JANUARY 20–22, 2011 • GREEN BAY,WISCONSIN

Sing On! Wisconsin Choirs:
Celebrating Wisconsin’s Choirs, People, Music, & Heritage

SUSAN MC ALLISTER
WCDA President-elect
2011 Convention Chair

"I am active in WCDA because the camaraderie with fellow choral directors and teachers, and the satisfaction of seeing so many Wisconsin students happily involved in WCDA events and activities feeds my soul and touches my heart! I could not imagine my professional life without membership in Wisconsin’s professional associations!”

—Sue McAllister

Here it is....November in Wisconsin! The school year is in full swing, our students (at least most of them) have finally settled into the routines of their music classrooms, our planning for rehearsals, concerts, musicals, small ensembles, etc. is filling up our days, and besides the fact that darkness falls so much earlier, those amped-up opening days of the school years are behind us. But as we all know, there is never a dull moment in the lives of busy music teachers and choral directors.What to some is the time of year for "nesting" and spending more time in front of a warm fire is one of the busiest times of the year for us professionally. Now let's forward to January....one of our busiest times is now behind us....and hard-working, dedicated choral directors and teachers could really use a major dose of inspiration in the middle of the school year, right? Inspiration, new ideas, sharing, networking, laughter with colleagues, wonderful performances, etc., are SO GOOD for the heart, soul, and mind! The WCDA State Convention is just the ticket!!! Don't despair, ducky......find it all in Green Bay on January 20-22.

This year's convention is a celebration of "all-things-choral" in Wisconsin: choirs, people, music, and heritage! Each of our auditioned choirs—middle school, high school, university, and adult community—will perform a piece written by a Wisconsin composer—some we may know and others we will discover for the first time. All-State Choirs, directed by known and respected Wisconsin choral directors, have done the same. You will be inspired by performances of repertoire from standard to contemporary, representing the heritage of Wisconsin's people from our past to the present day.

Besides being in Green Bay for the first time, there are other firsts at this convention that you won't want to miss.We will celebrate the inaugural performance of the Milwaukee Choral Project. For the first time, our All-State Choirs are all conducted by Wisconsin directors and include both high school women's and men's choirs. WCDA has partnered with the Brown County Civic Music Association to host Seraphic Fire as our headliner choir—a truly remarkable ensemble recently featured on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." And you will hear new music by Wisconsin composers and get to meet a few of them. As you read through this issue of Soundings, you will find many more interesting and inspiring performances and sessions that you won't want to miss, and more will be added in the next few weeks. So keep checking!! Registration and hotel information is all on this website. You'll find everything you need right here. The deadline for registration and hotel booking is January 4 so get to it right now before you're "snowed under" (I hope not literally) with all of the upcoming December activities!!

"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face." —Victor Hugo

I would like to amend the quote a bit and say it this way:
"The WCDA Convention is the inspiration that drives winter from the faces and hearts of choral directors". Come... be inspired, laugh, listen, learn, sing, share, and celebrate at the 2011 WCDA Convention. I wish you a fulfilling and fun December season and sincerely hope to see every one of you in Green Bay January 20-22.

Sue