UNISON - WA ACDA's Online Newsletter
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Paul Dennis

This year's recipient was introduced by his son, Rob Dennis, a WA ACDA board member.

Paul Dennis spent 32 years teaching junior high and high school choral music in Washington State. 

After graduating from the University of Puget he taught in the Longview School District from 1968 until 1975. 

In the fall of 1975 he moved to Walla Walla and accepted the choral music position at Walla Walla High School.  Paul taught Wa-Hi’s highly acclaimed vocal music program until his retirement from teaching in the spring of 2000. 

During the 25 years Paul taught at Wa-Hi his Concert Choirs and Chamber Singers groups never received less than Superior ratings at regional and state choral contests and festivals.  In addition, the Chamber Singers twice won the WIAA/WMEA State Mixed Vocal Ensemble championships.

During the years Paul taught at Walla Walla High School he served several terms as treasurer and president of the YVMEA and CBMEA and in 1986 was elected 2nd Vice President of the Washington Music Educators Association. 

He is a member of the inaugural class of the WMEA “Hall of Fame”.  He has been an active member of the American Choral Directors Association and the Washington Choral Directors Association and in the summer of 2004 was honored to be awarded the prestigious “Washington ACDA Leadership and Service Award.”

His son, Rob, also an active ACDA member, presented the award. (See photo to the left.) 

As one of the charter members of “Male Ensemble Northwest”, the Northwest’s premier professional men’s ensemble, Paul spent 18 years promoting “male singing” in the public schools of the Northwest.  While a member of “MEN” Paul performed at numerous state and regional conferences of ACDA as well as at the National ACDA Convention at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Paul is married to Karyl, who is also a retired teacher from the Walla Walla School District, and has two children.  His son, Robert, is currently the choral director and student activities director at Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup.  His daughter, Lindsey, recently graduated from Western Washington State University and is employed in Bellingham as a sales representative for a major import wine distributor.

Update:
In his retirement, Paul has stayed active in choral music.  He is a member of the Whitman College Chamber Singers and also “Consort Columbia”, the Tri-Cities’ premier choral group.  He also sings with the Walla Walla Choral Society and is an active member of their Board of Directors.  To round out his weekly singing experiences, he is 28 year member, and 14 year director, of the Pioneer United Methodist Church choir.  

Scott Peterson

The recipient of this year’s WA ACDA Choral Leadership Award has taught for 29 years on the faculty of Yakima Valley Community College where he is Director of Choral Activities. At YVCC, he conducts the Concert Choir and the YVCC Chamber Singers.  
 
He holds a doctorate from the University of Washington in Choral Conducting. This individual is Chorusmaster of the Yakima Symphony Chorus and also conducts the Yakima Chamber Singers, a group he founded in 1985.

He fulfilled a dream many musicians have…a performance at Carnegie Hall. This came about in 1993, when our award winner made his Carnegie Hall debut, conducting the Yakima Symphony Chorus and the Manhatten Philharmonic in a performance of Mozart's Requiem in D Minor. 

He has also been conductor of the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival Chamber Chorale since 2002 and will return in 2005. No mystery now…

Scott Peterson is active as a vocal performer as well. He has appeared with the symphony orchestras in Yakima and Wenatchee and frequently is called upon for solo work with Male Ensemble Northwest.

Twice, Scott has been accepted as a member of the Robert Shaw Festival Chorus at the Carnegie Hall Choral Workshops in New York. He has also sung with the Bach Festival Chorus in Eugene, Oregon. 

He has studied conducting with Abraham Kaplin, Robert Feist, Richard Clark, Maurice Skones, Robert DeCormier, and Dale Warland. 

Scott has served as president of the Washington ACDA and was elected President Elect for the Northwest Division of the American Choral Directors Association this past summer. He’s currently serving as program chair for the March, 2006 convention in Portland.

