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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Hello Chorale Singers,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>For the past 25 years, I’ve attended a week-long conducting
seminar led by Dr. Gary Bonner, the Dean of music at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">California</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Baptist</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. Dr. Bonner
directs the CBU choir and orchestra (scheduled to perform in the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Phoenix</st1:City></st1:place> area in
mid-April.). He also directs the Bonner Singers, a group of 60-70 singers from
all over <st1:place w:st="on">Southern California</st1:place>. All of his
choirs are excellent, and most of what I’ve learned about directing has
resulted from his seminars and workshops. The seminar tends to be about more
than simply music, so it’s very valuable for many aspects of life. Some
years, I’ve attended more than one seminar per year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Some of you have inquired about attending all or a portion of the
seminar, so I thought I’d give you some details. The next seminar will
be held June 21-25 at <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Cal</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Baptist</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>
in <st1:City w:st="on">Riverside</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">CA</st1:State>
(about 6 hours from <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mesa</st1:place></st1:City>).
Typically, there are 15-20 different choir directors from a variety of
churches, schools, etc with a wide variety of conducting skills. Each
director takes turns conducting (the other directors and friends, students, etc
make up the choir), and Dr. Bonner critiques and makes suggestions for
improvements. It can be rather intense, but it’s also very rewarding and
enjoyable. The seminar is where I find much of the music we do for the
chorale. Many of the songs on our demo CDs are performed by Dr. Bonner’s
groups.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> Each day the seminar starts at 9:30 AM…we sing until
noon….have a lunch break…sing until 5:00…have a dinner
break…sing until 9:30. (On Friday, the last day of the seminar, we only
sing until noon.) There’s lots of singing with lots of different
directors, including Dr. Bonner. We spend the entire week directing/singing
new music. It’s a real boost to your sight reading ability! Typically,
we go to a church on Wednesday night and have a rehearsal with the church
choir…with each director doing one song.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>If you have any interest in attending all or a part of the week, it
would be wonderful. There may be several from the chorale who would want to
car-pool over and stay for only a few days…that would be fine. (<st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ontario</st1:place></st1:State> airport is not
too far away, so that’s another option) The seminar gives you a real
vocal workout, and you would get a better understanding of what goes into
directing, singing, etc. Kathy has always attended with me, and Karen Winward (an
alto who is currently on sabbatical) has gone with us several different
years…in case you want to ask an unbiased observer/singer. Obviously,
there is no expectation or pressure that our singers attend, but if you’d
be interested, you would be welcome to participate. If you go as a director,
there is a fee, but singers can come at no charge. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>We are planning to stay at a nice hotel in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Riverside</st1:City></st1:place> that has a good rate for those
attending the conducting seminar. I think it’s also possible to stay on
campus for an extremely low rate if that would be of interest.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>If you have other questions, just ask. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Bruce<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>PS: Here’s a link to the Bonner Institute Web Site: <a
href="http://www.bonnermusic.com/">http://www.bonnermusic.com/</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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