Middle Level Honor Choir Festival 2018
We look forward to having some very talented choral students join us on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 for a wonderful day filled with great music!
This year, we are pleased to welcome as our guest clinician André-Louis Heywood!
Born in Trinidad, André Heywood grew up and studied in London, Ontario earning undergraduate degrees in both Biochemistry and Music Education, and a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from The University of Western Ontario. A former chorister of the renowned Amabile Boys’ and Men’s Choirs, Mr. Heywood served as the group’s assistant conductor for two years before moving to Minnesota in 2007. Since then he has worked on the campus of Saint John’s Abbey and University, serving as Artistic Director of The Saint John’s Boys’ Choir, conductor of the Saint John’s Abbey Schola (monastic choir), Liturgical Music Director at Saint John’s Preparatory School, and as an adjunct faculty member at the university where he directs the All-College Choir and teaches graduate choral conducting. Since 2016 he has served as conductor of the National Catholic Youth Choir. He has twice been awarded by the American Choral Directors’ Association of Minnesota – in 2011 with the Vocal Essence Creative Programming Award, and in 2013 as the Outstanding Young Director of the Year.
A highly sought after clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor, Mr. Heywood is a well-known specialist in developing young male voices, previously serving as Boychoir Repertoire & Standards Chair at both the state and division levels of ACDA. In 2013 he had the privilege of guest conducting the ACDA-MN Grade 7/8 Boys’ Honor Choir. He recently completed a two-year sabbatical in Canada where he served as director of the University of Toronto Men’s Chorus, Junior Choir Conductor at St. Michael’s Choir School, founding conductor of the boychoir program of the Hamilton Children’s Choir, and director of the 2014 Ontario Music Educators’ Association Honour Choir. He is currently a doctoral candidate in choral conducting at the University of Toronto, where he studies with Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt.
Please nominate your students HERE
Deadline for nominations is Thursday, December 14, 2017
Festival schedule will be posted soon!
Recordings for Voice Parts will be found HERE
We are very excited about our repertoire this year!
REPERTOIRE:
Directors: receive a 15% on any combination of repertoire if you order from Chuck Hackman at Groth Music (952-948-5204). To receive the discount, be sure to mention that your order is for the UMD Middle Level Honors Festival! Complete packets of music would be less than $8.00 per student with this 15% discount, or if you already own some of this music, just order the music that you need and receive a discount!
Please contact Dr. Richard Robbins with questions: [email protected]