SLPA to Host Inaugural Choral Conducting Symposium

The School of Literary and Performing Arts is hosting its first choral conducting symposium July 1-3 in the Fine Arts building on the UA Little Rock campus.

Drs. Nickolas Doshier and Lorissa Mason, faculty members of the school’s music program, will lead the symposium.

The 3-day event is “designed for music educators, graduate student conductors, church musicians, community choir conductors, and any conductors looking to grow as artists,” according to the event page.

“We have a wonderful group of participants, as well as volunteer singers who will make up the choir,” Mason said. “More than any particular session, I look forward to the camaraderie and connections that we will build with one another as colleagues.”

There are three sections to choose from when registering based on skill sets and interests: full conductor, auditor, or ensemble participant.

Space permitting, enrollment costs are:

• $250 for full conductor
• $135 for auditor
• $75 for ensemble participant

Each day, those enrolled as full conductors will have the opportunity to conduct at the podium, and those enrolled as auditors will conduct on the final day. The symposium will also include daily roundtable conversations focused on relevant topics such as score study and analysis, commissioning, literature, technique, and more.

Music selections will include:

• “Sicut Cervus” (Palestrina)
• “Alles Hat Seine Zeit” (Haydn)
• “Selig sind die Toten” from “Requiem” (Brahms)
• “The Coolin” (Barber)
• “Hope Lingers On” (Ramsey)
• “The Word Was God” (Powell)
• “Midwinter Songs #1 & #2” (Lauridsen)
• “Music of Life – SSAA” (B.E. Boykin)

“When starting last fall, Dr. Mason and I spoke about starting a conducting workshop almost immediately,” Doshier said. “Now, we are eagerly awaiting July 1 so that we can meet the participants and hit the ground running! Additionally, we are thrilled to have the support of our UA Little Rock campus community and the Arkansas Department of Education to host a professional development event for conductors in the state and beyond.”

Up to 18 professional development units are available to Arkansas music educators at no extra cost. Registration is still open online for the symposium.

For additional information, email Drs. Nickolas Doshier and Lorissa Mason, or email slpa@ualr.edu.