Scott and his wife, Jane, have two children, Kristina and Karl.  Jane is a music specialist in the Yakima public schools. He is also the proud owner of a 30 foot power boat called the M.V. Svensk Sang (Motor Vessel Swedish Song)…his second such craft as he moves on up charts.  He’s getting it spiffed up right now in Scappoose, Oregon. If all goes well, I fully expect to cruise from there to Astoria with him next week…the first leg on a trip up the coast to his harbor in LaConner. I’m proud to present this year’s Choral Leadership Award to my friend and colleague, Captain, Doctor Scott Peterson.

(Scott was unable to attend because he was conducting choral groups at the Alaska Music Festival in Fairbanks.)

Scott's response...written in Fairbanks, after being notified of the award:

In about 1975 while still a grad student at CWU, I was invited by Rush Chase to a meeting in Seattle of choral types who were looking for new members and trying to promote choral music in the state of Washington.

The meeting I attended was held at the Swedish Club and the guest personality was some choral director with whom I was not familiar, some guy named Douglas McEwen from Arizona State University.

Needless to say I was quite impressed by Dr. McEwen and my first exposure to the group known as the Puget Sound Choral Conductors Guild. That has developed into a life long association with what has become the Washington State Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.

It has been fascinating to observe ACDA’s growth in Washington State. We members owe much to people like Karen Fulmer, Twyla Brunson, Paul Schultz, Howard Meharg, Leslie Guelker-Cone and so many others who have nurtured Washington ACDA into the active, vital organization it has become.

The list of dedicated persons who are responsible would fill several pages and Washington is recognized as one of the most successful states in ACDA due the diligence and work of all those people. To be mentioned in the same breath with all those people is a terrific honor for me and I want to extend my gratitude to all of you at the Institute in Tacoma.

I wish I could be there, to see old friends and to enjoy the picnic. I’m afraid I can’t because I’m doing what we all love: conducting choral music and working with our wonderful singers. I thank my colleagues in the Washington Chapter of ACDA for this honor.

To be recognized by one’s peers is a precious thing and I am truly grateful. Please accept my best wishes for a successful institute and upcoming year in choral music.

Sincerely, Scott Peterson

Judy Filibeck

This year’s recipient of the Washington State ACDA Leadership Award goes to an incredible human being.  This lady is not only an amazing choral director but leads an amazing life.  First and foremost she is a mom, and a very proud grandma. 

She is an avid reader, loves the opera and every other year rents a villa in Italy with friends to enjoy the people, the food and the culture. 

She is an incredible artist and decorator and loves to work in her garden.  Judy Filibeck is your renaissance woman.

Judy has been the musical director of the Choir of the Sound in the Seattle area since 2004. 

Recently retired as director of the award-winning choirs at Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, Washington, she was a leader among her field in both jazz and classical styles. 

Judy was named Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers seven times by her students.

Judy hails from Minnesota and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Bemidji State University where she majored in instrumental and choral music. 

Judy earned her Master’s Degree at the University of Washington.  Judy has also conducted both church and community colleges all over the northwest. 

She is an actively sought after clinician and adjudicator throughout the state and region. A former student of Judy once explained Judy in this way:  “She is more that a teacher, she is a mom, a confident, an encourager, a mentor, a cheerleader, but most of all a blessing!" From a colleagues perspective, Judy is one of the classiest, most talented and generous conductors around. 

Students of all ages, from elementary to adult have grown to love and cherish choral music through her leadership.   She is an outstanding example of what ACDA tries to exemplify everyday.  Please help me congratulate Judy Filibeck as this year’s 2005-2006 Washington ACDA Leadership Award recipient.

Judy's response
"When you are surrounded by renaissance women and men, all talented over-achievers who are touching countless lives through music, to be the recipient of the ACDA Leadership Award can only mean that you are in that moment the person that represents everyone in this amazing vocation. My thanks to the ACDA board and all my choral colleagues." (Article appeared on the WA ACDA website, August, 2006)  

Neil Lieurance

Neil Lieurance retired in 1993, from teaching choral music at Shorecrest High School, whose choirs, under Neil’s direction, performed at national conventions of both ACDA and MENC and received many awards, including First Place in the Best in the Northwest Festival.

