Choral Conductors Network presentsChoral Conductors Network presentsSaturday, January 20, 2007, 9:00-Noon
Zumbro Lutheran Church, Rochester
Led by Bruce Phelps and Mike Smith and sponsored by Choral Arts Ensemble, this workshop is for directors who need encouragement, fresh ideas or a jumpstart for the new year. Students may attend free of charge.
Bruce Phelps
As the Associate Director for Music Organizations at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., Bruce Phelps manages The Concordia Choir, organizes tours and travel for choral groups, supervises production of the Concordia Christmas Concert, and is involved with the daily logistical needs of the choral program. Bruce moved into this position after 34 years as a music educator and choral director in Minnesota.
A 1970 graduate of Concordia College, Bruce taught at Luverne, MN for 5 years, Wayzata, MN for 1 year and finished his 34 years at Anoka High School in Anoka, MN. Bruce earned his Masters degree in 1978 from Bemidji State University. Besides his teaching duties, Bruce was the director of music and adult choir director at the Anoka United Methodist Church, was on the education staff at St. Olaf College, and founded his own select adult chorus, The Two Rivers Chorale. Through his time in Anoka Bruce also served for five years as the director of the South St. Paul Male Chorus, eight years as director of the 3M Male Chorus, and nine years as director of music and adult choir director at Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka. He has been guest clinician at numerous choral festivals in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Alaska, and Virginia, has served as adjudicator for music contests throughout Minnesota, and worked for Gateway Music Festivals and Tours as a contest judge and tour escort. He was the director of the Minnesota All State Men’s Choir for in 2005-2006. Bruce has written a Sight Reading Manual and a Music Mastery Manual he publishes and has two choral pieces with Kjos Music.
While at Anoka, the Anoka choirs performed seven times at MMEA conventions, twice at Regional ACDA conventions and at numerous college festivals in and around Minnesota. Besides many domestic tours, Bruce took the Anoka HS choirs to Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland in the summer of 1996 and England, Wales, and Ireland in the summer of 1999.
Bruce was named Outstanding Music Educator of Minnesota by the National Federation of State High School Associations in 1995 and received the Golden Apple Award from the Ashland Corporation in 1996. Bruce also received the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the Minnesota Music Education Association for the school year 1999-2000 for his outstanding efforts and leadership in the classroom and beyond. Bruce has been a regional representative for the Minnesota State High School League, served as Choral Vice President for Minnesota Music Educators Association, and has served on the state ACDA board. . Bruce continues his involvement in music as he is currently the director of Great Plains Harmony, a barbershop chorus in the Fargo/Moorhead area.
Mike Smith
Michael Smith, Senior Lecturer and Conductor of Bel Canto, Chapel Choir, and Kantorei at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College, Master of Art in music degree from the university of Northern Colorado, and completed all but the dissertation for his PhD in Music Education from the University of Minnesota. For twenty-five years Smith was choral director at Brainerd High School where his choirs maintained a tradition of excellence performing numerous times for state and regional MENC and ACDA conventions, as well as touring extensively throughout the United States, Mexico, and Europe.
In 1989, Smith was named Brainerd Teacher of the Year, and was one of nine finalists for Minnesota Teacher of the Year. In 1990 he was honored to receive the Minnesota Music Educators Association Choral Director of the Year Award, and in 1999 he was named the Minnesota American Choral Directors Association Choral Director of the Year. In 2005, the National Federation of State High School Associations named him Outstanding Music Educator of the Year.
Smith has served on the Board of Minnesota Music Educators Association and was president of Minnesota American Choral Directors Association. He is very active as a choral clinician and voice teacher. He likes to think of his choirs as large voice classes where individuals can learn how to properly use their voices as they sing great literature.
In 1997, Smith was given the distinction of being the first Minnesota high school choral director to conduct the Minnesota All-State Men's Chorus. He is an active member of NEA, MENC, MMEA, and ACDA.
For more information or to register, please contact Barbara Depman at music@choralartsensemble.org
(or click here for pdf registration form; print, complete and mail to CAE)