The 2021 Choir Festival has been canceled out of caution related to the COVID spike in our region.
Please check back in the spring for further information about the festival in 2022.
The 25th Annual Northwest Georgia Choral Festival will be held on Monday October 18, 2021.
Shorter University is excited to host the 25th Annual Northwest Georgia Choral Festival for high school students (grades 9-12) and elementary and middle school male treble voices, female or unchanged male (grades 4-6) and their directors. Students will spend the day in choral clinics and rehearsals with festival clinicians and work toward an evening concert in Shorter’s Winthrop-King Centre at 6:30 pm
The public is invited to attend the final concert featuring the festival choirs and the Shorter Chorale.
For more information, please contact the Festival Coordinator at shorterchoral@gmail.com.
Steps to register your school for NWGA
STEP 1
Fill out the registration form. The registration deadline has been extended to is Monday, October 11th.
STEP 2
Input your students information on this excel spreadsheet.
STEP 3
Email the filled out Excel spreadsheet with your students information to the Festival Coordinator at shorterchoral@gmail.com to confirm your registration.
STEP 4
We will email you an invoice of how much you owe. You may pay via mail or on the day of the event. We cannot accept Debit/Credit cards.
Registration Requirements
Registration forms must be accompanied by full payment. Forms sent without payment will not be considered for registration until payment arrives. Registration forms are processed in the order they are received until the festival choirs are full. Registration fees are non-refundable.
The registration deadline is Monday, October 11th.
$30 per student (for high school or elementary/middle choir participants).
2021 Clinicians
High School Choir – Michael John Trotta
Fueled by a passion to share new music that engages conductors, ensembles, and audiences alike, Michael John Trotta (b. 1978) is fast becoming one of the most exciting and prominent new composers of choral music. Drawing on his experience as a conductor and clinician, he brings artistry and excellence within reach for thousands of musicians each year.
From Carnegie Hall to classrooms all over the world, Trotta’s unique blend of engaging and artistic music creates opportunities to experience new music and empowers individuals to realize their artistic potential. His engaging style fuses tradition and innovation to create moments of beauty that “effectively carry out a dialogue between the [music] and the modern listener.” (Choral Journal)
4th-6th Treble Choir – Emily Cannon
Emily Cannon is the Chorus Director at Allatoona High School in Cobb County, Georgia. Prior to stepping into this position, Mrs. Cannon served as the chorus director at McClure Middle School for 9 years. Under her direction, the chorus program grew to include over 385 students. Her choirs consistently earn superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluation, and many of her students are accepted into the Georgia Music Educator’s All-State Chorus each year. While at McClure, Mrs. Cannon was the music department lead teacher and was named Teacher of the Year in 2019. Mrs. Cannon has also received the Cobb County Teacher Leader Certification and has been called on to lead her peers in multiple county-level assignments. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Berry College and a Master of Music Education from Anderson University. Mrs. Cannon resides in Dallas, GA with her husband, daughter, and son.
Festival Details
Repertoire coming soon.
Meals
The registration fee will cover the cost of lunch, snacks and drinks on the Shorter campus (chaperoned by Shorter ensemble members) for student participants. Dinner is not included in the registration fee. Chaperone lunches are available for $5 each.
Conductors’ Luncheon
Choral directors are invited to attend a complimentary luncheon from noon to 1:00 PM. Each choral director receives a complimentary meal. Chaperones may attend the luncheon if desired for a cost of $20 per meal.
If you have any questions, please email the Festival Coordinator at shorterchoral@gmail.com.
High School Requirements
Directors may bring as many students as desired as long as the ensemble is balanced (i.e. two first sopranos, two second sopranos, two first altos, two second altos, two first tenors, two second tenors, two first basses, two second basses). Please be aware that, in order to preserve balance of the choir, some students may be revoiced if necessary. If you have questions regarding balance, please email the Festival Coordinator at shorterchoral@gmail.com.
| Festival Schedule For High School Choirs | |
| 8:00 – 8:30 AM | Check-in at Minor Fine Arts Building |
| 8:45 AM – Noon | Rehearsal |
| 12 Noon – 1:30 PM | Lunch break (Directors at Luncheon) |
| 1:30 – 4:00 PM | Rehearsal with Shorter ensembles |
| 4:00 – 5:45 PM | Dinner Break |
| 6:00 PM | Warm Up |
| 6:30 PM | Concert |
Treble Choir Requirements
For the treble choir, directors may bring female or unchanged male treble voices in grades 4-6. Parts 1 or 2 will be assigned to students after registration has been completed.
| Festival Schedule For Treble Choirs | |
| 8:00 – 8:30 AM | Check-in at Winthrop-King Centre |
| 8:45 AM – Noon | Rehearsal |
| 12 Noon – 1:30 PM | Lunch break (Directors at Luncheon) |
| 1:30 – 3:30 PM | Rehearsal with Shorter ensembles |
| 3:30 – 5:45 PM | Dinner Break |
| 6:00 PM | Warm Up |
| 6:30 PM | Concert |
Concert
The concert will begin at 6:30 PM. Admission to this event is free. The concluding concert will be held in the Winthrop-King Centre on the Shorter University campus.
Concert Attire for Students
Performance attire for the NWGA Choral Festival is formal. Students may wear their formal, school chorus uniforms for the concert. Tuxedoes and black dresses for High School and white tops and black pants for the Treble choir. Please have the students wear black, closed toe shoes with their outfits. Students may change into formal wear during their dinner break. Changing rooms on campus will be provided for students who need them.If you have any questions, please email the Festival Coordinator at shorterchoral@gmail.com.