2023 Summer Conference
July 9-12, 2023
Peru State College
REGISTER HERE
CLICK HERE FOR CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Conference Highlights
Interest Sessions with Elaine Hagenberg
Reading Sessions in all R&R Areas
Conducting Masterclasses
NCDA Commission – Stephen Bouma
“Always, Always Something Sings” – SATB/Piano
LISTEN & PURCHASE HERE
Middle Level Honor Choir
All-State High School Honor Choir
All-State Show Choir
SUMMER HONOR CHOIRS
NCDA All-State Concert Choir
July 9 – 11, 2023
2023 All State Concert Choir Description
OPEN to all 2022-23 high school students (2022 freshmen through graduating seniors)
Join high school singers from around the state in an intensive honor choir experience. Students will be immersed in diverse repertoire, expert instruction, and high-level artistry in a beautiful setting on the campus of Peru State College.
2023 All State Concert Choir Clinician – Dr. Andrew Last
Dr. Andrew Last is an Associate Professor of Music at Luther College where he conducts the Nordic Choir and teaches conducting. He also serves as the Director of Choral Activities at Luther and as Director of Dorian Summer Camps. Dr. Last is part of a vibrant choral program at Luther College that includes four choral faculty and over 500 singers in six choral ensembles. Luther choirs participate in the annual Christmas at Luther celebration, perform in biennial oratorios, and are featured at regional and national American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conventions.
Prior to his appointment, Last served on the voice faculty of Concordia University (NE). Last holds a DMA in choral conducting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he was named a Hixon-Lied Fellow. He received his Master of Music from Northern Arizona University and his Bachelor of Arts in music education and voice from Luther College. Dr. Last is a member of the music honor society Pi Kappa Lambda and the academic honor society of Phi Kappa Phi. His high school teaching experience includes positions at Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Tipton High School in Tipton, Iowa.
A frequent clinician and guest conductor around the United States and abroad (leading choirs in Namibia, South Africa, and Guam), Last is a member of the American Choral Directors Association.
NCDA Middle Level Honor Choir
July 9-11, 2023
Middle Level Honor Choir Requirements
NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN NOW THROUGH APRIL 28
Nomination Form: HERE
Registration fee if accepted – $200 – ALL INCLUSIVE (lodging, meals, sheet music)
Middle Level Honor Choir Description
OPEN to all students entering grades 7-9.
Join singers from around the state in an exciting honor choir experience! Students will be immersed in diverse repertoire, expert instruction, and high-level artistry in a beautiful setting on the campus of Peru State College.
2023 Middle Level Honor Choir Clinician – Dr. Blake Richter
Dr. Blake Richter is a middle school choir director in his hometown of Nixa, Missouri. Blake holds a Doctorate of Educational Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction from Evangel University, a Masters of Science in Educational Administration, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Missouri State University, where he studied with Dr. Guy B. Webb and Dr. Cameron F. LaBarr.
Dr. Richter directs more than 290 seventh and eighth grade-students in his various ensembles at Nixa Junior High. Blake’s choirs have been selected to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference multiple times. Blake also serves as the Vocal Director for the Nixa High School Theatre Department. In 2017, Blake was named one of Missouri’s 32 Regional Teachers of the Year, in 2019, Blake was awarded the Prelude Award from the Missouri Choral Directors Association for demonstrating exemplary work as a young choral professional, in 2020, Blake was named a Semifinalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award, and in 2022, Blake was selected as a member of the Springfield Business Journal’s class of 40 Under 40.
In his spare time, he runs Blake Richter Productions business which specializes in video production, audio engineering, and music composition. Blake uses his passion for videography to create fun, engaging videos for his students and the school district. His videos have most recently received awards including the 2019 Missouri Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support Video of the Year, 2017 National PBIS Film of the Year, and have been recognized by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Blake lives in Nixa, Missouri, with his wife, Kaitlyn. He counts it a privilege to teach in the district that helped him become the person he is today. He is thankful for the opportunity to have a lasting impact on students’ lives through joining together in music making.
NCDA All-State Show Choir
July 8–9, 2023
2023 All-State Show Choir Requirements
AUDITION DEADLINE – APRIL 28
Information sheet (including links to excerpts and recordings): HERE
Registration fee if accepted – $275 – ALL INCLUSIVE (lodging, meals, sheet music)
2023 All-State Show Choir Description
We encourage all show choir directors to consider auditioning students for the All-State Show Choir. We proudly represent students from schools all over the state, and guarantee a rewarding and beneficial experience for our participants!
2023 All-State Show Choir Clinicians
Connie Mulligan recently retired as the vocal music/show choir director at the Mt. Zion Community School District. where she directed the award-winning Mt. Zion Swingsations show choir along with Les Femmes, You’ve Got Male and the Junior High show choir, Sound System. Connie has been a music educator for over 25 years after arriving at Mt. Zion as the director of the Swingsations in 1991. She teamed up with Roberta Vest the following year to start the unisex group, Les Femmes. Connie is from the Central Illinois area and is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University. She has also directed other show choirs including the Sullivan Singers, the Pekin Noteables, Decatur’s Elite Energy, and the Chatham-Glenwood show choir program where she was instrumental in its inception. She has been a part of the show choir community for nearly 30 years. Connie has worn many hats throughout her career and is grateful for the many opportunities and experiences . Some highlights include directing/choreographing for musicals-theater productions, summer camps and the Decatur Park Singers program along with serving as Company Manager for The Little Theater On the Square, owning a formal wear store and serving as an adjudicator/clinician for various Show Choir events. Being able to share these experiences with her kids is the BEST part. Her son Sam (25) is a singer-songwriter/performer/choreographer based in Nashville and in addition to his first original album, he released new music January, 2022. Sydni (19) is following the commercial vocal music/performer path at Belmont University in Nashville, TN where she just completed her sophomore year.