Selected as the 1991 “Teacher of the year” in the Shoreline School District and the 1988 Washington Music Educators Association “Outstanding Music Educator,” Neil was also inducted to the WMEA “Hall fo Fame” in 1998.

In 1991, he received the Generations United “Hand in Hand” award for outstanding efforts to promote intergenerational relationships. He is an active adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor in the Northwest.

Neil has led student and church groups on European concert tours, including that of the 1988 Montana State Youth Choir.

He has served as interim conductor of the Seattle Symphony Chorale and was Associate Conductor of the Choir of the Sound, a 110-voice adult choir associated with Shoreline Community College.

Neil has filled sabbatical teaching positions  in choral music and conducting at the University of Puget Sound and Edmonds Community College.

Currently, he is an adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University, where he directs the Women’s Choir, teaches sight-singing and ear-training, and supervises student teachers.

Also a church musician for over 25 years, Neil served as co-director of the Worship Choir for the Sixth Assembly of the World Council of Churches held in Vancouver, B.C. in 1993 and presented subsequent workshops in Toronto, Canada, and Manila, Philippines.

His church positions included Director of Music at Seattle First Baptist Church and Seattle First United Methodist Church in downtown Seattle. Neil attended Lower Columbia College and hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Washington University.

He is a member of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and the International Federation of Choral Music (AFCM), and has served on the state boards of both MENC and ACDA.

Neil  lives in Shoreline, north of Seattle, and enjoys hiking, gardening and nature photography.  

Karen Fulmer

Introduction by Howard Meharg

I can't tell you how much joy it brings me to present this year's Leadership and Service Award.

I have been privileged to have been the high school director of what will now be the third person to receive this award. I just happen to be a lucky man...it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time, I suspect.

The first, Paul Dennis of Walla Walla, the second was Neil Lieurance who taught at Shoreline High School, and now the third...today.

This individual graduated from Kelso High School in 1972, from PLU in 1976 with a Bachelor's degree, and in 1978, she received her Master's degree. She did her student teaching in Sumner. They were instantly impressed with her and hired her to teach elementary music for one year, then moved her to a new junior high school.

She taught at Sumner Junior High for 28 years. She recently opened a new school...Bonney Lake High School in the Sumner district...as a high school director there.

In 1997 she was awarded Washington state's "Teacher of the Year" award. This is what the Seattle P. I. had to say: "From 7:30 a.m. until noon, she taught four back-to-back vocal music classes at rapid-fire pace, moving seamlessly from one activity to the next, coaxing solo performances from even the most sheepish students." "It is a tough act for any teacher - getting students to step out on their own, to try something new, to risk failure and embarrassment. But maybe more so for a music teacher working with students of such a tender age, when braces and blemishes, changing voices and developing bodies can consume them, make them want to hide, become invisible." "That the students in (this person's) classes seem so willing to take chances is one small measure of her success, one of many accomplishments that led a panel of parents and teachers to chose her from a field of 48,000 as Washington state's 1997 Teacher of the Year."

This individual was in the inaugural group named as a member of the Washington Music Educator's Hall of Fame. She has served ACDA so capably. She was WA ACDA president in 1993, Divisional President in 2000, on the national Advocacy Committee, and gave presentations at the national ACDA conventions on that subject at the Chicago convention. She gave another on the subject of assessment at the Washington, D. C. convention. She's now the organizing chair for high school choir for the upcoming Oklahoma City convention.

In my opinion she would make a fantastic national ACDA president.

You know who I'm talking about...our Leadership and Service Award for 2008 goes to Karen Fulmer.

"It is a distinct honor to receive the Washington ACDA Leadership Award and I am very appreciative to our state board and membership for this recognition.  Membership in ACDA has crafted my professional life like no other opportunity in education. 

Through ACDA I have been challenged to hone my teaching skills, to develop a discerning ear, to experience a wide variety of musical styles and genres and to become a leader and advocate for choral music. 

I have had the opportunity to meet conductors and singers from all parts of the world, serve on state, division and national boards, and influence my local school district, recognizing that my musical world was so much larger than my classroom. 

