Brant is a composer, arranger and orchestrator, whose work appears in several catalogs, including Shawnee Press, and since 2001, he has conducted and produced orchestral recordings for Shawnee Press. His music has been performed and recorded by orchestras and choral ensembles throughout the United States and at regional and national meetings of professional music organizations.

Brant has been a member of the Oklahoma State University music faculty since 1987, and currently serves as area coordinator of msuic theory and composition. He has received the Wise-Diggs-Berry Award for Teaching Excellence in the Arts and the Friends of Music Distinguished Music Professor Award. He also serves as the faculty advisor for Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity.

Brant has served on the staff of First Baptist Church-Stillwater as music associate and pianist, as well as interim music director (1996-2002).

E-Mail:

Website:

Jim is presently Minister of Music at First Baptist Sweetwater in Longwood, Florida. He previously served 20 years in Seoul, South Korea, as Music Consultant for the Korea Baptist Church Development Board where his duties included composing, arranging, recording, publishing and conducting vocal and instrumental ensembles.

Jim composed and conducted A KOREAN REQUIEM for the 50th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. The work was performed in Seoul, South Korea, June 26, 2000.

He has studied composition with Bob Burroughs, Phillip Landgrave, Benjamin Harlan, Don Hustad, Jim Jensen, Jerry Sieg and Doug Smith. Jim has published choral anthems with Shawnee and other major publishers.

E-Mail:

Website:

Currently composer-in-residence and choir director at First Christian Church, Des Moines, Iowa, Ben has filled 40 commissions in the last decade in the many genres. Research in Kenya and Tanzania on the role of singing in strengthening community and solving conflict produced his extended work BANDARI: Inside These Walls, which established him as a leader in the development of cross-cultural choral repertoire. His music has been performed by the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers, the American Boychoir, and the Tapiola Choir, among others. Ben's "Singing and the Culture of Peace" festivals strengthen the choir's awareness of their powerful role in community while encouraging audiences to rediscover singing in a new way.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:andrdo2353@hotmail.com

Website:

E-Mail:Davidangerman@austin.rr.com

Website:

E-Mail:OLELARSON2@juno.com

Website:

Since his earliest New York reviews critics have noted his melodic gifts, the structural clarity and harmonious nature of his music. His first pieces, short piano pieces written in the early 1950s which he later arranged for wind trio, are in fact still being performed around the world. His numerous choral pieces have been performed in many countries and his art songs have been featured in two recent studies on the subject of American Art Song.

Performers who have been associated with his music include Harpsichordist Elaine Comparone who has commissioned a number of works, Saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera, Sharon Robinson, The Boehm Wind Quintet, the Virtuosi Wind Quintet, the Bronx Arts Ensemble, the Sylvan Winds and the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble which began its existence with a full evening of Baksa's music.

E-Mail:rbaksa@berk.com

Website:http://www.rbaksa.com

E-Mail:belfieldrl@wssu.edu

Website:

Throughout the year, he leads classes in writing and arranging music, keyboard skills and performs concerts across the United States. With a skillful and energetic approach to keyboard styling, Jeff's writing has made him a respected pianist and writer/arranger with the major publishers in the country. His talents have yielded numerous publications and he was the creative mind behind a four-piano project including himself, Mark Hayes, Steven Nielson; and Ovid Young. His publications include solo piano books, piano/organ duet books and numerous works collaborated with other writers.

E-Mail:

Website:

She frequently serves as a choral and keyboard adjudicator and leads "composer weekends" and various workshops throughout the country. Her goal as a musician is to always present her music as an offering of worship to God, and to help lead others in worshipping and praising God also.

She has received ASCAP Special Awards for the past several years. Her husband, Bruce, is a Minister of Music, and he and Cindy currently serve at First Baptist Church in Killeen, Texas. They are the parents of three grown sons.

E-Mail:

Website:

Recognizing a need for choral music written especially for student singers and volunteer church choirs, Don began composing for his own groups. Over 400 of his original choral compositions and arrangements have been released by Shawnee Press, Inc. and other leading publishers of school and church music. More than 15 million copies of his works have been sold, and he has received several ASCAP Special Awards.

His enthusiasm for working with singers of all ages has led to numerous invitations to serve as guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator. He has conducted festivals and workshops in 40 states and Canada. A graduate of Ithaca College, Besig is a member of ACDA, MENC, NYSSMA, ASCAP, and Phi Mu Alpha.

In 1980, Don began collaborating with lyricist Nancy Price. The insight they have gained through their combined years of directing choirs has led the Price/Besig team to create some of the most appealing original compositions and arrangements available in today's market.

E-Mail:dbesig@rochester.rr.com

Website:http://www.priceandbesig.com

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:bwbisbee@pngusa.net

Website:

Mr. Bobrowitz had been a freelance bass trombonist, pianist, composer, and arranger in the New York area for more than 30 years. After a thirty year career as a Band and Orchestra Director and Music Department Head, he retired from the Great Neck Public Schools in June 2000, and currently resides in Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Bobrowitz continues to be in demand as a performer, composer, and arranger.

E-Mail:musikmn21@aol.com

Website:

Susan is a published lyricist and has collaborated with David Lantz III, Craig Courtney and Lloyd Larson on both sacred and school repertoire.

Susan lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband, Dr. James A. Boersma.

E-Mail:

Website:

She has taught for thirty years, including teaching as a graduate assistant at the University of Kentucky and as an adjunct professor at Warner Pacific College, Portland, Oregon. She now maintains a private studio. Her students have won awards at regional and national levels. She has performed in the United States, England, Scotland and Germany.

Shirley currently lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband Irv. They have two adult children, Carol Joy and David. All of the profits from her books and CD's go to the Hearts of Hope Foundation for cancer recovery.

Active in clubs and concerts until retiring from live performance in 1997, Lois has sung, played bass and guitar, written and performed in pop, rock and blues bands in the USA and abroad.

She now lives in the Pocono Mountains of PA where she works as a community educator at a domestic violence and sexual assault crisis center. Lois and her husband, recording engineer Kent Heckman, also own and operate Red Rock Recording Studio.

E-Mail:redrock@ptd.net

Website:

Mrs. Buckwalter is a 1974 graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ and a 1977 graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she studied organ with Mr. John Weaver and earned the prestigious Artists Diploma in Organ Performance.

Internationally known in the field of handbell composition, Mrs. Buckwalter composed her first published work in 1982. With 36 handbell and 9 choral compositions now in print, she has earned enthusiastic praise for her creative compositions, her colorful harmonies and use of chromatics which have raised the musicality in handbell music as a genre. Mrs. Buckwalter is sought after as a handbell clinician for workshops and bell festivals throughout the country. Her works are frequently selected at area and national handbell conferences and have been recorded in the United States and Japan.

E-Mail:

Website:

Mark has written music and curriculum for numerous major publishers. His song collections, including Groovin’ with the Grimms, the Gettin’ Down with Mama Goose series, and Yo! Leonardo, the first in his Smarty Pants series, top many best-seller lists, as do his percussion resources, which include The Accidental Drum Circle and The Body Electric. Mark also writes extensively for video, television and the stage.

Known to many little listeners as “Mister Mark,” he tours nationally, presenting high-energy family concerts. Mark’s CDs, You’ve Got A Song and Go Ape!, have won several awards for children’s music.

Mark resides in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife, Nina, and daughters, Emma and Grace.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

As a broadcaster, Mark has produced various live and broadcast productions for over 20 years. Production credits include Eventide: Voices in Song (syndicated) and Steve Allen's Great American Songwriters heard on National Public Radio (hosted by the late, legendary entertainer). Mark's work in music business and broadcasting has led to collaborations with Andy Griffith, pop and Broadway songwriter Rupert Holmes, jazz pianist Loonis McGlohon, gospel singer Cynthia Clawson and others.

