Northwest High School Honor Choir Festival

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Honor Choir Festival Fall 2023!
Friday and Saturday, Oct. 6 and 7

The School of Music is excited to host the Northwest High School Honor Choir Festival in October 2023. Join us on Friday, Oct. 6 and Saturday, Oct. 7.

We are thrilled to announce our featured guest conductor, Anthony Trecek-King, associate professor of choral music and director of choral activities at The Hartt School, University of Hartford and a resident conductor with the Handel and Haydn Society.

The Northwest Honor Choir Festival brings the best high school singers from Western Washington together each year. Over the course of two days, students make music with some of the country’s leading conductors and educators.

Held on the University of Puget Sound’s beautiful campus, this intensive musical learning experience involves rehearsals and workshops led by our featured conductor and Puget Sound faculty. The festival culminates in a collaborative public concert with the University of Puget Sound's award-winning choirs.

Teachers are asked to nominate advanced singers in balanced quartets only: Schools may send up to five quartets. Music will be mailed to teachers/conductors upon receipt of completed application. Students should practice to be familiar with the music. Cost for the two-day festival is $35 per student and includes complimentary lunch on Friday for students and attending faculty members. Fee is non-refundable, however, students may be substituted.

We look forward to welcoming the region's high school students for this annual event!

Register now through Sept. 15, 2023.

Registration Form

FESTIVAL INFORMATION AND LEADERS

SCHEDULE

Friday: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. (Check in at 8 a.m.)

Sessions all day
Complimentary lunch provided for students and teacher/conductors

Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. (Concert at 4 p.m.)

Morning sessions
Lunch on your own
Complimentary public performance at 4 p.m. in Schneebeck Concert Hall. Concert attire for the final performance will be your school’s concert attire.

REPERTOIRE

I’m Building Me A Home – arr. Trecek-King, SATB div., Walton, WW1666
Gloria from Mass in G – Schubert/arr. Robinson, SATB, Carl Fischer, CM9306
“Home” from The Sacred Veil – Eric Whitacre, Hal Leonard 00324738
Refuge – Elaine Hagenberg, SATB, Hinshaw 08765783
Flight Song – Kim Andre Arneson, SATB, Earthsongs, S-412
I’m Going Home – Pepper Choplin, SATB, Shawnee Press 8067547

Anthony Trecek-King, guest conductor

Over the past 20 years, Anthony Trecek-King has cultivated an international reputation as a choral conductor, scholar, pedagogue, and media personality. He is passionate about cultivating artistically excellent ensembles that explore socially relevant issues through emotionally immersive programs, challenging both artists and audiences to feel and think. His performances have been heralded as “moving” and possessing a “surprising range of dynamics and depth of expression.”

He enjoys cultivating all levels of vocal and instrumental musicians, from youth through professional, using a collaborative rehearsal style. His skill lies in bridging the gap between high art and humanity, drawing audiences into deeply moving performances through acute shaping, expression, and stagecraft, all without compromising sonic quality.

Trecek-King holds a B.M. in cello performance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, an M.M. in orchestral conducting from the Florida State University, and a D.M.A. in choral conducting from the Boston University.

He currently lives in the Boston area with his partner Melanie (of Thinking is Power) and their cat.

Visit Anthony Trecek-King's web site.

Steven Zopfi

Steven Zopfi, festival host, is director of choral activities and professor of music at the University of Puget Sound where he oversees four choirs, teaches conducting, applied voice, and conducts the award-winning Adelphian Concert Choir.

Prior to his appointment at Puget Sound, Zopfi served on the faculties of Penn State University, the University of Washington, and Pacific Lutheran University. Choirs under his direction have been invited to sing at the local and regional conventions of the American Choral Director’s Association, the National Association for Music Education, the Society of Composers, Inc., the Colorado Early Music Society, and other professional organizations.

A native of New Jersey, Zopfi has a bachelor's degree in music education from the Hartt School of Music, a Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of California, Irvine, and Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Colorado. He taught in the public schools in Vermont and New York, where he also served as Vermont State President of the American Choral Directors Association and an executive board member of the Vermont Music Educators Association.

Since coming to the Pacific Northwest in 2001 he continued to remain active in professional organizations serving as Chair of Collegiate Activities for WA ACDA and NW ACDA. He is in constant demand as a conductor, adjudicator, and clinician. In 2015 he was named the Outstanding Choral Conductor of the year by WA ACDA.

Jonah Heinen

Jonah Heinen, festival co-host, is adjunct choral director at the University of Puget Sound where he conducts the Dorian Singers and Chorale. A native of Minnesota, he received his Bachelor of Music in vocal music education at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and his Master of Music in choral conducting at the University of Oregon.

Prior to moving to the Pacific Northwest, Heinen served as vocal music director at Faribault High School in Faribault, Minn. There, he directed multiple choirs, served as the music director for the spring musical production, and advocated for LGBTQ+ students by co-advising the school’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance, served on the building’s equity committee, and presented district-wide professional development sessions.

In addition to high school teaching, Heinen also conducted with Northfield Youth Choirs, directing Anima, the middle school-aged girls’ choir. As an active member of Minnesota’s American Choral Director’s Association chapter, he served as program co-chair for ACDA-MN’s State Conference.

PAST GUEST CONDUCTORS

2023: J. Edmund Hughes (January)
2021: Canceled due to COVID
2020: Canceled due to COVID
2019: Francisco J. Núñez, New York City
2018: Christopher Aspaas, Texas Christian Univ.
2017: Amanda Quist, Westminster Choir College
2016: Eugene Rogers, University of Michigan
2015: Brian Tate, City Soul Choir, Vancouver, BC
2014: Eric Barnum, Univ. of Wisconsin, Oskosh
2013: Karen Kennedy, University of Miami
2012: Jonathan Reed, Michigan State University
2011: Rollo Dilworth, Temple University
2010: Edith Copley, Northern Arizona University
2009: Bruce Browne, Portland State Univ. (ret.)
2008: Rodney Eichenberger, Florida State Univ. (ret.)