Through involvement in ACDA I have had the opportunity to travel, to present interest sessions at state, division and national conventions and learn valuable leadership skills that strengthened my work as a teacher and district music coordinator. 

Volunteering and getting involved in the organization has opened so many doors for me, including the opportunity to be a voice for music education as the Washington State Teacher of the Year in 1997, with several trips to Washington, D.C. and a visit to the White House.

Through ACDA, I have worked with many wonderful people and established significant lifetime friendships. Words of advice to the young teachers: Get involved, take advantage of professional opportunities, learn something new, develop acquaintances and expand your resources, integrate fresh ideas into your rehearsals, don't be afraid to ask for help and share your passion for singing with your students.  Inspire them to follow their dreams and life's passions. 

Little did I know when, as a junior at Kelso High School, Howard Meharg stopped me one day after class in the hall and asked what I planned to study at college.  I had many interests but I didn't know what my focus would be.  Howard said he thought I'd be a good teacher.  Amazing how those few words uttered at the right time in my life made all the difference in determining my life's roadmap.

I thank ACDA for all the side trips I've experienced on this journey and look forward to what is yet to come!  Thank you again for this award, I truly appreciate it very much.”

Tim Fitzpatrick, R&S Chair for Women's Choruses for WA ACDA, and a colleague on the staff at Western Washington University, presented this year's Leadership and Service Ward to Leslie Guelker-Cone, Director of Choral Activities at WWU.

Tim said, " I have known Leslie now for 13 years and have worked with her in in many capacities. She has been a steadfast friend, a strong advocate and an extremely helpful mentor. I  would not be were I am today without her support. She is dedicated to the ACDA community, her colleagues, her students and the choral arts in a way that one does not often see."

Leslie Guelker-Cone is director of Choral Activities and Coordinator of Vocal Studies at Western. In addition to conducting the Concert Choir and the Western Voices chamber ensemble, she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in choral conducting and choral music education.

Her reaction to the award was, "what an unexpected and touching surprise to receive this award--I couldn't feel more honored!  The outpouring of love and support from all my ACDA friends and colleagues has been really overwhelming for me.  I feel so fortunate to live and work here among so many wonderful people--including all the past recipients of this award--who have shaped choral music here in Washington in profound and important ways, and who have supported and encouraged me from the beginning.  Thank you all--I am so grateful!"

Leslie is not only well known for her leadership in ACDA, she is recognized (literally) world-wide for her superb choral work. She recently conducted Western's Concert Choir on tour in Eastern Germany and Poland; under her direction, the choir has sung at national and divisional conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and regional and state conferences of the Music Educators National Conference.

She received her Doctor of Musical Arts from The University of Colorado, Boulder in choral conducting and literature.

She has served as a Repertoire and Standards chair for the American Choral Directors Association at both the national and local levels and on the boards of both the California and Washingtusic Educators Associations.

She is currently the past President of Washington ACDA and is in frequent demand as a choral adjudicator, honor choir conductor, and guest clinician throughout the United States and Canada.

Dr. Guelker-Cone received a WWU Summer Teaching Grant to assist her in the study of university choral conducting programs in Australia and New Zealand; current research includes study of the incorporation of the movement theories of Dalcroze and Laban into the teaching of choral conducting. She is a recipient of the university's highest teaching honor, the Excellence in Teaching Award.

The 2010 Leadership and Service Award recipient was introduced by Karen Fulmer, president-elect of the national ACDA and a former winner of this award herself.

Karen said: In a moment I will describe a number of qualities that makes our 2010 Washington ACDA Service and Leadership winner so deserving of this recognition.

But first of all I thought you might like to know a few things that aren’t listed in the bio – kind of the “insider’s scoop” on a celebrity.  See if you can guess who this is:

Our winner:

• Likes sushi,
  
• Spends some spare time playing video games,
  
• Knows what it is like to be the parent of teenagers,
  
• Is a bit of a beer connoisseur,
  
• Was raised outside of Washington state,
  
• Is annoyed with choirs (or shall I say choir members) that sing out of tune,
  
• Conducts choirs from youth to adults,
  
• Sets the alarm on Sunday mornings to make it to church choir practice on time,
  
• And is the only person I know who can convincingly perform a serious Italian art song with a Texan twang.