Mark holds bachelors and masters degrees in music education and communications from Mars Hill College and The University of Tennessee.

E-Mail:

Website:

Bob graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied double bass with Roger Scott, principal bassist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Bob later received degrees in music education from the University of the Arts, and conducting at the College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State).

Bob was a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic, Josef Kripps, conductor, and is presently Principal Bass for the Delaware Valley Philharmonic and Greater Trenton Symphony Orchestras. In addition, he is a free lance bassist in Philadelphia, Atlantic City and Delaware performing with many of the stars of Broadway and stage shows, and has recorded with many of the top artists of the day. He also played the Mike Douglas show. Bob has performed with Henry Mancini, Bill Conte, Michael LeGrand, Marvin Hamlish, and most recently with Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli.

As a composer/arranger for Warner Brothers, Bob has published nearly 300 titles. His compositions and arrangements for orchestra cover a wide range of classical and popular styles which are performed all over the world. Bob conducts orchestra performances and reading sessions for regional festivals, and is a clinician at professional conferences across the United States.

E-Mail:cbp17@erols.com

Website:

His musical experiences range from church musician to theme park entertainer. He has performed musical styles from rock to classical to bluegrass.

He currently has over two hundred anthems in print. In addition to Shawnee Press has released a CD of his choral work entitled The Music of Pepper Choplin – Composer Merit Signature Series. Another Shawnee release is Psalms of the Wood, a CD of his choral music, accompanied by folk instruments and keyboards.

Pepper leads events throughout the country as composer, clinician, conductor and entertainer. Audiences respond with laughter and with tears as he conducts and sings his unique mix of inspirational and humorous music in churches and conferences.

Pepper has several CDs to his credit including his self produced, Pepper Is My Real Name, which features his humorous songs. His recording, Hold On, is a solo album of his most popular inspirational songs.

Much of Pepper’s creative energy goes into planning creative and vibrant worship for Greystone Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC where he is Minister of Music. Many of his anthems are born out of a need at his own church. Pepper’s chief desire is “to create music that will lead people to worship in a dramatic way.”

E-Mail:music@pepperchoplin.com

Website:http://www.pepperchoplin.com

Christiansen's solo organ performances have taken him across the United States, Canada and England. In addition to accompanying the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on their venerable weekly broadcast "Music and the Spoken Word," he accompanies them on tours to many countries of the world. He has been a featured artist for groups such as the United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants.

He has composed several published organ and vocal works. His writings also include works for chorus, string quartet, woodwind trio, chamber and symphony orchestra.

E-Mail:ChristiansenCR@ldschurch.org

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

His compositions and arrangements have been published by GlorySound, Harold Flammer, and Mark Foster Music, as well as other publishers in the United States. Jim's works include choral pieces, violin solos, vocal solos, music for brass and percussion, hymn preludes for solo piano, recorder duets, and arrangements for various instrumental ensembles. Jim is a member of ASCAP and the American Composers Forum.

In addition to composing, Jim does music typesetting for publishers and individuals, and he works as a freelance proofreader. He also enjoys playing his viola with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, accompanying choirs and soloists on the piano, bird-watching, reading, cooking, and making music at home with his family. Jim is an at-home father-his main occupation. He and his wife, Angie, who teaches grade school music, adopted their two children in Russia: Alex, in 1996, and Lena, in 1998.

E-Mail:clemens@infolaunch.com

Website:http://www.jeclemens.com

His recordings include Generation to Generation (SCB Records), The Complete Passover Sing-along Seder and You Can’t Lose ’em All (Worldwide Success Records). His book “Songs for my People” was published in 2007.

E-Mail:bcohon613@yahoo.com

Website:http://www.cantorabbi.com

E-Mail:vickituckercourtney@att.net

Website:http://www.vickituckercourtney.com

Following a three-year stay in Milan, Italy, where Mr. Courtney studied the piano with Illonka Deckers, performed for the Associazione Musicale "Gustav Mahler," and worked extensively as a vocal coach, he was invited to join the music faculty of the famed Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, serving as piano teacher and accompanist for the woodwind and brass department.

During this six-year period and while serving in the music ministry of the Salzburg International Baptist Church, Mr. Courtney began directing a church choir and composing sacred choral music due to the unavailability of English language music. Today, Mr. Courtney's published works include sacred choral octavos, vocal collections, and extended works for choir and orchestra. Compositionally, Mr. Courtney combines his training and background as a pianist, a cellist, a vocal coach, an accompanist and a choral director to create works that bear his unique style.

E-Mail:

Website:

Dr. Cox received a Bachelor of Music degree with honors in piano performance from Oklahoma Baptist University, the Master of Music in orchestral conducting from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and the Doctor of Music in composition from Florida State University in Tallahassee.

As a composer, Dr. Cox has more than 160 published works and has received the Standard Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) every year since 1987. He receives numerous commissions and requests for his music, and was recently honored as the commissioned composer for the Texas Music Teachers Association Conference in May of 1995. In addition to his work as a composer, he has an extensive background in choral and orchestral conducting.

E-Mail:drmick@airmail.net

Website:http://www.michaelcox.org

E-Mail:

Website:

In addition to conducting, Dr. Crutchfield has provided piano accompaniment for singers, instrumentalists, and conductors throughout the world, including Sir David Willcocks, Marilyn Mims, Angela Brown, and Harpist Carol McClure. He has accompanied choirs at the regional and national levels of the American Choral Directors Association. He has been heard on the British Broadcasting Corporation as service organist for the International Church Music Festival (Bern, Switzerland). Other organ venues have taken him to Japan, Canada, and the United States. Dr. Crutchfield is a published choral and organ composer. He has held the position of Dean of the Chapter (Chattanooga, TN) and Board of Governors (Louisville, KY) for the American Guild of Organists. Dr. Crutchfield is serving the American Choral Directors Association as chair of the Church Music Repertoire & Standards Committee for the Southern division of the ACDA (2003 – 2005).

E-Mail:jcrutchfield@hbclouky.org

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

Throughout his career, Brazeal has served in many roles, such as guest conductor, clinician, lecturer, and church choirmaster. His numerous professional affiliations include National Endowment of the Arts, Department of Cultural Affairs for the city of Detroit, former trustee and member of the Advisory Committee of the Detroit Community Music School, former Chairman of the Music Advisory Committee for the Michigan Council for the Arts, and President of the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc.

As Fine Arts Department Head at Northwestern High School, Brazeal skillfully prepared the school ensemble and choir to earn superior ratings in state finals competition, appear before the National Convention of the MENC, and perform on an NBC television network special. Brazeal is listed in the 1978 edition of "Men of Achievement," International Biographies, Cambridge, England. He was invited by the White House to become a member of a special committee to present White House Fellowships to highly motivated young Americans. Brazeal's testimony was requested at the field hearings on the re-authorization of the National Foundation for the Arts and Humanities Act, and also that of the Museum Services Act. Brazeal serves on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Founded in 1972, the Brazeal Dennard Chorale is a group of highly trained singers dedicated to developing the choral art to its highest professional level. The Brazeal Dennard Community Chorus was organized in 1985 as a community outreach program by The Brazeal Dennard Chorale to encourage participation of members of the surrounding communities and to provide them with vocal training and professional performance opportunities. The Brazeal Dennard Youth Chorale provides a very special and highly developed choral ensemble of young singers between the ages of 13 and 22. The primary function of the Youth Chorale is to seriously study and perform challenging choral literature.

