52nd Annual Festival of Voices
September 24, 2024
This festival consists of two all-state quality honors choruses comprised of high school and middle school students nominated by their choir directors, from public and private high schools throughout the State of Alabama. Students work closely with the Festival Clinicians in intense rehearsals focusing on musicianship skills, voice building, and ensemble performance. The choirs also rehearse and perform side-by-side with University of Montevallo Choirs, some of the state’s foremost collegiate choirs. Our goal is to provide students with the highest level of musical achievement through education and performance experiences. Students will experience concerts and masterclasses and will perform with seasoned professionals on traditional and exciting new choral repertoire.
2024 SATB High School Festival Clinician:
GARY PACKWOOD is a distinguished figure recognized for his inspirational and motivational contributions as a conductor, pedagogue, and lecturer. His influence has reached audiences across North and South America, Europe, and Asia, showcasing his global impact in the realm of music education. Dr. Packwood’s extensive teaching career spans over 30 years, marked by notable engagements conducting all-state and honor choirs, as well as leading large festival choirs across the United States. His leadership as the director of choral studies has left an indelible mark on schools in Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi. In addition to his prowess as a conductor and educator, Dr. Packwood is an active composer with a notable presence in the choral music scene. His compositions and series can be found with reputable publishers such as Gentry Publications, Santa Barbara Music, Alliance Music, and MusicSpoke. His dedication to advancing the field is further evident in his written contributions, including articles in the Choral Journal, Teaching Music, the 2nd Edition of the AmeriGrove Dictionary, and book chapters in GIA’s “Conducting Men’s Choirs” and Hal Leonard’s “Choral Reflections: Insights from American Choral Conductor-Teachers.” A lifetime member of the ACDA (American Choral Directors Association), Dr. Packwood has served in leadership roles, including the presidency of the Southern Region of the ACDA. This attests to his commitment to the professional development and advancement of choral music on a regional and national level. Originally from Baton Rouge, Gary Packwood commenced his teaching career with general music for K-5th grades before achieving success as a high school choral director in the Palm Beach School District (FL). While not retired, in 2024, Dr. Packwood returned to his hometown, where he continues to lead an active career as a conductor, clinician, composer, and educational consultant. His enduring impact on the world of choral music resonates through his multifaceted contributions and unwavering commitment to musical excellence.
2024 SAB Middle School Festival Clinician:
DAN CATER is in his eighteenth year as a middle school music educator at Simmons Middle School in Hoover, Alabama and in his eleventh year as youth choir director at Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Dan graduated Summa Cum Laude from Auburn University in 2007. Happily married to his wife, Laura, Dan is the proud father of three boys: Thatch, Finn, and Cohen. Dan serves on the executive board of the Alabama chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and is a member of the Alabama Vocal Association. Choirs under his direction regularly receive superior ratings at festivals and performance assessments. Dan was clinician at Music and Arts Week at Camp Sumatanga in 2018. He was clinician at the Tuscaloosa All County Choral Festival in 2023, as well as clinician at the UAB Middle School Honor choir in 2023. Dan sings tenor in the Iron City Singers, who had the honor of performing at the Southern Division Convention of ACDA in Louisville, KY in the spring of 2024. Dan enjoys singing, playing the guitar, running, camping, and watching Formula One.
Highlights for 2024 Festival of Voices
- Music will be provided on-site
- Features Ensemble Workshop with exciting concert performance opportunities!!
- Festival of Voices Finale Concert will be held at the historic UM Palmer Auditorium
2024 Festival of Voices Registration
- Student Registration – $35.00 (credit card only)
- Application deadline: Tuesday, September 3, 2024
- Registration is now closed.
2024 Festival Schedule
8:00am-8:45am Check in at Davis Hall
9:00am-12:00pm Rehearsal
12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch
1:15pm-3:45pm Rehearsal (Rotating Spaces, TBA)
4:00pm All Performers – Report to Palmer Auditorium!
4:30pm Guest Ensembles/Festival Finale Concert!
6:00pm Depart from Campus
Festival of Voices Student Scholarship
This award is in the amount of $1,000.00 ($500.00 per semester) of financial aid for the 2025 freshman year at UM, given to a high school senior who attends the Festival of Voices and auditions for the voice faculty during the event. The winner is chosen and announced at the concert, which is held at the close of the festival.
Audition procedures are as follows:
- Students must have a letter of recommendation from their high school choral director indicating vocal potential, work habits, and contributions to their high school choral program.
- Students should prepare two (2) selections to be performed for the voice faculty. These pieces should be of contrasting style and should show the student’s musical potential. The suggested repertoire may be found on the auditions web page of the University of Montevallo Department of Music.
- No recorded accompaniments should be used. A qualified accompanist will be provided for the audition.
- The winner of the audition is expected to enroll as a voice major at UM (either music education or performance) the following year.
