Page 81 - Jan.indd

February 23-26, 2022 Raleigh, North Carolina

Erin Plisco is the as- prolific composer and arranger, he University of North Texas (BA) and
sociate director of has over 450 popular choral works, George Mason University (MM,
choral studies at Mis- vocal resources, and children’s musi- DMA).
souri State University, cals currently in print, including the
where she helps lead a highly regarded method books Sing
comprehensive choral program of at First Sight, Foundations in Choral Sight
over 300 singers, conducts multiple Singing, and Vocalize! 45 Vocal Warm A New Approach to
choirs, and teaches undergraduate/ Ups That Teach Technique. Mandarin-Chinese
graduate choral conducting and lit- Lyric Diction in Choral Music
erature. She is a frequent guest cli-
nician across the United States and This interest session presents a
abroad, and currently serves as the More than a “Treat” — new approach to the Mandarin-Chi-
SSAA R&R Chair for Southwestern Making Broadway, Pop, and Jazz nese lyric diction in Chinese cho-
ACDA. Plisco has a DMA from the a Part of Your Curriculum ral literature, using a method in a
University of Arizona.
combination of the International
What if you could integrate pop, Phonetic Alphabet System and the
jazz, and musical theatre repertoire Chinese Pin Yin System. It is de-
Meet Me in the Middle: into your entire program instead signed specifi cally for non-native
Choral Music for of just one selection or concert? Chinese-speaking singers and choral
During this session, we will explore directors who wish to perform and
Middle School Voices selections from these genres and program choral repertoire in Man-

show how proper vocal technique darin Chinese and learn more about
Join clinician Andy Beck as we for these styles can be applied to our lyric diction beyond the traditional
sing through the best and most ap- traditional concert repertoire. We Western European lyric diction lan-
propriate repertoire selected specifi - will also discuss how to choose rep- guages.

cally for middle school singers. Mu- ertoire to best fit your choir’s ability
sic in this session will address your level and pedagogical needs while Pingyi Song is the clinician for this
big concerns, like finding music for empowering the choir to assist in session. Her photo and bio are on

changing voices, balancing fun se- programming choices. page 24.
lections with educational repertoire,
motivating teen singers, easy move- CJ Redden-Liotta (he/
ment ideas, and more. A compli- him/his) teaches at
mentary music packet (including a Falls Church High Quarter Notes, Eighth Notes,
variety of voicings, from 2-part tre- School and serves as and Dendrites! How Brain
ble through beginning SATB) will be music minister at Vi- Research Can Make Your
given to each director in attendance. enna Baptist Church. He has per-

formanced with the National Sym- Rehearsals More Effective
Andy Beck received phony Orchestra and NSO Pops
a BME from Ithaca as a professional chorister in the Researchers have identifi ed a
College and an MME Washington, DC area, and musical number of principles that the brain
from Northwest Mis- theatre and cabaret performanc- uses in retention. By applying these
souri State University. es as triple-threat performer, mu- principles, choral conductors can
Beck currently is the director of cho- sical director, and audio engineer. make their rehearsals more effi cient
ral publications at Alfred Music. A Redden-Liotta is a graduate of the and eff ective, and student singers

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2022 Volume 62 Number 5 79