Brazeal Dennard is the recipient of The Maynard Klein Award in recognition of artistic excellence in the field of choral music, presented by the Michigan Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Brazeal Dennard is the retired supervisor of music for the Detroit Public Schools and serves as adjunct faculty at Wayne State University.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:gdepuit@umich.edu

Website:

Diemer has received annual ASCAP awards since 1962 for performances and publications. Other recognition includes a Louisville Orchestra Student Award, a Ford Foundation Young Composers Grant for a 2-year composer-residency in the Arlington, VA schools, an NEA fellowship in electronic music, a Kennedy Center Friedheim award for her Concerto in One Movement for Piano, the American Guild of Organists Composer of the Year award, a Mu Phi Epsilon Merit Award, etc., plus numerous commissions. A recent (2001) biography of ELD by Ellen Grolman Schlegel is published by Greenwood Press: A Bio-Bibliography, Emma Lou Diemer.

In publication since 1957, her music includes works for orchestra, band, chamber ensembles, solo instruments, voices, and electronic pieces. She has received numerous commissions from schools, churches, and professional groups. Her music is published by Oxford University Press, Hildegard Publishing Company, Boosey & Hawkes, Carl Fischer, The Sacred Music Press, Arsis Press (Empire Publishing Service, Colla Voce, Treble Clef Press, Shawnee Press, and others. Recordings include piano and chamber music on the Vienna Modern Masters label (Encore), North/South Consonance (Sextet for Piano, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Violin, and Cello; Catchaturian Toccata for Flute and Piano), Living Artists (String Quartet No. 1), Leonarda (Fantasy for Piano--also on Fleur de Son Classics), Josara Records (Four Chinese-Love Poems), RBW Record Co. (organ with instruments), and recently-recorded orchestral works on the Contemporary Record Society label (Suite of Homages), Master Musicians Recordings (Concerto in One Movement for Piano and Santa Barbara Overture), TNC Recordings (Sonata for Flute and Harpsichord).

E-Mail:eldiemer@cox.net

Website:

Mary currently teaches in the Bud Beasley Elementary School in the Washoe (Nevada) County School District. She met George Strid when they were team-teaching a sixth-grade general music class and their principal asked them to write a musical for Reading Week. From that beginning, a writing team was born, which has resulted in over 150 songs and 15 musicals published by Shawnee Press and other major publishers.

A native of Oregon, George Strid graduated from the Oregon College of Education and obtained Master's degrees in composition and education from Western Oregon State College. George currently teaches vocal music at Washington Middle School in Olympia, Washington. When not writing or teaching, he conducts workshops and clinics throughout the United States and Canada.

E-Mail:QCDBO7A@prodigy.com

Website:

An active composer and arranger, Patti has over 200 choral octavos and scripture songs published with Shawnee Press, Alfred and other publishers. For the last several years, she has been a recipient of an ASCAP Standard Award for composers. She frequently serves as a church and school clinician, and has presented sessions at the Texas Music Educators Convention, as well as Composer Weekends for numerous churches. Patti directs both in and out-of-state music festivals and serves as a music contest adjudicator.

In addition to writing and workshops, Patti now serves as Minister of Music and Worship Arts at Norman First Baptist Church. She is married to husband, Jim, and they have two grown children, Emily and Adam.

E-Mail:pdrennan@cox.net

Website:

Choral groups under his direction have performed with distinction at contests and at other award winning occasions. They have performed in Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden, as well as on radio and television. His organizations have been invited to sing at New Jersey and New York State School Music Association conventions, divisional meetings of the Music Educators National Conference, and the first American Choral Directors Association National Conference.

Walter Ehret is well known as a clinician, conductor, and choral literature specialist, and has functioned in these various capacities at over 300 workshops in some 30 states. He is one of the nation's most prolific and respected choral editors and arrangers, and has over 2000 publications in print. In addition, he is co-author of Growing With Music, a basic music series (K-8), co-author of Functional Lessons in Singing, a class voice textbook, and author of the Choral Conductors Handbook. His broad ranging knowledge of the music education field and his acknowledged expertise in choral matters make him an invaluable clinician.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:wsroger2@comcast.net

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

Tina lives in McKinney, Texas with her husband, Dr. James Davis. They have three children.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

Ms. Fiftal has developed original approaches to teaching classroom music and has worked with the Connecticut State Department of Education, developing the National Standards for the Arts. She has also served on various committees at the state level in forming State Curriculum Guidelines in music.

In her capacity as a music education consultant, Ms. Fiftal presents workshops throughout the country in music education and music theater. She also is a frequent guest conductor for elementary and middle school regional and district choral festivals in several states.

E-Mail:

Website:

She is internationally recognized as an arranger, composer and clinician and has been a presenter in Italy and Africa. Several commissioned works have been composed by Patsy as well as short musicals about African American History. Two of her compositions were selected for two MENC World’s Largest Concerts and she annually receives the ASCAP Special Music Award. Patsy currently resides with her husband, Dr. Otis Turner, a Presbyterian Minister, in Louisville. They are grandparents and have three grown sons.

E-Mail:

Website:

Their music has been featured on the Disney Channel, The World's largest Concert, PBS, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and in a documentary on children's rights for the United Nations. In addition, the Gallina's are recipients of the Stanley Austin Alumni Award from the College of New Jersey for their many accomplishments in the field of composition.

Both Michael and Jill received B.A. degrees in music from the College of New Jersey. Jill was an elementary school music teacher before becoming a full time composer. Michael completed a Masters degree in music from the College of New Jersey as well as a doctorate in administration and supervision from Rutgers University. In addition to his writing collaborations with Jill, he is elementary principal of the Angelo L. Tomaso School in Warren, New Jersey and author of Making the Scene, an illustrated "how to" book for building sets, props and scenery, etc., for musical productions.

The Gallinas are inspiring teachers all across the English speaking world with their music and educator workshops. Their chorals have sold millions of copies and their musical plays have thousands of performances across the globe each year. They are educating, enlightening, and engaging youth of today with their consummate talents and creativity.

E-Mail:JandMsongs@aol.com

Website:http://www.gallinamusic.com

She had a penchant and drive to produce only the best quality performances and utilized her love of people and music "Soli Deo Gloria" which means, "Only to the Glory of God". She graduated from Ridgewood High School, New Jersey, in 1944 stating under her yearbook picture, "Without music, life would be meaningless." Educated at Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, she received her Bachelors degree in Music Theory in 1948 and then taught music theory at the graduate level at Oberlin where she met William A. Garee, who taught Physics. She then went on to Columbia University to receive her masters degree in piano.

Married to William A. Garee in 1954, the two then raised three children, James F., Anne E., and Joyce E., and simultaneously, she served as Associate Director of Music for the New Hackensack Reformed Church in Wappingers Falls, New York, from 1972 to 1985. During that time, Betty and her Klokken Ringers toured the eastern seaboard, rang at local, state, national, and international festivals, and produced three vinyl recordings.

She was named Honorary Life Member of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers prior to her death. On May 27, 1986, internationally acclaimed, Betty Boyd Garee died at the age of 59 leaving those who continue to ring handbells, 38 publications of her original work, transcribed and adapted works, and a number of non-published personal arrangements. When her music is played, surely she is in the room.

E-Mail:CAPPAMORE1960GR@aol.com

Website:

Marvin began studying piano at the age of five, and quickly developed a love for music. By college age, he was proficient in piano, organ, harp, trumpet, French horn, and melodic percussion and had begun writing and arranging music for area schools and churches.

