Choral Directors Institute

June 21-23, 2023

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Schedule of Events

Overview & Costs

The University of South Dakota’s Choral Directors Institute is an intensive program designed to expose music educators to the best in current and standard literature in addition to teaching methods and materials. The three-day institute will include large ensemble reading sessions, master classes and clinic sessions that focus on a wide variety of teaching subjects for choral directors. The tuition costs may be paid online, by check with pre-registration or on the first day of the institute. Participants are highly encouraged to pre-register to ensure an appropriate number of reading packets are available. Registration for the institute is $195. Pre-registration by June 1 will lower the fee to $175.

GUEST CLINICIAN:  Jennaya Robison, D.M.A.

Dr. Jennaya Robison is the Raymond R. Neevel/Missouri Associate Professor in Choral Music and Director of Choral Studies in the Conservatory at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she conducts the conservatory singers and leads the graduate program in choral conducting. She is in demand as a conductor,
clinician and soprano throughout the United States. She has held previous positions at Luther College, the University of Arizona and the University of New Mexico. She has conducted and taught courses in choral singing and global connection in the United States, Namibia, South Africa and Germany. She currently serves as the American Choral Directors Association national co-chair for student activities (programming). Additionally, she was the artistic Director of Scottsdale Musical Arts, a multi-generational organization composed of a professional orchestra and choir as well as children’s choirs and youth orchestras. She has taught in public schools in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Robison is a passionate advocate for the use of singers’ authentic voices in the choral ensemble. She has served as an invited conductor and clinician for numerous all state festivals and honor choirs throughout the United State and has presented at national, regional, and state ACDA, NAfME and NATS conferences. She has served as soloist with numerous choirs and orchestras including True Concord and the Dale Warland Singers. Her choral series is published with Pavane Music and she serves on the editorial board for Galaxy Music. Additional arrangements and compositions are published by Kjos Music, Morningstar Music, and Galaxy Music. Her chapter on Weston Noble is featured in the upcoming book, “In Perfect Harmony: 50 Inspiring Stories from Choral Musicians Around the World” (GIA). An active church musician, she is a frequent guest conductor and clinician for various music and worship conferences.

She holds a Doctor of Musical arts in choral conducting from the University of Arizona, the Master of Music in conducting and voice from the University of New Mexico, and the Bachelor of Arts in Music from Luther College. 

Housing

Participants have the option of staying on campus or planning their own accommodations during the institute. Participants wishing to stay on campus may stay in airconditioned, single occupancy residence hall rooms at a rate of $45 per night plus applicable tax, pending Board of Regents approval. These rates do not include bed linens or towels.

Optional Graduate Credit

Participants have the option to earn graduate credit for participation in certain sessions. Payment of tuition ($40 per credit hour) for graduate credit is due on the day of registration. Tuition rates are set by the South Dakota Board of Regents and are subject to change without notice. Selected clinicians and/or USD faculty instruct all sessions.

MUS793 Instructional Techniques and Classroom Ideas for the Choral Music Teacher

Master classes, clinics and discussions that will focus on teaching materials, techniques and pedagogy for choral music educators, grades K-12. 

MUS793 New and Standard Choral Music for Education

Reading sessions focusing on a variety of choral music for public school choirs, grades K-12 will be presented. Materials will include both standard works and new releases in numerous choral genres from major music publishers.

MUS793 Tendencies and Trends in Choral Music Education

Seminars and roundtable discussions that will allow the choral director to focus on current trends in the area of choral music education. A written final project is required.

For questions or more information, contact the Chair of Music David Holdhusen at (605)-658-3467, or at David.Holdhusen@usd.edu.