WA ACDA Summer Institute sets new attendance record with 216; Karen Fulmer receives Leadership and Service Award for 2008

The 2008 Summer Institute set a new record for attendance with 216 registrants. This year's event, held again on the beautiful campus of the University of Puget Sound, served up a variety of benefits for participants.

Dr. Tim Seelig, former director of the Turtle Creek Chorale and now on the music faculty at the Meadows School for the Arts at Southern Methodist University...writer, speaker, motivator, singer...was the guest clinician. Attendees were treated to great packets of music chosen and presented by state leaders who led what amounted to a wonderful sounding choir of directors in reading sessions throughout the three day event July 23-25.

Members of WA ACDA were led so capably by President Leora Schwitters, and President-Elect and Program Chair, Marc Hafso. This fantastic and eloquent duo-team took turns with introductions, instructions, and in keeping the event running on time.

This was the 12th annual Summer Institute at UPS. Dr. Keith Ward, Chair of the Music Department welcomed participants. UPS is a co-sponsor.

The event is also co-sponsored by J. W. Pepper of Tacoma, suppliers of music packets. As Pepper has done since the beginning of the workshop, they have supplied music that is chosen by session leaders. Leaders are instructed to submit lists of titles that "work." Ordering and organizing this material is a huge task and WA ACDA continues to be grateful to Pat Howland, J. W. Pepper's Tacoma manager, and her staff, including on-site leader, Kathy Rasmussen.

Wednesday, July 23

The event opened on Wednesday morning with Sandra Glover's presentation on the voice. Graphic video of the human voice mechanism was viewed as Sandra explained the science of it all.

Kilworth Chapel, the site for the workshop, has two nice spaces that allow for concurrent sessions...the main chapel area where all full group events were held and a basement room of almost equal size.

Following a box lunch on the lawn next to Kilworth Chapel, Bernard Crouse and Judy Filibeck led sessions for high school directors. In a concurrent session, Vicky Thomas and Gary Cannon presented their packets of music for church choirs. In Wednesday afternoon's second session, Julia Meyering and Brian Hoskins continued the action as they led music for middle school singers while Solveig Holmquist, president-elect of the NW Division and Richard Nance, president of the division, presented music for community choirs.

The third session of the afternoon had Frank DeMiero, Kenny Kraintz, Dave Crazier, and Darla Pumphrey working with jazz choir directors while, upstairs, Kurt McKee and Stacy Winn led singers through music in the multicultural packet.

The final afternoon event for Wednesday was the presentation of Washington's Leadership and Service Award. President Leora Schwitters introduced Howard Meharg, Webmaster for the association, who talked about the accomplishments of this year's recipient, Karen Fulmer. Meharg was Karen's high school director. He spoke of his "being in the right place at the right time" and the privilege it was for him to be a teacher with Karen in his choir. Check the WA ACDA website for a complete story, including Karen's response. (Click here...>)

One of the great traditions of the Summer Institute, the annual salmon BBQ banquet, followed. The catering staff of UPS, once again, did a great job with everything from the linen covered tables to the superbly prepared salmon. And, again this year, topped it all off with strawberry shortcake.

Ron Mallory, R&S Chair for Music in Worship, prepared a choir of interested participants in the presentation of a short Vespers service at 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening.

Thursday, July 24
Tim Seelig's sessions on Thursday morning were called "Exciting Warm-up Regimen! Oxymoron No More!" and "Taking Joy in the Imperfect Rehearsal." Seelig immediately captured his audience with his obvious joy in this art, his humor, and his obvious depth of understanding of both the voice and of preparing choirs in rehearsal.

The afternoon sessions again made use of Kilworth's two meeting areas and participants could choose between music for elementary aged groups led by Jenny Price and Susan Windham and music for two-year colleges led by Ron Bayer and John Weiss.

The mid-afternoon period covered music for male voices and female voices with Josh Viles and Bayard DuBois of the 'Breath of Aire' choral ensemble (who substituted for Barbara Irish), leading. During this time, Megan Oberfield talked about "Cultivating Smart Singers - The Sequel!" in a session for elementary directors using Kodaly methods.

Tim Seelig worked with conductors in a master class Thursday evening. Vanessa Katz, Rob Hanson, Roseanna Chu, Brian Vaughn, Mark Kloepper, and Mary WillAllen each conducted a selection from the Seelig packet. Institute participants served as a choir. This popular part of the SI serves as a great learning period for everyone. Seelig was kind, helpful, and encouraging.

Friday, July 25
Dr. Seelig was featured throughout the morning on Friday. "Things They Forgot to Teach (Or would be afraid to tell you)!" was his subject. Participants then read through a packet of music recommended by Seelig.

WA ACDA members and those who attended this year's Summer Institute owe a great debt of gratitude to President Leora Schwitters, Program Chair, Marc Hafso, Ron Bayer, who took care of registration, Georgina Philippson, treasurer, and Dawn McCormick, on-site registration. Other board members helped immensely, including Kristina Ploeger, Joel Ulrich, John Weiss, Ron Mallory, Tim Fitzpatrick, Sue Green, and Josh Viles.

The organization also owes much thanks to David Crazier, who brought and operated the sound system throughout the workshop. Also thanks to Andrew Jacobson who helped out during the rush of registrations on Wednesday morning.

And, again this year, Doug and Janet Anderson of DJ Records, set up a huge array of CDs of a large number of choral groups. ACDA thanks Doug and Janet for their support and for making these recordings available.

Tim Fitzpatrick and Anni Stankovic accompanied reading sessions...and, as far as we could tell, missed not one note or rhythm as they read several hundred pieces of music!

And it wouldn't be WA ACDA's Summer Institute without the door prize drawings...little attempts to keep people on time. Tim, Marc, and Leora handled all that with humor and dozens of people walked out with gifts of wine, office supplies, and CD's. Prizes this year were purchased and individually wrapped by past-president, Leslie Guelker-Cone.