The 2020 Delta State High School Honor Choir Festival held on February 6-8 was comprised of 200 auditioned students from 13 schools across MS. These students worked and played diligently over the course of 3 days. The festival is an annual event sponsored by the DSU Choral Department and facilitated by Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Julia Thorn.
Dr. Thorn auditioned all of the students in November on two pieces of repertoire from the program and foundational sight reading skills. The students then spent three months in preparation on the music before arriving at DSU. Over the three days the students spent 12 hours in rehearsal with our marvelous and internationally renowned guest clinician, Dr. Judy Bowers and outstanding collaborative pianist Dr. Kumiko Shimizu of the DSU music faculty.
Other activities over these 3 days included sectional rehearsals with DSU music students, karaoke and game night, pizza lunch with a variety of entertainment including the DSU world percussion ensemble, opera musical theater program, a pianist/composer, and the chamber singers. They were visited by our admissions officers, had opportunities for scholarship auditions and were given mini vocal lessons by faculty voice professor, Dr. Laurissa Backlin. Delta State Chorale students had many opportunities to interact with these students in a leadership capacity and work with faculty to recruit students for the future. These high school students made many new friends and shared some fantastic musical experiences together that will be lifelong memories.
An Experiential Learning Opportunity: Chamber Ensemble Competition
The Department of Music presented the eleventh annual Chamber Ensemble Competition in the Recital Hall of the Bologna Performing Arts Center on February 20, 2020. This event provides students with an experiential learning opportunity. They schedule rehearsals, practice as an ensemble, receive coaching sessions from the faculty, and perform at the competition. As they go through the process, they develop skills in organization, critical listening, communication, and technique required for their instruments.
Another benefit is to allow students to work with different faculty members from their own applied faculty. Through coaching sessions, they learn a variety of teaching methods and interpretations.
This year’s winners are as follows:
Winners (2020) First place:Piano Duo
Semi Dong, Yeim Kim
Second place: Saxophone-Euphonium Duo
Ethan Baker, Catheryne Booth
Third place:Vocal Trio
Kaitlin Murphy, Rachel Houska, Amber Browning
Congratulations to all participants for their accomplishment in ensemble performance!
First place winners, Piano Duo performing
First place winners, Piano Duo
Second place winners, Saxophone-Euphonium Duo
Third place winners, Vocal Trio
Saxophonist Colby Kee (BME 2016) joined the Mississippi National Guard Band
(Reminder)
Spring for Success Online Giving Day: News from Dr. Josh Armstrong, Associate Professor of Music
Good news! My project was one of only three to be selected for Delta State’s second annual Spring for Success Online Giving Day. On March 19, as part of a microgrant contest, I’ll be raising money to purchase MIDI controllers and related equipment for DSU music students. The goal will be to raise $2,500, and if we do that, DSU’s Foundation will match that amount. I’m really excited at the prospect of bringing these tools to our students so that we remain up-to-date and cutting-edge. This technology will give our students the experience they need to be even more successful in the professional world than they already are.
Calling All Alumni!!!!!
The DSU Department of Music Alumnus/a of the Year Award
NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS!
If you are a graduate of Delta State University, we invite you to make nominations for the DSU Department of Music Alumnus/a of the Year Award. Nominees for the award must be graduates of the DSU Department of Music and display excellence in the field of music. To make a nomination, please follow the link below to our online submission form:
In an attempt to expand our reach and audience engagements, The Department of Music, Delta State University is now live on Tik-Tok and Snapchat where we will be sharing clips of events, student spotlight of the week, faculty spotlight of the week and other interesting stuffs going on in the department. Also listed below are our existing social media platforms. Follow us today to keep updated with the latest as soon as it drops.
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The Department of Music at Delta State University offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, music education, and music performance. The department accepts donations through the Delta State University Foundation to support scholarships, student events and projects, and purchase of instructional materials. For more information on degrees or making a contribution, call the Music Office at 662-846-4615, or send email to music@deltastate.edu.
