MAIS
MEDITERRANEAN ASSOCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
Apartado 80 – 28080 Madrid, Spain http://www.mais-web.org
Fax: (3491) 357-2678 E-Mail: rohale@mais-web.org
MAIS 2009 Honor Choir
October 10, 2008
To: MAIS Administrators and Music Teachers
From: Paige Short and Reina O’Hale
Re: 2008 MAIS Honor Choir
Hello, everyone! I hope that you all had a great start to the school year. Paige Short from Ambrit Rome, will be the conductor this year. Joy Edenfield, from the Carlucci American School will be the accompanist. The American School of Madrid is the host school. The major performance will be held Saturday evening at the new 600 seat Performing Arts Center at the American School of Madrid.
It’s time to think about the 2008 MAIS Honor Choir. This message will include the following information:
• What the choir is
• Who performs
• Criteria for singer selection
• Music chosen
• Registration information and form
• Chaperone information
We have made some changes in the organization of this event so please read this information carefully. Any musical or performance concerns should be directed to Paige Short, Ambrit Rome: email: shortpaige@ambrit-rome.com Please cc Reina O’Hale. All questions about any other matters (payment, registration, schedule, chaperones, hotels, etc.) should be directed to the MAIS office: e-mail: rohale@mais-web.org
What the Honor Choir is:
This is the 15th annual MAIS Honor Choir; previous years have included performances in Rome, Rabat, Madrid, Lisbon, and Tunis, and Trieste. This year’s choir will be held in Madrid and hosted by The American School of Madrid. The MAIS Honor Choir is open to singers in grades 6-8 exclusively (high school singers are not allowed) from MAIS member schools. It is for students who show excellence in singing and musicianship and who consistently display a high level of personal character and discipline.
Who will perform:
Singers are auditioned by their school’s music teacher; with input from appropriate others, in order to meet the established criteria for selection. Each school should select up to twelve strong singers (six boys, six girls), who are motivated to work independently with rehearsal CD’s, as well as with the teacher and group, to memorize a challenging program of approximately 30 minutes’ worth of music.
Criteria for selection:
First and foremost is the student’s singing ability. The singer’s voice should be comfortable with the part. The music is for three-part mixed. This means sopranos, altos, and boys with changing voices.
Second is the student’s maturity and ability to work in a cooperative effort. Behaviour must be without question; if there is any doubt concerning a student’s maturity level, perhaps it would be best to give him/her another year before attempting this activity.
Third, all selected singers will perform each piece of music regardless of religious preference or ethnic background. The 2009 Honor Choir repertoire is mixed, including sacred and secular music from all periods. It is quality choral music, and was chosen for its beauty and suitability for the student voices participating.
Accompanying the CD’s will be a letter from Paige Short about the music. It is emphasized that music must be memorized before the meeting in Madrid. The first rehearsal will be without the book. It is not fair to expect, nor is it possible for, a student to learn the music in Lisbon.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
Each participating school will send to MAIS a school registration fee of Euros100 or US dollars 146. This will reserve the school’s participation in the event and help cover the cost of the photocopied music pack and practice CDs. Each school will then send to the MAIS office a complete list of participating singers and all accompanying adults, along with their registration forms and a US dollar check for registration fees (Euros 85 per person). Payments of individual registration fees should be received by February 15th
2009.
The individual registration fee of Euros 85 includes the Choir 2008 Gala Dinner; internal ground transportation; other meals; snacks and water for rehearsal; MAIS Honor Choir 2009 t-shirt, sightseeing tours; other entertainment.
How the event works:
1. Each school reserves its participation with the payment Euros 100 to MAIS. Individual registration fees for students and all accompanying adults (chaperones and music teachers included) will be Euros 85/person. Send checks to the MAIS office along with registration forms. Bank transfer information available upon request.
2. Each school selects singers, begins rehearsals, and sends a list of singers to the MAIS office. Each participating school will receive copies of selected music along with a CD for each vocal part and the piano part. The music teacher must copy these for each student participating, for rehearsal at home.
3. All students will meet for the first time in Madrid, rehearse Wednesday evening, as well as on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as needed, and perform a final concert in Madrid. There are breaks between rehearsals and for lunch. When not rehearsing, students must participate in-group activities such as historic sight seeing, visits to great cathedrals, museums, etc., even if they are local residents. Evening activities will be organized, but the focus is on the singing, not on the entertainment. Quiet activities in the evening will be more appropriate in light of the full day’s activities in which singers participate and get tired.
Transportation:
It is the responsibility of each participating school to organize and pay for the transportation of participating students/chaperones to and from Madrid. Please check with your embassies about Visa requirements. In addition, it is the responsibility of each school to organize and pay for the ground transportation from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the airport. The MAIS Office will be contacting you with more information about transportation options available from the airport. Singers’ arrival must be timed in order to attend all rehearsals; schools that arrive after rehearsals have begun to place themselves at a disadvantage, and hinder the progress of the entire group. As in previous years, there will be an initial rehearsal and get-together on the first evening, with rehearsals continuing up through the day of the concert. A complete itinerary will be provided with rehearsal/performance venues and times.
Housing:
We will be staying at a hotel in Madrid. Final arrangements are in process
And you will be informed as soon as they are concluded.
Chaperones:
Each school must provide adequate chaperone coverage for the number of singers they bring. We suggest at least one chaperone per six students. It would be best if music teachers did not count themselves as chaperones, as they will be attending all rehearsals and working with the entire group. Chaperones are especially important during afternoon excursions and evening/night hours at the hotel. There will be a rotating schedule of chaperones so that no one is always on duty, and a specific list of chaperone guidelines will be sent to all schools. It is important to emphasize that a chaperone’s first priority is taking care of students, and that all chaperones are for the students, not just for those singers from their own schools. All accompanying adults will pay the individual registration fee.
Thank you to all directors and music teachers for giving this activity such enthusiastic support. We appreciate your time and effort in preparation for this event. We look forward to seeing all of you in Madrid for additional planning and for the Choir. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Please direct musical questions to Paige, and any other questions about logistics, reservations, chaperones, payment, etc., to the MAIS office.
Warmest regards,
Paige Short Reina O’Hale
MAIS Honors Choir Director MAIS Executive Director
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