son in Grand Forks, James Wolter in Jame-

stown, Sarah Hanson in Fargo, Alyssa Palm-

er in Minot, Joel Walters in Dickinson, Dawn

Haggerot in Bismarck. These directors kept

the students engaged and provided a

wonderful day of music making for each

student. Accompanists included Connie

Sjostrom in Grand Forks, Lacey Guck in Far-

go, Sarah McMahon in Bismarck, Heather

Fair in Jamestown, Becky Schwartz in Dick-

inson and Jasmine Massingill in Minot.

We have excellent music teachers work-

ing behind the scenes to make this a

meaningful event for the students in North

Dakota. A big thank you goes to the dedi-

cated volunteer site managers for each

location: Kyle Entzel from Grand Forks,

Laurae Dykema from Dickinson, Lindsay

Kerzmann from

Minot, Connie

Stordalen from Bis-

marck, Sarah Bar-

num from Fargo,

and Cheryl McIn-

tyre from Jame-

stown. These peo-

ple organize the

performance sites,

lunch (where pro-

vided), t-shirts,

and arrange for the director and accom-

panist for their site. Thank you to those

teachers who take the time to send stu-

dents to the festival prepared for a great

day of music making.

One of the teachers in Grand Forks not-

ed “Danielle was great at keeping the at-

tention of the choir and kept rehearsals

lively.” The “director and music selections

were excellent: fun and engaging while at

the same a good mix of styles and ‘good’

repertoire. Our kids had a fantastic experi-

ence again this year!” says Deb Bopp of

Valley City. We would like to encourage

more teachers to this event to help repre-

sent all of North Dakota schools. If you

have questions about Surround the State in

Song, please contact me at cher-

[email protected].

Cheryl McIntyre

Jamestown High School

NDACDA Children’s Choirs R & S Chair



www.ndacda.com | 9


Getting Results D

o you ever feel like the broken

record that constantly reiterates

musical concepts to your choirs,

with diminishing returns? Do you

feel like your choirs sometimes plateau? If

you don’t ever experience these phenom-

ena, please sign me up for whatever

wavelength you’re on! But, if you are nod-

ding your head, read on my friend.

Most problems in a choir’s ability to per-

form with a high level of musicality, are not

unique to any one director’s choir. They

are universal problems. Here is a small list

of concepts choirs commonly struggle

with:

Accessing the high range

Keeping tempo

Following the conductor

Executing precisely timed cutoffs

Singing with beautiful tone

Singing with support

Singing with true emotion

Each of these problems can be remedied

in myriad ways, but for the choir director

who experiences any of these issues often,

I offer perhaps a different look at the over-

all picture.

It is important to acknowledge that you

went into this career because you are a

passionate, talented musician. You have

an ear for beauty of sound and a desire for

great musicality. When we begin to feel

that we are ineffective to our choir, per-

haps combined with feeling beaten down

by the circumstances of our music pro-

gram or community, we lose touch with

the passionate, talented musician inside

ourselves because what we feel we’re get-

ting out of the stu-

dents and the

choir is below

what we envision

or hope for in our

mind. After a du-

ration of this, we

begin to settle into

a routine of ex-

pecting less and

demanding less,

and maybe we

become the broken record.

If you’re still nodding your head, my ad-

vice is simple. Look at the above problems

(or add in some that aren’t there), choose

the ones that you seem to experience ra-

ther chronically, and tell yourself you will

get your students to learn how to do it the

right way and overcome the challenge.

Give yourself permission to craft a lesson

around one concept: Breath support, for

example. Why not spend ten minutes do-

ing a breath support workshop with your

choir? Or, who says you can’t take those

elusive off-beat cutoffs and turn them into

a concept worthy of a five-minute focused

workshop? If mentioning bits and pieces of

breath support in warmups is not getting

your choir to consistently sing with the true

unfailing support you’re looking for, or if re-

iterating that the cutoff is on the “and-of-

four!” is just not working, intensify the focus

of the concept. Ditch the music, address

the concept. Use the great musician and

the devoted educator inside you to ad-

dress the issue head on – whatever it may

be - and don’t let it go until the students

fully succeed at the mission.

