Festival of Voices | University of Montevallo

54th Annual Festival of Voices

Middle School – September 14, 2026

High School – September 15, 2026

This festival consists of two all-state quality honors choruses comprised of high school and middle school students nominated by their choir directors, from public and private high schools throughout the State of Alabama. Students work closely with the Festival Clinicians in intense rehearsals focusing on musicianship skills, voice building, and ensemble performance. The choirs also rehearse and perform side-by-side with University of Montevallo Choirs, some of the state’s foremost collegiate choirs. Our goal is to provide students with the highest level of musical achievement through education and performance experiences. Students will experience concerts and masterclasses and will perform with seasoned professionals on traditional and exciting new choral repertoire.

Highlights for 2026 Festival of Voices

Music will be provided on-site
Features Ensemble Workshop with exciting concert performance opportunities!!
Festival of Voices Finale Concert will be held at the historic UM Palmer Auditorium

Registration

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, August 26, 2026

$45.00 (credit card only)

Registration Form: https://admit.montevallo.edu/register/?id=117ae644-1d93-44d7-b059-6fa89530f970

2026 Festival Schedule

8:00am-8:45am Registration

9:00am-12:00pm Rehearsal

12:00pm-1:15pm Lunch

1:15pm-3:45pm Rehearsal (Rotating Spaces, TBA)

4:00pm All Performers – Report to Palmer Auditorium!

4:30pm Guest Ensembles and Festival Finale Concert!

6:00pm Depart from Campus

Festival of Voices Scholarship

The UM Festival of Voices Scholarship is awarded to a festival participant who will be a University of Montevallo freshman in Fall 2027. The recipient will receive a $1000.00 ($500.00 per semester) scholarship to be used during his/her freshman year at the University of Montevallo

Audition procedures are as follows:

Students must have a letter of recommendation from their high school choral director indicating vocal potential, work habits, and contributions to their high school choral program.

Students should prepare two (2) selections to be performed for the voice faculty. These should be of contrasting style and should show the student’s musical potential. Suggested repertoire may be found on the audition’s web page of the University of Montevallo Department of Music (see below).

No recorded accompaniments should be used. A qualified accompanist will be provided for the audition.

The winner of the audition is expected to enroll as a voice major at UM (either music education or performance) for the 2027-2028 school year.

Meet Your Clinicians!

2026 SATB High School Festival Clinician

Dr. Lee Wright is in his seventh year as the Director of Choral Music at Indian Springs School in Birmingham, Alabama. Previously, he served twelve years (2003-2015) as the choral director at John Carroll Catholic High School and two years (2018-2020) as Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Education at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia; he is also a proud graduate of the University of Georgia (DMA) and the University of Montevallo (BME, MM). Leeis active as both a singer and bassist in the Birmingham area, and enjoys exploring the world with Amanda, his spouse, and their two sons, Felix and Jasper.

2026 SAB Middle School Festival Clinician

Frank Andrews is the Director of Choral Activities at Helena Middle School and has directed middle school choral programs in the state of Alabama for the past twenty-two years. He earned both a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Master of Music Education from the University of Montevallo. Mr. Andrews’ choirs have consistently earned Superior ratings at State Choral Performance Assessment, and his ensembles have been featured performers at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. Mr. Andrews is a member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA), and the Alabama Vocal Association (AVA).