Department of Music
UM Choral Festival
2009 High School Choral Festival
We would like to invite you and balanced SATB quartets of your students to join us for the 39th University of Montevallo Choral Festival, which is scheduled for November 5 - 7, 2009. This is an excellent opportunity for your singers to rehearse and perform a major work with chamber orchestra. We will begin with an evening rehearsal on Thursday and end with the Festival Concert on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. The literature for this year will be “Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo No. 7 in B-flat” (click title to download and reproduce as necessary) by Joseph Haydn conducted by Dr. Robert Wright, and “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” (will be sent as registration is received) by Mack Wilberg, conducted by Dr. Gary Packwood.
The registration fee for the 2009 Choral Festival is $40.00 per person. This includes a music packet and a UM Choral Festival t-shirt. The application deadline is October 23. Please send registration materials and a check or money order made to the UM Foundation for the registration fees to:
University of Montevallo
Attention: Gary Packwood
Station 6670
Montevallo, AL 35115
Dress for the Festival Concert will be the home choir uniform. If you need housing, there is on-campus housing available at the Ramsay Conference Center (205-665-6280). Please phone them directly for your reservations. Area hotels include the Calera Holiday Inn Express Calera (800-465-4329) and America’s Best Value Inn Calera (205-668-0222). There are also several motels in the Alabaster/Pelham area at exit 246 off I-65. Meals may be purchased in the Anna Irvin Dining Hall and there are a number of “fast food” options available well within walking distance. Of course, if you are within easy driving distance, you may stay at home and commute.
Again, we hope you are having a wonderful year and that you will be able to join us for the festival. In the meantime, if we can be of service to you in any way, please do not hesitate to call. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon.
Choral Festival Scholarship
The UM Choral Festival Scholarship is being provided by an alumnus, who donates the funds each year in honor of a UM teacher. It provides $1000.00 per semester financial aid for the freshman year to a person who attends the annual High School Choral Festival and auditions for the voice faculty during the event. The winner is chosen and announced at the concert, which is held at the close of the Festival.
Audition procedures are as follows:
Students must have a letter of recommendation from their high school choral director indicating vocal potential and work habits, contribution to their high school choral program, as well as character.
Students should prepare two (2) selections to be performed for the voice faculty. These should be of contrasting style and chosen to show the student's potential. Suggested repertoire may be found on the scholarship web page of the University of Montevallo Department of Music.
No recorded accompaniments or Contemporary Christian literature should be used as audition material. A qualified accompanist will be provided for the audition.
Winners of the audition are expected to enroll as voice majors at UM (either performance or music education) the following year.
Missa Brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo No. 7 in B-Flat