Dane:  That's a pretty wierd final, but I guess it is what it is!

 

Your conducting should ALWAYS be absolutely clear, even with a choir you've had hours of rehearsal with.  Shaping phrases is important, but NEVER as important as maintaining a steady AND CLEAR beat (assuming that the music calls for a beat, of course).  And you might as well learn that now, before you ever step in front of an orchestra and make a fool of yourself stirring soup instead of giving a clear beat!

 

My only other advice would be to be not only absolutely clear in your gestures about what you want, but to over-emphasize everything so there's nothing left to question.  And with high school kids, if they're rehearsed one interpretation and internalized it, you might not be able to change it on the spot, so give them a few words to start with about wanting to try an interpretation that might be a little different from what they're used to, and ask them to pay close attention because of that.

 

Best of luck!

John

Which setting of the piece are you conducting?  Barber?  Lauridsen?

The setting of the piece is lauridsen. I would also like to make an amendment to the above post. Even thou I will not be able to reherse with the choir before the day of the final, I will be able to see a rehersal, and I have full contact with the conductor.

Keep the same tempo/pace of the conductor that you observe. See how the conductor approaches the choir, and consider adapting (not changing or being something else that you aren't) some of your ways to keep some cohesiveness between the conductor and yourself.

 

Jeremy

No one is pointing this out - the word is spelled reh-hear-sal.  Obviously, given the need to hear each other in an ensemble - that makes sense.  Good luck with the rehearsal!

Gary

I would say the number one thing to do is go through and write out everything you want to work on with the choir.  There might be set backs and changes once you get in there but it's good to have a plan.  I would even talk through the rehearsal a few times by yourself or with some friends before standing up in front of the choir to rehearse them.  Always remember, don't stop them until you know exactly what you want to say to them.  Dead time is a dangerous thing and it's your responsibility to make sure the choir isn't waiting around for you to figure out what you want them to do next.  =)

Also take some time to figure out the structure of your rehearsal... is there one particular section that you really want to work hard?  Maybe start with that and then figure out how to go from there.  Have some spots marked in your music that are good places to start; that way you don't have dead time looking for the beginning of the section, etc.  Also, even if you are still working on notes/rhythms with the students, go ahead and address some interpretive things.  Have a couple of spots prepared to really communicate the sound you want.  It will show that you really have a grasp of the peice and its musical qualities, as well as make it more fun!

 

Good luck!