Now, one of Houston’s leading musicians, Marvin serves as organist/choirmaster of St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church. He directs the Chancel Choir, the youth choir, Ensemble (chamber choir), and oversees St. Luke’s Ringers (handbell choir). Marvin is the resident pianist for The Lyric Centre in the heart of Houston’s Theatre District. As a skilled jazz pianist, he leads the Marvin Gaspard Trio, a well-known ensemble in the Houston music community. Marvin’s keyboard mastery and improvisational abilities place him in great demand as conductor for musical productions, entertainer for social and charitable events, and artistic consultant to other artists.

Mr. Gaspard’s choral arrangements have been performed and recorded by the internationally renowned Turtle Creek Chorale of Dallas, Texas. Accompanying his own compositions, he appeared with the Chorale in Dallas’ Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, in the spring of 1996. One of his original works was recorded as the title song of the Chorale’s CD, “Lifelong Friend.” Marvin has released two of his own CD’s: “Reflections on Hymns,” a solo piano album, and “Gumbo Mambo,” a piano and jazz combo collection.

For ten years Marvin composed original scene underscoring and arranged choral works for “Pageant, A Christmas Spectacular”. This Houston production was televised and broadcast nationwide featuring a 400-voice choir and full orchestra in a fully staged holiday production. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Gaspard has accompanied Grammy Award winner, Cynthia Clawson, in appearances from coast to coast. He has been featured as a solo piano artist in a nationally televised tour of Ecuador and also at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. Mr. Gaspard is a member of American Guild of Organists; The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP); Choristers Guild; Houston Professional Musicians Association (Local 65-699, American Federation of Musicians); Houston Tuesday Musical Club; Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America; and serves on the board of the Greater Houston Handbell Association. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Applied Music from The University of Southwestern Louisiana.

E-Mail:

Website:

Gearhart attended the Curtis Institute of Music. Subsequent studies in France included composition with Nadia Boulanger, Igor Stravinsky, Darius Milhaud and piano with Robert Cadadesus and Isodor Philipp.

During 1941 to 1954, the two-piano team of Morley and Gearhart performed over 2000 concerts throughout the US and Canada in addition to recording for Columbia Masterworks and Decca Records. Gearhart also made numerous TV and radio appearances on the Fred Waring Show, for which he wrote as staff arranger. A recently released two-CD retrospective, “Morley and Gearhart Rediscovered” by Ivory Classics, features 22 of Gearhart’s two-piano arrangements.

In 1955 Gearhart joined the University of Buffalo Music Faculty, retiring to Professor Emeritus status in 1985. As an author and teacher, Gearhart delighted in composing lively, stimulating music for young singers and instrumentalists. His quest for effective teaching materials is particularly striking in the “Sessions Series.” These seven books are enriched by Gearhart’s special blend of humor and pedagogy. These ensemble collections for 2, 3, and 4 players contain a variety of styles, musical surprises and curiosities. Another notable publication is String Mix No. 1, a collection of pieces arranged to combine players of unequal playing levels – from beginner to advanced.

Livingston Gearhart’s published catalog is available through the Shawnee Press catalog. Unpublished manuscripts are available for use, with permission, from the SUNY/Buffalo Music Library (contents at http:ulib.buffalo.deu/libraries/ units/music/spcoll/lginv.html. Two-piano arrangements are held in the Fred Waring’s America Collection at Penn State University.

E-Mail:

Website:

After his discharge, Harry won a full scholarship at the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Bernard Portnoy. A fourth year took him to Paris where he was a pupil of the celebrated French clarinetist, Gaston Hamelin. From 1951-1959 his professional performance included membership in orhcestras in Houston, Denver, and Minneapolis. While in Denver, he completed a M.M. degree in woodwinds and composition at the University of Denver.

Professor Gee was one of the pioneers for the development of the woodwind choir as a concert medium. Shawnee Press has published four of these arrangements along with six other works for clarinet and saxophone.

E-Mail:

Website:

Greg is a well-known, ASCAP award-winning choral composer and arranger with hundreds of publications to his credit. He is also in demand as a conductor for choral festivals, all-district and all-state choirs and is a member of MENC, ACDA and a Life Loyal Member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. As Director of Educational Choral Publications for Shawnee Press, Inc., Greg oversees creation of the educational music products for this distinguished publisher.

At home in Indianapolis, Greg is busy as a studio musician and producer in the recording industry. He frequently performs with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as well as recording artist Sandi Patty. Greg makes his Carnegie Hall conducting debut June 6, 2009.

E-Mail:greggilpin@sbcglobal.net

Website:http://www.greggilpin.com

Gene is a former public school teacher and university professor, who has been actively involved in church music as a soloist and director all of his life. He was a soloist with The Norman Luboff Choir, Executive Vice President, General Manager of J.W. Pepper - Detroit, and an Executive Editor for The Lorenz Corporation. He was also the Director of The Vocal Arts Academy, which was in residence at Oakland University, Rochester, MI for 25 years.

He is currently serving as President of Music Unlimited, Birdsongs Unlimited, EverGreen Morning Press and EverGreen Echoes. He has been representing Shawnee Press, Inc. as a clinician at all Music Unlimited / Dealer Reading Sessions and Workshops throughout the United States for over 25 years.

E-Mail:MUandEMP@aol.com

Website:

He has conducted clinics, festivals and All-state choirs in Iowa, Illinois, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Montana. He has also conducted workshops and clinics at the Universities of Wisconsin, Oklahoma, and Georgia. Grotenhuis holds a Master's Degree in Music from Michigan State University and has completed all course requirements toward the doctorate degree at Ohio State University. He conducted the 2nd Army Band Male Chorus and was chief music arranger for the 2nd Army Band while in the armed services.

He is composer of over 195 choral works published by various publishers. He has also composed five works for symphonic band. In 1985, he was the recipient of an Outstanding Educators of America award as well as the McGowan Award presented by the Iowa Choral Conductors Association for "outstanding contribution to choral music in Iowa." In 1989, he was trhe recipient of an International Distinguished Leadership award. He recently received from The National Federation of Music the "Outstanding Music Educator" award for the State of Iowa (1994). Dale Grotenhuis is currently living in Byron Center, Michigan, where he is composing music full-time.

E-Mail:

Website:

His choral and instrumental works are widely performed, and his comopositions are found in the catalogs of several U.S. publishers. His orchestral works have been performed by numbers of school and professional symphonies. In addition to shorter choral and instrumental works, his compositions include two one-act operas, an oratorio and the scores for four feature-length films produced by the University's Department of Cinema and Video Production.

He continues an active schedule of teaching, composing and conducting, continuing to serve as music director of the Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra and the University Opera Association. Recent major orchestral works include "Encounters," a violin concerto, and "Fantasia for a Celebration," commissioned by the Williansburg Symphonia as part of the city of Williamsburg's 300 year celebration.

He is active as a conductor for high school all-state choirs and orchestras and regularly conducts church choir clinics throughout the U.S

E-Mail:dwightgwen@worldnet.att.net

Website:

Benjamin Harlan has over 50 titles in the Shawnee catalog, is a frequent clinician and has a special interest in congregational singing. He and his wife, Connie, have three children, Katie, Emily and Christopher and one dog. Benjie states that his passion is golf, but that he had better not give up his day job.

E-Mail:

Website:

Upon completion of his degree work, he and his wife, Sharon, settled in Billings and began active and varied careers. Ed directed many community, school and church choirs and has been active as a private teacher, accompanist and vocal soloist. Ed has been active in the Billings arts scene for 35 years. He has been active as a music director, private teacher, accompanist, arranger, and vocal soloist. It is not unusual to see him performing in a local musical production or playing handbells or background keyboard music for a local event. He sang the role of “Tuttle” in the Centennial opera Pamelia. He has appeared in recent years in featured roles in The Apple Tree, Camelot, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Sweeney Todd.

