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Annual festival brings 1500 singers to WMU

March 1, 2007

KALAMAZOO--The 69th annual Southwestern Michigan Vocal Festival will bring 1500 talented singers from 38 high schools to Western Michigan University for a daylong celebration that will culminate with a free, public performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 15, in Miller Auditorium.

The evening's program will include five selections by the 1500-member Festival Chorus and three by the 60-member auditioned Honors Choir. Guest conductor Craig Arnold, professor of music and choral director at Luther College, will lead the chorus. WMU musicians who will make guest appearances include members of the University Chorale, the brass and timpani sections of the University Symphonic Band, and flutist Bethany A. Padgett. Padgett, from Saranac, Mich., is a senior in WMU's School of Music.

The Southwestern Michigan Vocal Festival is one of the largest, oldest and most successful high school choral festivals in the United States. Since its inception in 1935, it has been providing high school students with an experience in mass singing of quality repertoire under the direction of an inspiring conductor.

Participating high schools and choral directors

Albion, Tony Shapow
Allegan, Rebecca Balkon
Allendale, Connie Hyatt
Bangor, Andrea Gay
Brandywine, Denise Boger
Britton-Macon, William E. Smith
Caledonia, Carol Gess
Centreville, Jared Cavis
Coloma, Steve Mitchell
Covert, Curtis Gulledge
Dowagiac Union, Jeff Robinson
Edwardsburg, Whitney Wade
Grand Rapids South Christian, Doug Rosema
Gull Lake, David Woolf
Hamilton, Holly Israels
Hartford, Steve Zebell
Hastings, Patti LaJoye
Hopkins, Jacob Oaster
Kalamazoo Central, Fred Colgren
Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central, Jason Aiello
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, Marie Kerstetter
Lawton, Gary Oegema
Marcellus, Malinda L. Eyster
Mattawan, David Hook
Niles, Matt Hunckler
Portage Central, Cindy Hunter
Schoolcraft, Erin Christler
South Haven, Cole Tyrrell
Stevensville Lakeshore, Adam Wurst
Sturgis, Marcia Pustelnik
Three Oaks River Valley, Robert Hay
Vandercook Lake, Jason Konkel
Voices from Home (home-schooled students from Battle Creek, Mich.), Irene Pizzimenti
Watervliet, Tami Brush
Wayland, Jan Laman
West Ottawa, Pam Pierson
Wyoming Park, Peggy B. Patrick
Wyoming Rogers, Janet Nichols

Media contact: Kevin West, (269) 387-4678, kevin.west@wmich.edu

WMU News
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