We look forward to once again welcome you to the campus of the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma and to fill Kilworth Chapel with music and conversations.

We are confident that you will find ways to fill your cup with the love of choral music that we all need refilled at this point. To that end, we invite you to be fully present in the reading sessions, listen well to what your colleagues are saying as you connect at the Coffee Cabana, enjoy the delicious Salmon Dinner and be ready to build your choral repertoire and skills with Dr. Rosephanye Powell in her headliner sessions: 

TO SIT AND DREAM:  ADDRESSING DIVERSITY THROUGH SONG

Using her choral work To Sit and Dream, Rosephanye Powell will invite participants to dialogue and share how choral directors may use this song, and others like it, to address diversity in choral settings.  While sharing insights into her compositional process, Dr. Powell will address the timeless and powerful message of the poem, To You, by Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes.

AFRICAN AMERICAN SPIRITUALS:  TO SING OR NOT TO SING, THAT IS THE QUESTION

In this session, Rosephanye Powell addresses concerns related to whether non-Blacks should sing African American spirituals and if the singing of spirituals by non-Blacks is appropriation.

AFRICAN AMERICAN SPIRITUALS, ANTHEMS, AND GOSPEL:  IS THERE A DIFFERENCE?

African American spirituals, anthems, and gospel music are unique in compositional style and performance practices.  The mislabeling of distinct styles of Black sacred music by choral directors can diminish, stigmatize, and dishonor the extensive and diverse contributions to serious concert literature made by African American composers and arrangers.  The purpose of this session is to provide general distinctions to assist those who are unfamiliar or less familiar with spirituals, gospel, and anthems in distinguishing the three styles.       

VOICE CARE CONCERNS FOR CHORAL DIRECTORS 

This session will provide insights into vocal health for choral directors, music educators and choral singers. Information will be provided to raise awareness of the impact of unhealthy vocal habits and the importance of maintaining healthy vocal practices which contribute to a lifetime of teaching and singing.

Register today!

You may register for all three days, or individual dates.  We will have dormitory housing available for those not wishing to drive daily, just add that on to your ticket.