SON High School Festival & Application

American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota (ACDA-MN)

Annual State Conference

Star of the North High School Festival

with

Andre’ Thomas, guest conductor/clinician

Andre’ Thomas (biography)

Friday, November 15, 2019

Trinity Lutheran Church • Stillwater (rehearsal/clinic location)
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church • Mahtomedi (performance location)

ACDA-MN is proud to announce that noted American composer/conductor/master clinician Dr. Andre Thomas of Florida State University, will be headlining the ACDA-MN State Conference during the weekend of November 15-16, 2019. He will lead these amazing choral events in our community throughout his week-long Minnesota residency:

• Urban Initiatives High School (Invitational) Choral Festival – Thursday, November 14 (co-sponsored by VocalEssence)
• Star of the North High School Choral (Auditioned) Festival – Friday, November 15
• Collegiate (Invitational) Choral Festival – Saturday, November 16
• VocalEssence Public Concert “Andre Thomas Mass – Sunday, November 17, Orchestra Hall

Star of the North High School Festival Schedule (at a glance)

Friday, November 15, 2019

• Late Morning:  Solo choral clinics and combined festival rehearsal at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stillwater  (choirs eat lunch on their own prior to arrival)
• Afternoon:  Combined choir rehearsals and bus transfer to St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi. Solo choir rehearsals on stage
• Italian Buffet Dinner:  served at St. Andrew’s (catered by Donatelli’s, Vadnais Heights)
• Evening:  Concert performance (8-9:30 pm) at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church
• Note:  meal cost charged to participating choirs

Friday Evening Festival Concert Program

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church • Mahtomedi

(featuring two high school festival groups)

• (Thursday) Urban Initiatives Festival (three choirs)
  • Solo Choir #1
  • Solo Choir #2
  • Solo Choir #3
  • Combined Choirs #1, #2, #3 – Andre’ Thomas piece #1, Thomas conducting
• (Friday) Star of the North High School Choral Festival (three choirs)
  • Solo Choir #4
  • Solo Choir #5
  • Solo Choir #6
  • Combined Choirs #4, #5, #6 – Andre’ Thomas piece #2, Thomas conducting
• Combined (Thursday & Friday) Festival Choirs
  • Combined Choirs #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 – Andre’ Thomas piece #3, Thomas conducting

AUDITION & APPLICATION INFORMATION

AUDITIONS

• Exclusive on-line audition applications submitted through Opus Event
• No cost to audition
• Received by Monday, April 1, 2019, 10:00 pm

ITEMS NEEDED TO APPLY ON OPUS EVENT

• Personal member and institution contact information
• ACDA member number and expiration date (current membership required)
• Upload via mp3 format, three contrasting recordings from last two academic years (2017-18 and 2018-19)
• Upload via pdf, programs representing each recording
• Upload via pdf, signed Administrative Certificate of Approval to apply and/or appear at the Conference.  Click the button download copy.

RECORDING SPECIFICATIONS

• Must be submitted in mp3 format
• Submit complete selections only
• Total recording time should be between 8 and 12 minutes

APPLICATION SCHEDULE

• April 1 – Uploaded application items and recordings entered via Opus Event
• April 15 – Director notification via phone or email message from Conference Chair

ELIGIBILITY

• Conductor must be a current member of ACDA, and employed in the same position for two academic years (2017-18 and 2018-19)
• ACDA-MN does not assume any financial responsibility for travel, food, or lodging for performance groups.
• The application implies that the choir is prepared to travel to and perform at the conference if selected.
• Failure to comply with any or all of the specifications in the application process will automatically disqualify the application.
• ACDA-MN reserves the right to approve any applications for appearance and to edit all materials proposed for distribution.