MassACDA Summer Conference, July 24-26, with July 27 "Berkshire Extension."  Principal venue: the bucolic farm campus of Hampshire College (Amherst) with several events at UMass Amherst and Smith College (Northampton).  Headliner clinicians: Dr. Joe Miller (Westminster Choir College of Rider University) and Lisa Parker (Dalcroze eurythmics specialist, Longy School of Music of Bard College). Performance by professional Renaissance choir Blue Heron "Divine Songs: Music of Johnannes Ockeghem." Three reading sessions (Children & Youth, Music in Worship, SATB), inspiring and practical interest sessions on a wide range of topics, including "Provocative Programming," "Britten's Music for Children," "Vocal Health for Choral Teachers," "Starting a High School Choral Program from Scratch," "Tips for Conducting Strings," and "Teaching Rhymthmic Literacy." Affordable campus accommodations, free PDPs, graduate credit thru UMassAmherst. Register now for discounted "early bird" rates: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e6w7lkak1c496e3a&llr=zk9agbcab

 

"Berkshire Extension" on Saturday, July 27: day-long bus trip to Sheffield, Stockbridge, and Lenox, MA.  Morning dress rehearsal at Berkshire Choral Festival (Nicholas Cleobury, conducting), lunch, tourist time in Stockbridge (Norman Rockwell Museum?), cocktail reception and informal talk at Stonover Farm, evening performance of Verdi Requiem (Latvian-born Andris Nelsons, conducting) at Tanglewood.  $127 total. For more information, contact cmelhorn@mtholyoke.edu.