National Choral Conference
Purpose. The purpose of The American Boychoir’s National Choral Conference is to provide new educational experiences and professional growth opportunities for choral conductors and directors, music educators, and music education students. The Conference offers interactive workshops and dynamic reading sessions led by the world’s finest choral musicians and educators while increasing the awareness and appreciation of high quality choral music and focusing on the special needs and proper singing techniques specific to young singers.
Program History. The National Choral Conference began in 1987 as a two-day workshop to support The American Boychoir’s efforts in music education outreach. Geared for music educators, the Conference provides practical training in choral conducting, voice building, and repertoire selection for conductors and music teachers of boys’ and girls’ choirs from around the United States and abroad. The Conference is lead by an invited special guest clinician, the Music Directors of The American Boychoir, and features The American Boychoir as the resident “demonstration” choir. It often includes a guest ensemble such as the Drakensberg Boys Choir of South Africa, Newark Boys Chorus, or the Princeton Girlchoir.
In the 15 conferences since 1987, the National Choral Conference has grown to become a leading music education resource and training activity in the United States. Over the years, conference clinicians have included: Jean Ashworth Bartle, founder and conductor of the Toronto Children’s choir; renowned English boychoir trainers Barry Rose and Edward Higginbottom; the famed Czech conducting team of Bohumil Kulinsky and Blanka Kulinska; French boychoir trainer Denis DuPays; Gerre Hancock, former Master of Choristers at St. Thomas Church, NYC; Christian Ashley Botha, conductor of the Drakensberg Boys Choir of South Africa; Henry Leck, founder and conductor of the Indianapolis Childrens’s Choir; Anton Armstrong, Director of the St. Olaf Choir; André Thomas, Director of Choral Activities at Florida State University; and Kari Ala-Pöllänen, Conductor of the Tapiola Choir of Finland.
Fifty music educators and conductors attended the first conference. Today, the National Choral Conference has grown into a three-day event, has an attendance of 150, and attracts music educators from around the world.
The National Choral Conference is on hiatus until 2008. If you would like to receive information about the next conference and are not on our mailing list, click here to be added.
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