2017-2018 All State Choir Clinicians
Maria Guinand, University of Simon Bolivar, Venezuela
Mixed Choir Conductor
María Guinand is a choral conductor, university professor and leader of many choral projects both nationally and internationally. Frequently invited as conductor and teacher to different events and concerts in U.S.A, Europe, Asia and Latin America, she has specialised in Latin-American Choral Music of the XXth and XXIst centuries. She obtained the 'Kulturpreis' (1998) of the InterNationes Foundation , the Robert Edler Preis für Chormusik (2000) and the Helmuth Rilling Preis (2009).
At present, she conducts the Schola Cantorum de Venezuela with whom she has toured extensively and recorded many times. Always interested in new choral music, there have been some very important projects in which she has participated with the Schola Cantorum de Venezuela such as the premiere and more than 45 performances and 2 recordings for the labels Deutsche Grammophon (Echo Prize 2010) and Hanssler –Verlag (Grammy nominated 2002) of Osvaldo Golijov´s ‘Pasión según San Marcos’ (commissioned by the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart for the Bach’s year 2000) ; the premiere and recording for Nonesuch of John Adam´s ‘A Flowering Tree’ (commissioned by the Vienna Festival in the Mozart’s year 2006). She also conducted the premiere and recording (Carus-Verlag) with the Gaechinger Kantorei and the German Youth Orchestra of Gonzalo Grau’s oratorio ‘AQUA’ (commissioned by the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart).
She has been for more than 30 years (1976-2009) Associated Conductor and Advisor of Choral Symphonic Performances and Activites of ‘El Sistema’ ; she teaches in the Master Degree Program for Choral Conductors at the ‘University Simón Bolívar’ where she has worked as professor and conductor for 28 years. She collaborated closely with Helmuth Rilling conducting the Youth Choir of the Festivalensemble in the European Music Festival from 2001-2004, she has conducted the World Youth Choir (1998 and 2003) and has participated with her ensembles and as lecturer in several of the Simposia for Choral Music of the ‘International Federation for Choral Music’.
She graduated from Bristol University (England) and studied choral conducting with Alberto Grau. She further her conducting and musical education with Helmuth Rilling, Luigi Agustoni and Johannes B. Goeschl.
Mixed Choir Conductor
María Guinand is a choral conductor, university professor and leader of many choral projects both nationally and internationally. Frequently invited as conductor and teacher to different events and concerts in U.S.A, Europe, Asia and Latin America, she has specialised in Latin-American Choral Music of the XXth and XXIst centuries. She obtained the 'Kulturpreis' (1998) of the InterNationes Foundation , the Robert Edler Preis für Chormusik (2000) and the Helmuth Rilling Preis (2009).
At present, she conducts the Schola Cantorum de Venezuela with whom she has toured extensively and recorded many times. Always interested in new choral music, there have been some very important projects in which she has participated with the Schola Cantorum de Venezuela such as the premiere and more than 45 performances and 2 recordings for the labels Deutsche Grammophon (Echo Prize 2010) and Hanssler –Verlag (Grammy nominated 2002) of Osvaldo Golijov´s ‘Pasión según San Marcos’ (commissioned by the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart for the Bach’s year 2000) ; the premiere and recording for Nonesuch of John Adam´s ‘A Flowering Tree’ (commissioned by the Vienna Festival in the Mozart’s year 2006). She also conducted the premiere and recording (Carus-Verlag) with the Gaechinger Kantorei and the German Youth Orchestra of Gonzalo Grau’s oratorio ‘AQUA’ (commissioned by the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart).
She has been for more than 30 years (1976-2009) Associated Conductor and Advisor of Choral Symphonic Performances and Activites of ‘El Sistema’ ; she teaches in the Master Degree Program for Choral Conductors at the ‘University Simón Bolívar’ where she has worked as professor and conductor for 28 years. She collaborated closely with Helmuth Rilling conducting the Youth Choir of the Festivalensemble in the European Music Festival from 2001-2004, she has conducted the World Youth Choir (1998 and 2003) and has participated with her ensembles and as lecturer in several of the Simposia for Choral Music of the ‘International Federation for Choral Music’.
