Honor Choir information

Robyn Reeves Lana

Founder, Managing Artistic Director and Conductor

Cincinnati Youth Choir

Interpreting choral music for diverse audiences in a way that is relevant to young people while maintaining the highest standards of music education and performance sums up the work of Robyn Reeves Lana.

When not leading the Cincinnati Youth Choir, Ensemble-in-Residence at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, over the 30 years, Mrs. Lana has served as conductor and clinician across the United States and at internationally acclaimed venues such as The Forbidden City Concert Hall (Beijing), The World Expo (Milan), St. Peter’s Basilica (Vatican City), Minatomirai Hall (Yokohama). Internationally she has served as a clinician in Malacca, Malaysia; Singapore; Italy; Ireland; and China. Closer to home, she has been a featured guest conductor at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and Cincinnati’s Music Hall. She has served as clinician or guest conducted state and regional choral events in over 25 states. Lana has served on the choral faculty at Xavier University, has been a guest professor in the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music’s choral department, and is currently a visiting professor on the choral faculty at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio .

Lana is the editor of a choral series with Santa Barbara Music Publishing. Her book, Voices in Harmony, published in 2017, is a collaborative effort that celebrates many successful philosophies in choral education. She also is also published in Chorister Guild’s The Chorister, Chamber Music America’s CMA Matters, and ACDA’s Choral Journal for which she also served as guest editor of the of three issues.

Achieving an extensive list of orchestral and operatic repertoire for children and praise from collaborating conductors including Craig Hella Johnson, John Adams, Louis Langrée, John Morris Russell, Robert Porco, Marcus Huber, James Conlon, Earl Rivers and Mark Gibson among others, Lana regularly prepares her choirs for collaborations with the Cincinnati Symphony, the Cincinnati Pops, the Cincinnati May Festival, Cincinnati Opera, and CCM choirs and orchestras. She prepared CYC for two Telarc label recordings with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra under the direction of the late Maestro Erich Kunzel.

Nationally, Lana has served ACDA as Children’s Choir and Community Youth Repertoire and Standards Chair and Chair of ACDA Advocacy and Collaboration. She currently serves on the Chorus America Board of Directors.

Robyn Reeves Lana earned her bachelor and master of degrees in music education with a cognate in voice and a concentration in choral conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She holds Level III Orff-Schulwerk Certification and has done focused study on children’s choirs at Butler University with Henry Leck.

Ms. Lana’s work has earned many awards including CCM’s Distinguished Alumna Award (2012), a gold medal in the World Choir Games (2012) placing first in the United States, the American Prize for Choral Performance (2015), the Chorus America ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming (2016), Chorus America Award for Education and Community Engagement (2018), and Cincinnati CityBeat’s Best Local Vocal Arts Group (2015 and 2017). Most recently she was celebrated in the book Imagineers • Impresarios • Inventors: Cincinnati’s Arts and the POWER OF HER which tells the inspiring stories of the formidable influence of women in the arts throughout Cincinnati’s dynamic history.

About this event

Georgia ACDA will host an honor choir for students with treble voices in grades 5-9 on Friday, October 4, 2024, during the annual GA-ACDA Fall Conference. Students from across the state will enjoy a day on the Kennesaw State University campus in choral rehearsals with Robyn Lana. At the conclusion of the day, honor choir participants will present a concert showcasing their talent and hard work. Come join us for a wonderful day of music making.

Eligibility

Georgia ACDA Members are invited to bring up to six 5th-9th graders who show excellent, mature rehearsal behavior, a strong work ethic, and musical talent to the 2024 GA-ACDA Conference Honor Choir. All students will be expected to conduct themselves in a polite and professional manner. When registering, teachers may request voicings for their students (S1, S2, A, whatever is needed). Teachers may request to have their students all on the same voice part or on different voice parts. Voicing preferences will be honored on a first come, first served basis. Registration will close on Wednesday, September 15 or when we reach 100 singers. When registering, directors may indicate if they would like to nominate more than 6 students if space allows. Directors will be contacted directly if we are able to accommodate additional singers.

