The Beginning Women's Ensemble is a non-auditioned group for young women in any grade level. The groups prepares music from multiple genres and eras in preparation for concerts and the Southwestern Michigan Vocal Festival (SWMVF). Students will also learn basic principles of music theory and sight reading in preparation for more advanced study throughout the Hastings High School Choral Program.
It is highly recommended that ladies looking for further study in music should take voice or piano lessons through approved teachers. Please ask Mr. Callaghan for a list of private voice and piano studios.
About the Southwestern Michigan Vocal Festival History
The Southwestern Michigan Vocal Festival was created in 1935 under the direction of Harper C. Maybee, the first chief administrator of the music program at what is now known as Western Michigan University. The festival was presented in gymnasium facilities until the opening of Miller Auditorium in 1968. Festival participation peaked in the late 1950s under the leadership of Elwyn Carter, Maybee’s successor, when performances were given on two successive nights involving 1500 to 2000 voices from some 20 different schools each night. The festival is administered by Kevin West, director of concerts at the WMU School of Music. The festival celebrated its 60th annual performance in 1998.
Philosophy
The founding philosophy has remained basically unchanged: to offer an experience in mass singing of quality repertoire under the direction of an inspiring and distinguished conductor.
Distinguished Conductors
Many nationally recognized conductors have directed the Festival Chorus: Noble Cain (1939), Olaf Christiansen (1941), Harry Robert Wilson (1948), Maynard Klein (1949), Haydn Morgan (1953), Weston Noble (1963 and 1995), Margaret Hillis (1964) and Paul Christiansen (1969). This tradition of outstanding conductors has been continued more recently by Lloyd Pfautsch, Douglas McEwen, Clayton Krehbiel, Charlene Archibeque, Donald Neuen, Charles Nelson, Rodney Eichenberger, Eph Ehly, Joseph Huszti, Karle Erickson, Sandra Willetts, Rolland Shaw, Jerry Jordan, Anton Armstrong, Ann Howard Jones, Richard Bjella, Richard Mathey, André Thomas, Doreen Rao, Axel Theimer, Robert Bode, Jing Ling-Tam and Dirk Garner.