The Arkansas Music Educator’s Conference is an annual two-day workshop for the state’s music teachers and directors. This year’s conference will be held in Hot Springs. This conference is an important event for music educators of every level, as they are able to attend sessions and hone their crafts.
Music students from across the state will also attend the workshop, where they will take part in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Choir and the Arkansas Intercollegiate Band, and several Ouachita students have been selected for both groups.
“Having an opportunity to be in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Choir is such a blessing,” said DeCarl Jones, a sophomore vocal performance major. “Music has always been my outlet, and it is an amazing gift to be able to share with others.”
This is the choir’s first year to sing at the conference.
“I am excited that this is the first time this choir has been formed,” said Dr. Gary Gerber, associate professor of music and director of choral activities. “The band has done this for many, many years, and I always wondered why there was no choir. Students are selected by the college choir director. Because the conference is for music educators, we like to select music education majors, but it is not limited to members of other majors.”
Gerber said he hopes the music education students will be able to use the conference to get a taste of their futures.
“I like to give them practical experience, networking and get them into the process of going to conferences and conventions,” he said.
The chorus is comprised of 80 singers, and the students are divided into groups of quartets or octets. The music for the selected pieces is sent to the participants in advance, and they learn and rehearse the music in preparation for the concert.
While the choir is a new addition, the Intercollegiate Band has been participating for some time.
“I am absolutely honored to be part of the Arkansas Intercollegiate Band again,” said Kelsey Bates, a senior music education major. “This is my fourth opportunity to get to participate in this honor band. I look forward to it every year.”
Students participating in the band are nominated by their band directors and audition for their spot in the band the first morning of the conference. They rehearse Thursday and Friday morning and complete their performance Friday afternoon.
“This band is a wonderful way to showcase the outstanding talent in Arkansas university bands,” said Dr. Craig Hamilton, professor of music and director of bands. “It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to share their talents with their counterparts from around the state to create a wonderful concert in a short amount of time.”
Band participant Andrew McCraw, a senior music education major, said events like this are important for students because, “it gives us a chance to get outside of the ‘bubble’ that we live in and out of our comfort zone, with the chance to perform excellent music with other incredible musicians.”
The band and choir, along with other high school and junior high musical ensembles, will perform tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the Hot Springs Convention Center, Hall D. The concert is free and open to the public.
Band participants include: Elyse Senteney – Flute, Elizabeth Baker – Flute, Sara Walker – Clarinet, Megan Massey – Bass Clarinet, Alex Goff – Saxaphone, Deborah Caldwell – Trumpet, Kelsey Bates – Horn and Andrew McCraw – Trombone.
Choir participants include: Kelli Caldwell, Alyssa Koen, Sarah Talley, Maria Falcon, DeCarl Jones, John Doss, Conner Goad and Paul Huenefeld.
Band picture by Jason Pullano.
Choir picture courtesy of Dr. Gary Gerber.