She graduated from Bristol University (England) and studied choral conducting with Alberto Grau. She further her conducting and musical education with Helmuth Rilling, Luigi Agustoni and Johannes B. Goeschl.
Dr. Anton Armstrong, St. Olaf College
Treble Choir Conductor
Anton Armstrong, Tosdal Professor of Music at St. Olaf College, became the fourth conductor of the St. Olaf Choir in 1990 after ten years in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he had served on the faculty of Calvin College and led the Calvin College Alumni Choir, the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, and the St. Cecilia Youth Chorale.
Dr. Armstrong is a graduate of St. Olaf College and earned advanced degrees at the University of Illinois and Michigan State University. He is editor of a multicultural choral series for Earthsongs Publications and co-editor (with John Ferguson) of the revised St. Olaf Choral Series for Augsburg Fortress Publishers. In June 1998, he began his tenure as founding conductor of the Oregon Bach Festival Stangeland Family Youth Choral Academy. A graduate of the American Boychoir School, Dr. Armstrong served for over twenty years on the summer faculty of their summer program ALBEMARLE and held the position of Conductor of the St. Cecilia Youth Chorale, a 75-voice treble chorus based in Grand Rapids, from 1981-1990. He has conducted the Troubadours, a 30-voice boys ensemble of the Northfield Youth Choirs, since 1991. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Boychoir School and the Board of Chorus America.
Dr. Armstrong has frequently conducted ensembles and appeared before regional, national, and international gatherings of the American Choral Directors Association, International Federation of Choral Music, Music Educators National Conference, Choristers Guild, American Guild of Organists, Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, Organization of American Kodaly Educators, and the Orff-Schulwerk Association. In recent years he has guest conducted such noted ensembles as the Utah Symphony and Symphony Chorus, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Westminster Choir, and the American Boychoir. He has also collaborated in concert with Bobby McFerrin and Garrison Keillor.
During 2012-13, Dr. Armstrong will lead choral festivals at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, New York, and Orlando, Florida. Other guest conducting/lecturing engagements in 2012-13 include appearances in New Jersey, New York, Utah, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Trondheim, Norway.
In January 2006, Baylor University selected Anton Armstrong from a field of 118 distinguished nominees to receive the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching. The award is designed to honor great teachers, to stimulate discussion in the academy about the value of teaching, and to encourage departments and institutions to value their own great teachers. He spent February-June 2007 in residency at Baylor University as a visiting professor. In March 2007 he was the first recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the American Boychoir School, and in October 2009 he received The Distinguished Alumni Award from Michigan State University.
Treble Choir Conductor
Anton Armstrong, Tosdal Professor of Music at St. Olaf College, became the fourth conductor of the St. Olaf Choir in 1990 after ten years in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he had served on the faculty of Calvin College and led the Calvin College Alumni Choir, the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, and the St. Cecilia Youth Chorale.
Dr. Armstrong is a graduate of St. Olaf College and earned advanced degrees at the University of Illinois and Michigan State University. He is editor of a multicultural choral series for Earthsongs Publications and co-editor (with John Ferguson) of the revised St. Olaf Choral Series for Augsburg Fortress Publishers. In June 1998, he began his tenure as founding conductor of the Oregon Bach Festival Stangeland Family Youth Choral Academy. A graduate of the American Boychoir School, Dr. Armstrong served for over twenty years on the summer faculty of their summer program ALBEMARLE and held the position of Conductor of the St. Cecilia Youth Chorale, a 75-voice treble chorus based in Grand Rapids, from 1981-1990. He has conducted the Troubadours, a 30-voice boys ensemble of the Northfield Youth Choirs, since 1991. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Boychoir School and the Board of Chorus America.
Dr. Armstrong has frequently conducted ensembles and appeared before regional, national, and international gatherings of the American Choral Directors Association, International Federation of Choral Music, Music Educators National Conference, Choristers Guild, American Guild of Organists, Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, Organization of American Kodaly Educators, and the Orff-Schulwerk Association. In recent years he has guest conducted such noted ensembles as the Utah Symphony and Symphony Chorus, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Westminster Choir, and the American Boychoir. He has also collaborated in concert with Bobby McFerrin and Garrison Keillor.
