Monday, Oct 8, 2012
Renowned composer and conductor will lead seminars, master classes and rehearsals - plus participate in the Kemp Church Music Symposium.
Westminster Choir College will present a series of workshops, seminars, and master classes with Artist-in-Residence André J. Thomas from Wednesday, October 10 to Saturday, October 13 on the college’s campus in Princeton.
Thomas will present two seminars: “Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual” on Wednesday, October 10 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and “A Positive Approach to Rehearsal Technique” on Friday, October 12 from 9:10-10:10 a.m. Both seminars will take place in The Playhouse.
Thomas will also hold a graduate conducting master class on Thursday, October 11 from 2:10-4:15 in Bristol Chapel and an undergraduate conducting master class on Friday, October 12 from 3:20-4:20 in The Playhouse. In addition, he will conduct a rehearsal with the Westminster Choir on Wednesday, October 10 from 4:30-6:00 p.m. in Bristol Chapel, Westminster Kantorei on Thursday, October 11 from 4:30-6:00 p.m. in Bristol Chapel, and the Westminster Symphonic Choir on Friday, October 12 from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in The Playhouse.
He will also present a reading session focusing on his compositions as part of the Kemp Church Music Symposium on Saturday, October 13.
André J. Thomas is Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Choral Music Education at Florida State University. He is in demand as a choral adjudicator, clinician, and director of Honor/All-State Choirs throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia. Dr. Thomas has conducted choirs at the state, division, and national conventions of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) and American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). His international conducting credits include conductor/clinician for the International Federation of Choral Musicians, summer residency of the World Youth Choir in the Republic of China and the Philippines, winter residency of the World Youth Choir in Europe, and the premier performance by an American choir in Vietnam.
To learn more about the Kemp Church Music Symposium call the Office of Continuing Education at 609-924-7416 or go to www.rider.edu/woce.