The two common fears with shifting to

www.ndacda.com | 11

doing conceptual workshops with choirs

are that we fear we might bog our stu-

dents down with technicality and make

them disinterested in choir, and we fear

that we won’t get through all of our music.

Let me reassure you, when you do a fo-

cused workshop with your choir and they

come out totally understanding and victo-

rious, you just made them love choir more.

And just take it from me: Don’t buy into

the fear of not getting through all your mu-

sic. There will be time, and a piece can

always be cut. Better to take the time to

instill excellent musicianship and deeply

ingrained vocal concepts, than to sacrifice

those concepts for a fuller program.

A note on invitational choir festivals: The

massed chorus experience is attractive

and valuable, especially for smaller schools

that otherwise don’t often get those op-

portunities. But, be careful in how many

optional festivals you sign your students up

for, the timing of the festival in regard to

your own program calendar, and the liter-

ature demand the festival will place on

your students. Most invitational festivals re-

quire the learning of 3-5 new pieces of liter-

ature, on top of your own literature. Often

times, this comes at a compromise to both

your own musical preparations, as well as

the festival experience. I am not saying

don’t do festivals. Keep bringing your stu-

dents to festivals so they can get that vital

experience and step foot on college

ground as they dream of their futures. But,

also keep in mind that participating in a

festival is not a guaranteed positive experi-

ence for your students. Weigh carefully the

amount of time your students - given the

level they are at - will have to spend with

new and often challenging music to truly

enjoy it. Young fledgling choristers can

‘not’ enjoy making music with insufficient

rehearsal. As a college choir director, I run

festivals to recruit students into my pro-

gram. My priority to recruit for my program

however, is and always will be secondary

to my principle that students need a quali-

ty – not quantity – music education.

And now for an eloquent conclusion.

Thanks for reading!

Andy

Andrew Miller

Bismarck State College

NDACDA Student Activities


Public School Support of NDACDA Honor Choirs

I n spring of 2015, ND-ACDA sent a survey to schools regarding

support for the Middle Level Honor Choir. While we sent out

to all directors in our database, we could not give statistically

significant results for Class B schools; however, we were able

to reach all of Class A districts.

The results indicate a positive position for support for Honor

Choirs. We looked at financial support in four areas: audition

fee, registration fee, hotel/lodging, and transportation.

While funding of these components were varied, it is im-

portant to note that all public Class A schools provided financial

support in two or more of these categories.

Public, Class A Schools Represented in Results:

With this survey, North Dakota helped ACDA fulfill one of its purposes, “To foster and

Bismarck

Devils Lake

Dickinson

Fargo Schools

Grand Forks

Jamestown

Mandan

Minot

Valley City

West Fargo

Wahpeton

Williston

www.ndacda.com | 13

promote the organization and development of choral groups of all types in schools and

colleges.”

These results were given to Fargo Public Schools who, at the time, did not provide fi-

nancial support for 7th and 8th graders to attend ND-ACDA. After being presented with

this and other information, Fargo changed policy. Denese Odegaard, president-elect of

NAfME and curriculum specialist with FPS, writes,

“The effort put forth to gather data regarding the support and funding for Jr. High All-

State was indeed a catalyst for Fargo Public Schools regaining district support for our stu-

dents to attend the festival. The Fargo Public School music teachers and I would like to

thank you for sharing the results with us so we could, in turn, show evidence of support for

this festival across the state to our administrators. We created a document detailing how

this festival is good for the individual student, the professional development for the teach-

er, and how student attendance enhances the ensemble. If anyone in the state is in

need of such a document, we would be willing to share it. Thank you, again, for your

help!”

James Wolter

Discovery Middle School

NDACDA Jr. High Choirs R & S Co-Chair


Documents

NDACDA Chorister Fall Issue 2015