He recently served as musical director for Nunsense, Pirates of Penzance, Mame,and Music Man. (with Wally Kurth). He appeared recently as a baritone soloist for the Brahms German Requiem with the Billings Symphony Orchestra and Chorale. He was a founding board member for the Rimrock Opera Company, one of America’s newest regional opera companies. He currently directs the Rimrock Opera Chorus and will sing supporting roles this season in Don Giovanni and Hansel and Gretel. All of this extensive vocal experience is reflected in Ed’s compositions—making them extremely well suited to the voice and always a pleasure to sing.

In his work with the public schools, Ed taught at high school, junior high and elementary levels. In 1985, he was named “Teacher of the Year” by the Billings Education Association. He served on the editorial boards of the Music Educators Journal. and Teaching Music, publications of the Music Educators National Conference. He is a life member of the National Education Association and the American Choral Directors Association. He is the recipient of the Distinguished service award from the Montana Music Educators Association, and he received the lifetime achievement award from the Montana Choral Directors Association. Since 1992, he has been editor of the Montana Cadenza magazine. His extensive work in the field of music education helps keep him in touch with trends and concerns in both the education field and the publication industry.

His first published work The Freedom Tree, was written and published during America’s Bicentennial year--1976. Since then, he has over 100 compositions in print, for church and school choirs. In recent years, he has been available to write commissioned works, uniquely tailored for specific events and performance groups. Harris has received the special ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) award for the past fifteen years, in recognition of the scope of his work.

Harris is currently director of music ministries for American Lutheran Church in Billings.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

Today Hayes' choral and instrumental writing is widely acclaimed and performed internationally. He is well-known for his unique choral settings which draw from diverse styles such as gospel, jazz pop, folk, and classical to achieve a truly "American sound." His personal catalog, compiled over the last 22 years, includes well over 500 published original compositions and arrangements, which are distributed by several leading publishers and regularly featured by American Choral Directors Association and Music Educators National conference. He has served as an adjunct composition instructor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missoui, and has ten solo piano recordings and fifteen keyboard folios to his credit.

In addition to his involvement in the sacred and secular choral music fields, Hayes is increasingly sought after as an orchestrator and record producer. Mark Hayes is a reoccurring recipient of the Standard Award from ASCAP and has won the prestigious Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association, which is the equivalent to a Grammy in gospel music.

Along with Joseph Martin and David Angerman, Mark has co-authored a fully graded, progressive piano method for the Christian student called KEYS FOR THE KINGDOM. While learning the basic concepts of piano playing, the student is introduced to many styles of sacred music: the wealth of great hymnody, songs, and psalms of the church; as well as the great classics in piano literature that every student needs to excel in musical study. Also Bible verses are included in the series that affirm spiritual values and motivate the student toward excellence at the keyboard. KEYS FOR THE KINGDOM is published by GlorySound, a division of Shawnee Press, Inc.

E-Mail:mark@markhayes.com

Website:http://www.markhayes.com

Known particularly for his published choral music, Mr. Helvey’s compositions have been featured on various recordings, national network and PBS television broadcasts, in such distinguished concert venues as New York’s Carnegie Hall, the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and numerous locations throughout Europe and Asia. Drawn particularly to folk-based melodies and ancient hymn tunes, Mr. Helvey often incorporates them into his own writing. His choral arrangements of folk-based material have been acclaimed as “engaging” (Choral Journal), “definitive” (Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians), “magical” (The Hymn) and—in response to his occasional inclusion of jazz elements—“fun and certain to be of interest” (The Diapason). Besides receiving commissions from numerous church and university choirs, Mr. Helvey has recently completed projects for the renowned Turtle Creek Chorale of Dallas and for the Wisconsin Chamber Choir. In 2002, he received a John Ness Beck Foundation Award for his distinguished contribution to sacred choral music.

Mr. Helvey holds a Bachelor of Music degree in composition from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Master of Music degree in composition and piano performance from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Designated an undergraduate Chautauqua Scholar, he pursued additional studies in piano at New York’s Chautauqua Institution. Mr. Helvey has studied piano with Raymond Herbert, Jan Houser, Richard Morris and Dolores Gadevsky; and his composition teachers have included John Cheetham, Thomas McKenney, Darrell Handel and Frederick Bianchi. As one passionate about effective congregational hymn-singing, Mr. Helvey received additional training in hymn-accompanying and organ improvisation from Gerre Hancock.

E-Mail:hergenfluet@hotmail.com

Website:

His cantata, God with Us, was one of the few compositions selected by a panel at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., to be placed in a capsule during the American Bicentennial in 1976. The capsule will be opened at the Tricentennial in 2076 and will be heard again as a representative piece of American choral composition of this century.

Mr. Hopson is active as a conductor and clinician, having conducted choral festivals and workshops in this country, Europe, and Asia. More recently he has been recognized for his contribution to music by being included in The International Who's Who in Music, Cambridge, England, and by being awarded the esteemed title of National Patron by Delta Omicron, a national professional fraternity of musicians. He is active in several professional organizations, having served on the national boards of The Presbyterian Association of Musicians and Choristers Guild. As a member of ASCAP, Mr. Hopson has received an annual award from that agency for many consecutive years.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:jordahl321@earthlink.net

Website:http://home.earthlink.net/~jordahl321

Kallman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and a Master's degree in music theory and composition from the University of Minnesota, where his principal teachers were Paul Fetler and Dominick Argento.

Kallman has written over two dozen works for young singers and instrumentalists. Particularly popular are Friendly Fredrick Fuddlestone and The Mending Song for children's voices, published by Mark Foster Music, a division of Shawnee Press, Inc.

E-Mail:

Website:http://www.kallmancreates.com

E-Mail:

Website:

Jane is an active workshop presenter and has presented sessions for the Texas Music Educator's Association, Gulf Coast Orff Association, Texas Association for the Education of the Young Child, Early Childhood Winter Conference and various workshops around Houston. Jane has arranged many classical pieces for her percussion ensemble to perform and has written and published a five-book set with CDs entitled "Songs for the Kindergarten Curriculum".

She is delighted to now be on board with Shawnee Press composing her first Orff publication, The Rhythm of the Seasons and Holidays. Jane is an accomplished organist and pianist, and has been a church organist since she was a senior in high school. She is currently the organist for Spring Woods Methodist Church in Houston. She and her husband, Jerry, have a daughter studying music in college and a son on the varsity football team at Spring High School. Recently she presented at AOSA in 2005 and MMEA in 2006.

E-Mail:

Website:

David is a freelance studio bass player and vocalist, having also played extensively in many resorts and clubs in the tri-state area, both with his own band and with other musicians. While not teaching or playing, he fills his spare time with music publishing activities, including editing, engraving, arranging and composing choral music and occasionally conducting choral reading sessions. He has approximately 200 choral octavos in print with Shawnee Press, GlorySound and Harold Flammer, as well as many other publishers throughout the United States.

David is a member of PMEA, ACDA, and IAJE. As a member of ASCAP, he has won writers awards for the last twelve years. David resides in Sciota, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Marti Lunn Lantz (also a published composer and lyricist) and six children.

E-Mail:dlantz@ptd.net

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

In addition to his work in education, Dr. Lau is organist/choirmaster at Mt. Calvary Episcopal Church in Camp Hill, PA and maintains a private studio, teaching violin, viola and composition. He has over 150 choral and organ works published by the leading music publishers of the United States, and has been commissioned to write choral, organ, string and band music for churches, academic institutions and solo performers. For his published choral music, he has been awarded five Special Awards by ASCAP.

