Choral School
Jul 21, 2008For more information contact:
Amy Kelly, Media Relations director
(218) 299-3642
Gordon Moe, Manager
(701) 212-3693
ELEVENTH ANNUAL CHORAL SCHOOL ENCOURAGES CONDUCTORS YOUNG AND OLD
Sixty-five high school, church, community, and college choir conductors will gather from 24 states and 3 countries to participate in the René Clausen Choral School July 19-23. The eleventh annual René Clausen Choral School will be held on the campus of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota and will be taught by Clausen along with guest clinicians Pearl Shangkuan and Jo-Michael Scheibe.
“Every year I am energized by the variety of conductors who take time out of their summer to improve their skills as musicians. Both new conductors and seasoned conductors share ideas with each other as they sing side by side during our daily rehearsals and lectures,” said Clausen. “We created this school to affirm a conductor’s need for growth and inspiration.”
As opposed to a workshop format, Dr. Clausen has specifically created a "choral school" with more lecture hours and intense content to increase the participant's knowledge of style, literature, performance practice issues, and conducting and rehearsal technique.
"Each year I look forward to working with the participants in an actual choral rehearsal situation, sharing my own process and procedure in creating choral music," stated Clausen. "It is also satisfying to hear how much the participants appreciate our supportive learning environment."
The Choral School will culminate with a public performance featuring the music that the conductors have learned during the school. This free mini-concert of sacred a cappella works will be held at 12:15 p.m., Wednesday July 23 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 218 10th St. S., Moorhead.
Clausen has written more than sixty commissioned works, and regularly conducts major choral/orchestral performances, choral festivals, and workshops nationwide. One of his most recent commissions, entitled MEMORIAL, was written for the 2003 National American Choral Directors Convention held in New York City.
Clausen is conductor of The Concordia Choir of Moorhead, Minnesota and received the Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, and the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Illinois, Urbana.
Complete information, including comments from last years’ participants, is also available on-line at http://www.reneclausen.com.
Editor Note: If media would like to attend a portion of Tuesday’s events, it can be arranged through Amy Kelly at (218) 299-3642
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