ISU Choral Invitational Festival to Showcase High School Singers from Idaho Schools
October 9, 2023
The voices of 350 talented high school singers from across Idaho will preform at the 2023 ISU Choral Invitational Festival on Friday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 28 at the magnificent Stephens Performing Arts Center.
The festival will be graced by the notable presence of Dr. Gary Packwood, the director of Choral Studies at Mississippi State University, who will serve as the Guest Conductor. Dr. Packwood's leadership will guide and inspire each individual high school choir during the day-long workshops on Oct. 27 and the following day, he will rehearse the combined high school choirs in Jensen Hall, taking the musical performances to new heights.
As part of the festival, talented ISU Voice faculty, including Dr. Diana Livingston Friedley, Dr. Jenna McLean, Dr. Geoffrey Friedley, and Professor Michelle Adams, will present Voice Master Classes to individual high school solo singers throughout the day on Friday, Oct. 27. These master classes will provide invaluable learning experiences for the soloists, allowing them to hone their skills and elevate their performances.
The festival will culminate in a breathtaking concert on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. in Jensen Hall. The evening will feature performances by the ISU Women's/Treble Choir, under the direction of Dr. Geoffrey Friedley, and the ISU Chamber & Concert Choirs, directed byDr. Scott Anderson. In addition, high school choirs will deliver individual performances, adding their own unique voices to the evening. The Massed Choir, led by Dr. Packwood, will conclude the concert. This year's Festival pianist is ISU alumnus Gabriel Lowman.
"This year marks the 38th iteration of the Festival, which became the ISU Choral Invitational Festival during my first year in 1992. Since then, the event has been our biggest choral and vocal recruitment activity, attracting 350-500 high school singers to the ISU campus each year, featuring the largest combined chorus in the state," said Dr. Scott Anderson, expressing his enthusiasm for this year's event.
The ISU Choral Invitational Festival has become a celebrated tradition, showcasing the talent of high school singers and providing them opportunities for growth.
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