E-Mail:

Website:

He has served on the faculty at Friends University where he won the faculty award for teaching excellence in 1989. Currently in Wichita, he directs the parish music program at Reformation Lutheran Church and conducts a professionally trained vocal ensemble known as The Master Arts Chorale, which he founded. In 1994, he founded the Master Arts Youth Chorale, an ensemble of children ages 9-14.

An award winning composer, he has received the coveted ASCAP award for composition for many consecutive years. John maintains a busy guest composer-conductor-artist schedule annually across North America. He had has artist debut in New York's Carnegie Hall in June 1998 conducting a program of his own music. Return trips to Carnegie Hall are planned for 1999 and 2000.

Dr. Leavitt also performs with his musical family across the nation. Sons Matthew, Christopher, daughter Katy, and wife Connie are frequent performers with John. Many fine national publishers, including Shawnee Press, publish his musical compositions and arrangements. John's music has been performed on at least five continents including North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The spring of 1995 saw the release of two albums of John's music. The first, Simple Gifts, is a recording of music for the piano played by the composer. The second, River in Judea, is a collection of choral works rendered by the choral groups he conducts: The Master Arts Chorale and Youth Chorale. A Christmas album of piano music, entitled Christmas Gift, was released in 1996. His most recent choral album, On with the Show, featuring his choral groups performing show tunes. A new organ album, A Sonic Spectacular, features John playing the great Marcussen organ in Wichita. Dr. Leavitt's recorded music is featured frequently on North American broadcasts both on commercial and public radio.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

Winning awards each year beginning at the age of 9 as a junior composer led to the publishing of her first choral work by Shawnee Press when she was a senior in high school. Teaming with Lois Brownsey, Marti has choral works and songbooks published with Shawnee Press, Alfred, Warner Bros., and Hal Leonard, and has received the ASCAP award for many years. Collaborating with her husband, composer and teacher David Lantz III on many choral works, she is co-owner of Lantz Choral Publications, a publisher of sacred choral works.

Marti is a member of PFMC and teaches piano and voice in her music studio as well as holding the position of organist and handbell choir director at East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church. In addition, she also works as a choral music engraver.

E-Mail:dlantz@ptd.net

Website:

At Butler Community College, Valerie directs the 100-voice Butler Concert Choir, the Butler Headliners Showchoir, the Smorgaschords Barbershop Quartet, and teaches tap dance and private voice. The barbershop quartet continuously places at the International Collegiate Barbershop Competition. Valerie was honored as the Butler Master Teacher, has delivered commencement addresses, and is in demand as a motivational speaker for numerous events.

In her spare time, Valerie teaches at the Kansas Dance Academy, directs the Risen Savior Lutheran Church Choir, is a talent coach for the Miss America program, and is involved with family activities. Valerie and Tom reside in Wichita, Kansas with their two children, Stevie and Zane.

Her game and activities books at Shawnee Press include: IceBreakers: 60 Fun Activities to Build a Better Choir (M0750) IceBreakers 2: 64 MORE Games and Fun Activities (M0762 - Available Spring 2009) Olympic Games for the Music Classroom (M0751)

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:http://www.chuckmarohnic.com

In 2000, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation commissioned her to write a song cycle for chorus and symphony. Entitled “Sing for the Cure," it has been performed at Carnegie Hall and has been recorded featuring Dr. Maya Angelou as narrator. Ms. Martin presently lives in Austin , Texas with her children Jonathan and Aubrey.

E-Mail:pamsmots@sbcglobal.net

Website:

A native of Washington state, Rebecca studied piano performance, theory, technique and composition for ten years under the late Barbara Jensen of Tacoma. In 1988, Rebecca graduated in University Studies with an emphasis in English and Humanities from Brigham Young University, where she performed with the Women's Chorus.

Rebecca has served as an adjudicator and music volunteer at elementary schools in her community. She has performed with, conducted and accompanied various adult, youth and children's choirs and taught private piano lessons for over 15 years.

Rebecca loves composing and writing for youth and children, and is particularly devoted to encouraging young composers. She is currently developing a piano method series for The Lifetime Music Academy in Aliso Viejo, California. She was honored by the Utah Composer's Guild which awarded her piano duet, Christmas Madness, Best Short Work of Contest and Best of Category in their 2001 International Composition Contest.

Rebecca is a full-time mom. She and her husband Troy reside in Utah. Their four young children provide her with continual creative inspiration.

E-Mail:beccyhmartin@hotmail.com

Website:

Joseph has performed solo piano recitals and has been the featured artist with symphony orchestras in the United States and Mexico. As winner of the Nina Plant Wideman Competition, he performed with the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra. His solo recital in Ex-convento del Carmen was broadcast nationally throughout the country. Though he continues to perform in concert, he now devotes his efforts to playing in churches and for conferences of church musicians.

His first solo piano recording, American Tapestry, was nominated for a Dove Award. This album, along with his other recordings (Songs of the Journey, Celtic Tapestry, and A Christmas Tapestry) has been enormously popular in the sacred and secular markets. He has recorded for Yamaha's Disklavier series and has composed hundreds of commissioned works.

Recognized throughout the United States for his many choral compositions, both sacred and secular, Joseph's music is published by numerous publishing houses. Over a thousand compositions are currently in print and the list continues to grow. His composition

Pieta

Along with Mark Hayes and David Angerman, Joseph has co-authored a fully graded, progressive piano method for the Christian student called Keys for the Kingdom. His major works include 27 choral cantatas and Song of Wisdom, a choral tone poem based on the best-selling children's book, Old Turtle.

His music can be heard in such diverse locations as Carnegie Hall in New York City; the Lawrence Welk Theatre in Branson, Missouri; and in hundreds of worship services in churches across the United States and Canada. He continues to surprise audiences with the variety and scope of his compositions and arrangements.

Joseph lives in Austin, Texas with his children Jonathan and Aubrey and his wife Sue. E-Mail:JMMartin88@aol.com

E-Mail:JMMartin88@aol.com

Website:http://www.martin88.com/martin88/

E-Mail:

Website:

Dr. McGuire earned the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Colorado at Boulder, a Master of Music Degree with Distinction from the University of Surrey, UK, and holds further qualifications in conducting, composition, and music education from the University of Melbourne, Monash University, and the Victorian College of the Arts in Australia. Dr. McGuire has received numerous awards, including the Rotary International Ambassadorial Fellowship, inclusion in the National Music Honors Society, and her biography is listed in Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who of American Women. Her compositions and arrangements are published by Shawnee Press and Yelton Rhodes Music Publishing, among others, and she is a member of ASCAP.

E-Mail:

Website:

Terre is a member of MMEA, MNEA, NEA, MENC, MCDA, Delta Kappa Gamma, the National Federation of Music Clubs and is a past Elementary Vice-President of the Missouri Music Educator's Association. Terre is owner of McPheeters Music Publishing Company, specializing in selling and printing music suited for the young choral singer. She has also taught summer classes at Vandercook College of Music in Chicago for the past two years and has served on staff at the summer "Music Camp of Excellence" at NWMSU, Maryville, Missouri, for the past 17 years.

Terre has had articles published in the Missouri School Music Magazine and also in Music Workshops International, a nationally distributed magazine for music educators. She co-authored an article on inclusion that was published by the University of Kansas at Lawrence. Terre enjoys directing choirs and teaching units in technology, composing and arranging. Her newest goals include incorporating the national standards into the choral music curriculum. Terre's enthusiasm and positive attitude toward life is evident in her compositions as well as in her work as a clinician and educator.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

He is a staff arranger, assistant conductor and keyboard player for the Dave Stahl Sacred Orchestra. He has served as producer for two recordings of the orchestra; HOW GREAT THOU ART and PRAISE HIM. His arrangements of the music of Bernstein and Dvorak can be heard on several Dorian Records recordings as performed by the internationally acclaimed PROTEUS 7 ensemble. A music educator in the Lebanon School District (PA). he has served as a clinician for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association and is active as a guest conductor and adjudicator.