HONOR CHOIR COST

The cost to participate in the event is $40 per singer. This will include the event, practice tracks, and lunch at the KSU Commons on Friday, October 4. Practice tracks with quality vocal models will be emailed to directors after registration. Dinner is not included (see suggestions below). Music is not included (see link below), but students should have their own copy of each piece of music as well as a pencil during rehearsals.

CHAPERONES

Nominating directors are encouraged to attend the GA-ACDA Fall Conference and will receive a registration discount for nominating students. Honor choir students will need to be supervised during breaks and meals by a responsible adult from each school while on the KSU campus. Directors who attend the GA-ACDA conference should plan on supplying a chaperone for their honor choir students.

Conference Registration Discount

$65 conference registration (normally $75-$100) when you register 6 honor choir students

All discounts end on Wednesday, September 15.

honor choir repertoire

[Link Coming Soon.]

Joy, Jim Papoulis – SSA, Santa Barbara Music Publishing

I Remember, Sarah Quartel, SA, Oxford Publishing

The Open Hand, Susan Labarr - SSA, Published later this year

I Sing Because I’m Happy – Dilworth, SSA, Hal Leonard

*Music should be memorized prior to the event.

honor choir Schedule- Friday, October 4

8:30 Registration Opens

9:00 Rehearsal

10:30 Break

10:45 Rehearsal

11:45 Lunch

1:15 Rehearsal

2:30 Break

2:45 Rehearsal

3:45 Break

4:00 Sound Check in Morgan Hall

5:00 Dinner

7:00 Concert Session begins

7:30 Places

8:00 Concert

Student Dress

School-appropriate comfortable and casual attire during the day. Students may wear school shirts if desired. Performance attire will be in black bottoms, black shoes, and a black short or long-sleeved top.

Hotel Information

[Coming Soon]

Friday Night Dinner Suggestions

[Coming Soon]

Information needed when registering:

ACDA Membership Number

Director’s First & Last Name

School

Email Address

Contact Phone Number

Student’s First Name, Last Name

Student Voice Part S1, S2, or A

Student Height in Inches

Dietary Restrictions

KSU Paperwork

Driving Directions / Parking information

Car Parking

All honor choir attendees arriving in cars should plan on parking at the KSU Central Parking Deck located at 525 Parliament Garden Way NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Please park on the 3rd floor or higher to avoid getting a citation. The Bailey Performing Arts center (488 Prillaman Way, Kennesaw, GA 30144) is approximately a 6-minute walk from the Central Parking Deck. Head west on Prillaman Way and look for signs that say GA-ACDA Conference. Registration will take place in Scott Hall in the Bailey Performing Arts Center beginning at 8:15 AM on Friday. Please arrive early so we can start our first rehearsal on time. Older students may be dropped off in Lot E at the door of the Bailey Performing Arts Center.

Bus Drop-off

All honor choir attendees arriving by bus should plan on being dropped off along Prillaman Way on the Bailey Center/Zuckerman Museum side - between Lot E and the 4-way stop at Owl Drive - across from the Visitor Lot. Be aware that the Cobb bus system also uses this drop-off. Per KSU parking, buses may not drop off along Owl Drive. If needed, loop around: take Owl Drive south, turn right on Bartow Ave, turn right on Campus Loop Rd, through the roundabout onto Prillaman Way again. See attached map.

Bus Idling

Buses can idle at Town Point: 3391Town Point Drive NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. [Click here for a Google Maps link.] After drop off, we recommend busses exit to Frey Rd, and proceed south to the Town Point area (either via Chastain or Big Shanty Rd.). There is plenty of parking at the Town Point building, with access to either Town Point Dr. or Big Shanty Rd.

schedule - Friday, October 6th, 2023