Summer Conference

The initial Choral Directors' Workshop, held in August 1973, at Alma College, was such an overwhelming success that the event became a part of MSVMA's regular program. Renamed Summer Conference in 2015, this important learning opportunity attracts experienced and novice directors for professional development for choral education. For information on the Conference, check out the Summer Conference page.

Elections

Elections are conducted by an Elections Committee which is appointed by the President and chaired by the Past President. The following procedure is used for elections:

• Anyone wishing to be considered for a position on the Board or as an Honors Choir Director may send a resumé and letter of application to the Past President by April 1.
• Nominations will take place at each district's spring meeting. The district managers shall submit the names of the nominees to the Past President by June 1. Nomination forms for prospective officers, directors, teachers of the year and honors choir directors are included in the district manager's handbook.
• District managers must contact prospective nominees before submitting their names for nomination to confirm the nominees eligibility for office, willingness to serve and to have his or her name on the ballot.
• Preliminary ballots will be sent to the membership in September.
  
• The Election Committee, appointed by the President, shall review the preliminary ballot results and select at least two candidates for each position to be presented to the membership.
• The candidates chosen by the Committee will have their resumés and pictures posted on the MSVMA Website under Elections.
• The membership shall vote by written ballot prior to January 10.
• Elections are decided by a simple majority of those voting.

Carolyn F. Leep Scholarship

In 1988, the Michigan School Vocal Music Association honored Carolyn F. Leep, head of the Choral/Vocal Department of Malecki Music Inc., with a scholarship in her name. Carolyn demonstrated steadfast support of Association members through provision of materials to support their efforts as music educators. 

The Scholarship is awarded in January and must be expended by the end of the next calendar year or be forfeited. The Scholarship(s) shall be awarded according to the following criteria:

• The scholarship shall be awarded to an MSVMA member who has completed a minimum of three years of teaching in Michigan. 
• Applicants must be pursuing post-bachelor study toward a degree or wish to participate in a choral music institute or workshop.
• Applicants shall be pursuing the following:  choral conducting, composition with emphasis on vocal/choral music, vocal music education or church music with vocal/choral emphasis.
• The number and amount of the scholarship(s) shall be determined by the Executive Board based upon the available spendable dollars from the Endowment.

Application deadline is November 1.  Application will be available May 1.

For further information contact the Past President.

Member Emeritus Award

MSVMA's emeritus membership program honors retired individuals whose lives have been devoted to the improvement of choral music programs in the secondary schools of their communities and who have been active members of MSVMA.

Candidates are recommended by their respective district to the Executive Board of MSVMA. A candidate must have taught vocal music or have been actively involved with choral music program(s) for twenty-five or more years prior to retirement. In addition to teaching music, a candidate may have spent part of his or her twenty-five years as a supervisor, coordinator, chairman or director of a school music program of which choral music is a part. A candidate must have demonstrated significant service to MSVMA. Exceptions to the years of experience requirement will be considered by the Executive Board on an individual basis.

Candidates who have spent only part of their careers in the state of Michigan must meet all requirements with credit given for choral teaching or supervising and for being active members of vocal music organizations in other states.

Lifetime membership, with dues paid by MSVMA, will be granted to all individuals who receive the "Member Emeritus" Award. Members Emeritus may not hold office.

An emeritus nomination fee of $100 per candidate is paid by their district. This fee covers the cost of an award and dinner or luncheon during the Michigan Music Conference.

Emeritus members are listed in the MSVMA Member Directory.

Michigan Music Conference

This conference is sponsored by MMEA, MSVMA, MSBOA and MASTA. It is unique among state music meetings in that it is sponsored by four music education organizations, all sharing in the conference planning, management and financing. The conference is held in Grand Rapids and includes many special events. See the Michigan Music Conference website for details.

Interest Sessions: Members are encouraged to submit Interest Session proposals for the Michigan Music Conference on a topic of their choosing. See the Michigan Music Conference website for details.

Performance Application: Members are encouraged to submit an application to perform at the MSVMA Choral Hours of the Michigan Music Conference. Click here to submit an application.

The President will appoint a listening panel supervised by the President-Elect to conduct a blind listening audition of all recordings. The Executive Board has the option of inviting a choral group of its choice, in addition to the groups selected by the panel. School classification is not part of the final decision.

Adjudication

• Must be a current member of MSVMA.
• Must have taught vocal music for at least 7 years.
• A director who desires to become an adjudicator but lacks the required seven years of experience may submit a taped performance of his or her groups to the Adjudication Supervisor. The Executive Board shall decide if the caliber of performance merits waiver of the experience requirement.
• Submit a resumé of experience including festival ratings and background to the Adjudication Supervisor.
• A private teacher must have taught students in the 13 to 17 year age range for seven years.
• Prospective adjudicators must attend the Adjudication Clinic held in every October.
• Prospective adjudicators must in-service at one MSVMA festival and demonstrate the ability to relate to students and teachers in a positive and musically accurate manner through written and oral comments.
• Apprentice materials will be reviewed by the Adjudication Committee. Final approval is made by the Executive Board.
• All current adjudicators will be reviewed annually for continuing adjudication status based on formal evaluations submitted by MSVMA members who were present at the performance and/or clinic.