He is active in the central PA area as a performer in both big band and jazz settings on piano and bass. Miller is a former member of the trumpet section of the Harrisburg (PA) and Lancaster (PA) Symphony Orchestras. In the summer months, he serves as the musical director/arranger and bassist for the Timbers Dinner Theatre in Mt. Gretna, PA. Miller recently received the Creative Achievement Award from his alma mater, Lebanon Valley College of Pennsylvania.

E-Mail:Rmmusic@comcast.net

Website:

Sarah is actively involved in the music ministry of College Park Baptist Church, as soloist, choir member and leader. Her impassioned compositions reflect her heart for worship and service, her expert musicianship, and her knowledge of the unique challenges and blessings of working with vocalists of all ages and levels of ability.

E-Mail:mooresongs@cfl.rr.com

Website:

The child of missionary parents, Larry discovered his musical gift, while studying in India under the International Baccalaureate Program. In 1989 Larry almost died of viral encephalitis. After what some would consider a miraculous recovery, Larry committed himself to writing music more earnestly for God. Since then, his career as a composer has taken a dramatic turn. Larry is “composer in residence” for the West Coast Mennonite Chamber Choir, which has recorded over 100 of his compositions on thirteen CDs. This choir is often featured on CBC and WGNN FM. Larry’s compositions have been recorded by tenor Ben Heppner, soprano Edith Wiens, baritone Phil Ens, Tapestry Singers, Waterloo University, Fresno Pacific University Singers, the Cornucopia Brass Ensemble, the Brandenburg String Quartet and Chor Leoni, among others.

E-Mail:

Website:http://www.canuckcomposer.com

E-Mail:totoole@aaahawk.com

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

He is frequently invited to conduct honor choirs and choral festivals across the United States and is often asked to lead workshops for choral directors. Dr. Patterson’s compositions comprise a rich variety of styles for the sanctuary and the concert hall. Currently he has over 200 choral works in print as well as a solo piano collection, various musicals and choral compilations, and several volumes of vocal solos. Mark has been a consistent winner of the ASCAP Award in Composition for over ten years.

E-Mail:markpattersonmusic@gmail.com

Website:

Awards include The American Academy of Arts and Letters Marc Blitzstein Award; Obie and Villager Awards; as well as NEA and NYFA Fellowships. Peaslee has served on the faculty of the Lincoln Center Institute and New York University's Music Theatre Program. Richard Peaslee's music is published by Margun Music, a division of G. Schirmer, Inc. Boosey and Hawkes, E.C. Schirmer, Inc. and had been recorded on EMI, Columbia, Elektra, Musical Heritage Society and other labels.

E-Mail:

Website:

Dave is a recipient of the “Excellence in Teaching” award from the Arizona Music Educators Association. In the year 2000, he was selected as the “Arizona Music Educator of the Year” and also received the “Lifetime Recognition Award” from the Choral Directors of Arizona.

Jean began her music education studies at Baker University and completed her degree in Choral Music Education at Arizona State University. She spent seventeen years as a junior high choral director and eight years as an elementary general music specialist and choir director before retiring in 2002. Jean now spends her time in various community volunteer jobs, working with choirs in clinic situations, presenting interest sessions to fellow teachers and directing regional honor choirs and Elementary and Junior High All-States.

Honors received include the “Excellence in Teaching” award from the Arizona Music Educators Association, the “Teacher of the Month” award from Mesa Public Schools, the “Outstanding Choral Educator Award” for 2001 from the Arizona chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and the “Arizona Music Educator of the Year” for 2002.

Dave and Jean Perry have been writing and publishing songs for schools and churches for over twenty-five years. Their music has been performed by choirs in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, North America and Australia. They have over two hundred seventy-five songs in print and are recipients of multiple special composers awards from ASCAP.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:dalepeterson@mindspring.com

Website:

As an NDEA scholarship recipient in '60, he received his master's degree and did doctoral studies in music composition and theory at George Peabody College in Nashville where he was a student of Phillip Slates and Arnold Salop in composition. At Peabody his organ teachers included Scott Withrow, Sam Bate Owens, and Peter Fyfe. At North Texas State University, he studied organ with Don Willing and Charles Brown.

While active at Carson-Newman as a member of the Music Deparment, Mr. Pethel taught organ, piano, composition, and theory. In addition to his recital work at C-N and churches, he also has served as organist in several churches. He currently is serving as organist at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City,Tennessee. Mr. Pethel also has served as the sight-singing adjudicator for state vocal and choral association festivals in Tennessee for many years.

A regular winner of ASCAP's Standard Award for signifcant creative work writing and publishing music since 1985, he has had over 250 titles published by seventeen major publishing houses and has written several commissioned works including a choral work for the Governor's School for the Arts in l988. His favorite medium for writing is the organ, but he also writes and publishes for the piano, solo instruments, solo voice, and chorus as well. Like many composers today, Mr. Pethel uses MIDI technology and Finale on his computer to produce his works Several of his composition students have had music published.

Mr. Pethel has been the nominee for Tennessee's Composer of the Year by music organizations in both Knoxville and Greenville, Tennessee. He was selected by Carson-Newman to receive the Outstanding Alumni Award in 96. He also was honored by the Knoxville chapter of the American Guild of Organists with their Meritorious Award in recognition of his contributions to that organization and his musical activities and achievements as a composer in the field of music.

He has two children, Ann Marie, a lawyer in Dallas, Texas, and Stephen, an electrical enginner working for a private company in Huntsville, Alabam. His wife, Martha Pethel, is a retired third grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in Jefferson City.

In addition to being a free-lance composer, Pethel enjoys photography, swimming, hiking, and collecting interesting toys which he hopes to share with his first grandchild, Cole, Stephen and Cindy being the excited parents.

E-Mail:jpethel@charter.net

Website:

He is a widely published composer and arranger with over 1000 works in publication with 26 different publishers. His writing includes works for choir, piano, organ/piano duet, symphonic band, jazz ensemble, orchestra, handbells, solo instrument and piano, and various chamber music ensembles.

He is married to Jo Ann Pethel, a pianist and music educator. They have three grown children. Mary Ellen, college history teacher; Rob, a missionary with the International Mission Board; and Joseph, a physical education teacher.

E-Mail:

Website:

Gail is the composer/arranger of choral works for children, youth, and adults, as well as compositions for organ and organ/piano duets for Shawnee Press and other major publishers. Her music has been featured in workshops on Georgia composers at several summer conferences of the Georgia chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. She is currently a faculty member at Macon State College and the organist at Riverside United Methodist Church.

Her background includes time as a Director of Music, leading a music program which included a chancel choir, a graded children and youth choir program, two handbell choirs, small performing groups, a Sacred Arts Center, and a concert series. She has performed as a singer, pianist, and organist in music festivals and choir tours in England, Vienna, and Innsbruck, as well as at St. Mark's in Venice and St. Peter's in Rome. Never one to leave any stone unturned, she has also composed and recorded commercial jingles, accompanied a community chorus, been music director and rehearsal accompanist for amateur and professional theater productions, played keyboard in a dance band, and taught middle school music. She is a member of ASCAP and ACDA.

E-Mail:glpollock@hotmail.com

Website:

Nancy has been writing with her former teacher, Don Besig, since 1980 and together they have collaborated on more than 250 compositions for school and church choirs. She is a member of MENC, NYSSMA, Sigma Alpha Iota, and ASCAP and is the recipient of several ASCAP special awards. Nancy brings her years of teaching and conducting experience to her sessions and is being increasingly sought after as a clinician.

