What is NextDirection?

NextDirection is a unique 3-Day Conference that brings together outstanding high school students who enjoy choral music. Students “rub shoulders” with like-minded peers and associate with college music education students who act as chaperones for the weekend. Students get a chance to meet and work closely with a master conductor and outstanding choral music educators who believe passionately in what they do.

NextDirection is sponsored annually by the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc., and is open to music students across the nation who will be in 11th or 12th grade in Fall, 2011.

Why is it “Unique”?

Like an All-State/Honor Choir experience, students will meet other talented choral musicians and work with renowned conductors.

Unlike an All-State/Honor Choir experience, performance is not the main focus, although the singing standard is very high.

This conference allows students to:

• experience a master conductor in rehearsal and discover the “why” behind rehearsal procedures.
• learn about the skills necessary for effective and affective teaching.
• test their skills as potential conductors.
• interact with chaperones who are college music majors.
• think about choral music as a possible career that can be incredibly challenging and rewarding over an entire lifetime.

NextDirection Mission Statement

WCDA believes so fervently in the role of music in the elevation of the human spirit, we’ve created NextDirection to bring together the brightest, most dynamic young people to consider a career in choral music.

Teaming these passionate, like-minded students with our profession’s finest choral directors and an internationally renowned guest conductor, students experience exciting rehearsals, motivating discussions, and a significant insight into the choral art.

Through this unique, process-oriented exploration of the choral music profession, participants will gain a clearer vision of their musical future.

A message from Kevin Meidl, former NextDirection chair and past president of the North Central Division American Choral Directors Association:

“The choral art is an amazing experience for performers and listeners alike. Most everyone can appreciate and enjoy singing done well by soloists and groups. As professional conductors we sometimes forget how choral music first inspired us so dramatically, and how today it continues to inspire the young men and women within our high school ensembles.

NextDirection is an opportunity—an opportunity to inspire the “best and brightest” young choral musicians to look at music in a whole new light. It is an opportunity to bring together the finest high school choral students from across America and to connect them with some of the finest conductors, teachers, and professional musicians working today.

A list of past guest conductors of this event reads like a “Who’s Who” of choral music. Imagine having your high school singer work with André Thomas, Eph Ely, Mary Goetze, Craig Hella Johnson, Pearl Shangkuan, Joe Miller, or, in 2011, Jerry Blackstone!!

Now that’s inspiration!

NextDirection is not just for students already considering careers in choral music, but also for the finest young choral musicians who may have never considered becoming choral directors. We all have former students who are now dentists, lawyers, or accountants—former students who would have enjoyed tremendous careers in music. Neither they, nor their parents, were given the opportunity that NextDirection presents.

An American culture rich in the choral art requires the very best students to enter our profession. Think about how you were mentored by your high school and college conductor—now it’s your turn to do the same for a gifted young leader or two in your choir. Talk with them today about the life-changing experience provided by the only national conference of its kind in the United States‚ NextDirection!”