Since arriving in Washington, our winner has received recognition at the state, division and national levels with choirs performing for both ACDA and MENC conferences. 

Our winner’s choirs have traveled internationally and also have been invited to participate in local elite performances such as the International Harp Congress and the American Masterpieces Project.

Our winner is a published composer with titles performed by choirs all around the world.  Service and Leadership go way beyond these personal accomplishments to serve the choral art. 

Our winner is a past Washington State ACDA president and as of July 1st, is now the Northwestern Division Past-president, who put together one of the finest division conferences ever offered this past March in Seattle.

He is a true artist, teacher, leader, mentor and friend to many.  It is my great pleasure to present the Washington ACDA 2010 Service and Leadership award to Richard Nance.

Richard's response:

I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to WA-ACDA for being named the recipient of the 2009-2010 WA-ACDA Leadership Award. 

This award means so much to me--since coming to Washington in 1992, I have made many great friends and colleagues through this organization.  These people have been very supportive of me and my career, and I consider many of them to be my mentors. 

WA-ACDA is a great community of musicians, but is first and foremost a network of loving and caring people.  The collegiate contingent in which I work is a great example of this. 

There are tremendous choral programs at colleges and universities throughout our state, and though we as conductors are competitive with each other, we also genuinely care about each other.  I believe this is a unique quality to Washington and is something you just do not see in other areas of the country. 

This award is a wonderful surprise, and I cannot thank you enough for selecting me to receive it. Richard Nance's bio...>
 

 Judy Herrington

The 2011 recipent of the WA ACDA's Leadership and Service Award was introduced by Leora Schwitters, a past-president and now treasurer of the organization. Here is Leora's statement:

The recipient of the 2011 Choral Leadership and Service Award grew up in Eugene, OR, graduating from North Eugene HS.  After earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, this person went on to finish a Master of Arts in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR.  After thirty some years of teaching and conducting, her school awarded her with the Inspirational Faculty Award and the Murray Foundation Chair for Teaching Excellence.

Further conducting studies continued under the tutelage of Rod Eichenberger and Henry Leck.

In 1991, she founded a community youth choir, which has grown to include seven choirs with over 200 singers.  At this very moment, she is touring with the group as Artistic Director with performances scheduled in historic cathedrals in England and France.

She has directed honor choirs for the American Choral Masterpieces series, the Western ACDA Conference, and most recently, I had the immense pleasure of observing her conduct the Spokane Area Children’s Choir’s 25th Anniversary Festival Choir.

She is a Past-President of the Washington ACDA, serving as president from 2001-2003, and has also served on the board in the capacity of Children’s Choirs R & S Chair.

Through Pavane Publishing and Colla Voce Publishing, she has published choral compositions, arrangements and co-authored choral teaching texts. She also edits a choral series for Pavane Publishing.

I am pleased to award this prestigious award to my friend, a wonderfully gifted musician and teacher, whom we all know as choral director at Charles Wright Academy and as Founder and Artistic Director of the Tacoma Youth Chorus, Judy Herrington.

Judy’ response:

It is very humbling to receive this honor. 

Washington ACDA is an organization that has given so much to so many.   

It has given me professional mentoring and wonderful friends and colleagues.  I will never forget my early conferences and the inspiration that came with it.  

Washington ACDA has shaped my work, my teaching, my music.   We truly have important work, that of inspiring young people and adults to learn to create beautiful music, recognizing and encouraging their passion for choral music and working together in a community of like-minded musicians. 

It is important for each of us to continue to grow in our profession.  This keeps our work both inspired and inspiring. 

I hope each of you will continue your participation in ACDA for the learning opportunities it provides as well as to develop valuable friendships with the many remarkable musicians we have in this organization. 

Our Washington chapter has a reputation for being generous and supportive of each other's work and I have been blessed to have been a part of that generosity.  

Thank you for this honor.