During 2012-13, Dr. Armstrong will lead choral festivals at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, New York, and Orlando, Florida. Other guest conducting/lecturing engagements in 2012-13 include appearances in New Jersey, New York, Utah, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Trondheim, Norway.
In January 2006, Baylor University selected Anton Armstrong from a field of 118 distinguished nominees to receive the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching. The award is designed to honor great teachers, to stimulate discussion in the academy about the value of teaching, and to encourage departments and institutions to value their own great teachers. He spent February-June 2007 in residency at Baylor University as a visiting professor. In March 2007 he was the first recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the American Boychoir School, and in October 2009 he received The Distinguished Alumni Award from Michigan State University.
Dr. Sandra Snow, Michigan State University
Tenor Bass Choir Conductor
As conductor, teacher, and scholar, Sandra Snow’s work spans a wide variety of ages, abilities, and musics. She holds appointments in conducting and music education at the MSU College of Music, where she interacts with undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of conducting, choral pedagogy, and choral singing. She is a recipient of the MSU Teacher-Scholar Award. She conducts the Michigan State University Women’s Chamber Ensemble, a group that has appeared as featured performers at American Choral Directors Association conferences (Central Division 2014; National Conference 2009; Central Division 2008; MI-ACDA 2007).
As guest conductor, she travels extensively conducting all-state and honor choirs and holding residencies with singers of all ages. She recently was a principal conductor at the Festival 500 International Choral Festival in Newfoundland, Canada. Recent guest conducting appearances include all-state choirs in Colorado, Tennessee, Michigan, Maryland, and Virginia. She is the 2015 principal conductor of the Pacific International Children’s Choir and is a featured headliner of the 2015 Texas Choral Director’s Association convention. Snow will serve as principal guest conductor for the Texas Christian University Chamber Singers tour of Central Europe. She is artistic director of the 2016 ACDA National Youth Choir traveling to Prague, Salzburg, and Vienna.
Prior to joining the MSU faculty, Snow served on the faculties of the University of Michigan and Northern Illinois University, and as music director of the Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus (Anima). She is author of the DVD Conducting-Teaching: Real World Strategies for Success published by GIA (2009), a resource for conductor-teachers at all levels of teaching. She edits the choral music series In High Voice published by Boosey & Hawkes and is a member of the Choral Music Experience Choral Teacher Certification Board.
Tenor Bass Choir Conductor
As conductor, teacher, and scholar, Sandra Snow’s work spans a wide variety of ages, abilities, and musics. She holds appointments in conducting and music education at the MSU College of Music, where she interacts with undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of conducting, choral pedagogy, and choral singing. She is a recipient of the MSU Teacher-Scholar Award. She conducts the Michigan State University Women’s Chamber Ensemble, a group that has appeared as featured performers at American Choral Directors Association conferences (Central Division 2014; National Conference 2009; Central Division 2008; MI-ACDA 2007).
As guest conductor, she travels extensively conducting all-state and honor choirs and holding residencies with singers of all ages. She recently was a principal conductor at the Festival 500 International Choral Festival in Newfoundland, Canada. Recent guest conducting appearances include all-state choirs in Colorado, Tennessee, Michigan, Maryland, and Virginia. She is the 2015 principal conductor of the Pacific International Children’s Choir and is a featured headliner of the 2015 Texas Choral Director’s Association convention. Snow will serve as principal guest conductor for the Texas Christian University Chamber Singers tour of Central Europe. She is artistic director of the 2016 ACDA National Youth Choir traveling to Prague, Salzburg, and Vienna.
Prior to joining the MSU faculty, Snow served on the faculties of the University of Michigan and Northern Illinois University, and as music director of the Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus (Anima). She is author of the DVD Conducting-Teaching: Real World Strategies for Success published by GIA (2009), a resource for conductor-teachers at all levels of teaching. She edits the choral music series In High Voice published by Boosey & Hawkes and is a member of the Choral Music Experience Choral Teacher Certification Board.
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