E-Mail:lyricist@rochester.rr.com

Website:http://www.priceandbesig.com

A composer and arranger of choral music since 1989, he now has over fifty songs in the catalogs of ten publishers. He was frequently invited to conduct festivals and honor choirs and had written a number of commissioned works for school, church and children's choirs. He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity and had been an ASCAP standard award winner for his compositions each year since 1989. He was the proud father of two sons, Jesse and Nathan.

E-Mail:

Website:

In addition to her current work as a free-lance choral writer, she is a popular speaker and clinician in choral music education and choral arranging techniques. She frequently conducts choral ensembles in district, regional, and state events.

She has presented papers at the International Society for Music Education, the National American Choral Directors Association convention, the Southeastern Music Education Symposium, the Texas Music Educators Association, and the Music Educators National Conference.

E-Mail:

Website:

Born in Helena, Montana, he grew up in Santa Monica, California and resided in the Palos Verdes Hills at the time of his death. Choir leaders everywhere rated Roy Ringwald as one of the most accomplished arrangers of our time. Before joining Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians as a singer and arranger in 1935, Roy Ringwald was associated with Earl Burnett, Raymond Paige and Andre Kostelanetz. His exclusivity with Shawnee Press, Inc. began when the firm was founded 56 years ago.

In the early 1940's, at Fred Waring's request, Mr. Ringwald arranged the poem "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," which was written by Julia Ward Howe. The arrangement was performed by Waring's Pennsylvanians on radio June 22, 1943. Fans inundated Mr. Waring's New York office with letters of praise. By 1962, one million copies of the SATB arrangement had been sold and it continues to be a steady seller today.

Roy Ringwald's studies in the field of music were limited to the elementary courses he received in parochial and public schools. Thereafter, he studied on his own and learned "the hard way." He was playing the piano at paid engagements with a dance group by the age of 12. While in high school, he studied voice, piano, organ, sight-singing, harmony, score reading and history of music. He organized dance bands and pit bands for silent motion pictures; he served as school organist and student director of the glee club; and he played viola with a classical string quartet (rehearsing at 6:30 a.m. before school), which also played paid engagements.

Following high school, he went directly into a professional career as performer and arranger, organizing his own professionally successful groups. When he joined Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians in 1935, he soon retired from performing and devoted his entire attention to writing. His work as an arranger and composer has an individuality of style that has retained its freshness over many years.

Battle Hymn of the Republic; Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor; God Bless America and No Man Is An Island are but a few of the hundreds of his stirring arrangements. His larger works such as Song of America and Song of Christmas are further evidence of his talent. Roy Ringwald continued to write music until his death July 11, 1995 at the age of 84.

E-Mail:

Website:

Dr. Robinson is a published author, composer and arranger with over 200 choral publications with various publishing companies. His choral writing ranges from classical choral arrangements for school and church choirs to original, jazz and show tune arrangements.

E-Mail:

Website:

In 1959, Mr. Rodby was elected to ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. His compositions and arrangements, now numbering 350, including nine music books, have been published by 19 American and European publishers.

Mr. Rodby has taught and directed music groups, primarily vocal, in three high schools and 15 colleges and universities. For over thirty years, he wrote a monthly column “The Choral Folio” for the School Musician Magazine, an internationally circulated publication for the school and church market. Mr. Rodby has conducted over 150 festivals and workshops and reading sessions in 20 states and his articles have appeared in a dozen state and national periodicals.

Mr. Rodby has provided significant leadership in every music organization to which he has held membership, including President, Illinois Music Educators Association, President, Chicago Choral Conductors Guild and President of the Illinois Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. From 1970 to 1977, on four separate occasions, he organized and conducted concert tours featuring a 100 voice high school choir, in 12 European countries, including Greece and the Soviet Union.

Mr. Rodby is a WWII veteran, and as a U.S.Army Infantry Officer (Captain), he served as Ammunition and Bomb Disposal Officer with the 66th (Panther) Division in Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star, The Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and two EAME Theatre ribbons. Upon his release from active duty, Captain Rodby served 27 years in the Army reserves, and in 1965, he was promoted to full colonel. Upon his retirement, he received the Meritorious Service Medal. In 1998, he received a special plaque from the Department of Defense WWII Commemoration Committee for “outstanding service” for composing and conducting a special celebratory anthem honoring the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII, performed at the famous Punch Bowl Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii on November 11, 1977.

Mr. Rodby’s awards and honors have been many, and include the coveted Steinway Award, the Illinois Music Educators Distinguished Service Award, the Harold A. Decker Award from the Illinois Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, Cook County “Teacher of the Year” award, and the National Arts Associate Award from Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity, at their 1984 National Convention in Chicago. In 1997, he was inducted into the HALL OF FAME of his hometown, Virginia, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Rodby (Janice Jessee) married in 1949 and have three children, a daughter, Judith, PH.D, tenured professor at California State University, Chico’ a son, Steven, musician bassist and nine-time GRAMMY winner with the Pat Metheny Group, a second son, Roger, M.D., Nephrologist, practicing at Rush Medical Center in Chicago. The Rodby’s have four grandchildren.

E-Mail:

Website:

Jan began playing for church at the age of six, in Ames, Iowa. She began her piano studies at the university there at that time, and continued at Drake University, Westmont College, and Cal State Northridge.

She has performed as accompanist with the Roger Wagner Chorale on several of their Far East tours, with the Angeles and Pacific Chorales, and with the Los Angeles Chamber Singers. She is a choral staff accompanist at California State University, Northridge.

As a published composer/arranger, she is a member of ASCAP. Her works, both choral and keyboard, can be found with a variety of publishers, including Alfred Publishing, the Fred Bock Publishing Company, and Shawnee Press. She has recorded three piano CD's.

Ms. Sanborn has served as organist for leading Southland churches, and is currently the President of the National Association of Church Musicians, formerly CCG. She is in demand as a clinician for music conferences and seminars, and has directed various community and church productions.

E-Mail:jansanborn@cs.com

Website:

Upon receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Penn State University in 1985, Norm worked in the Bellefonte Area School District in Pennsylvania as an elementary music specialist. He received several awards during his 11 years as an elementary general music/choral teacher including Outstanding Contributor to Education '89, Outstanding Young Educator '90-'91, and a Citation of Excellence from the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association in 1992.

Norm developed curriculum and taught in the REAL (Reinventing Education for Active Learning) Initiative in Bellefonte from 1993 to 1995. From 1995-1998, Norm was an elementary music specialist in Deep South Texas where he was nominated Teacher of the Year in two different school districts. Currently he continues writing educational music and runs a new music publishing company called The Write Stuff.

E-Mail:Nsands@ibm.net

Website:http://www.the-write-stuff.com

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:Ruthie@ruthie.com

Website:http://www.choralmusic.com

E-Mail:

Website:

With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Voice and Organ Performance from McKendree College in Lebanon, IL, and a Master of Church Music with an emphasis in Composition from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX, Mr. Schwoebel’s diverse education and practical experience in church music ministry enables him to arrange and compose in multiple mediums including piano, organ, handbells, and instrumental, as well as choral music for all ages.

Noted specifically for giving musical life to lyrics through sensitive melodies, well crafted choral writing and rich-sounding accompaniments, Mr. Schwoebel’s published works have been acclaimed by directors, singers, instrumentalists and listeners alike and have been included on the nationwide broadcasts of the ministries of Dr. Robert Schuler at The Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA, and Dr. James D. Kennedy at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Even though he is a music minister of an active congregation, Mr. Schwoebel continues to serve as a guest choral clinician throughout the United States and regularly composes commissioned works for local congregations, universities and community choruses.

The MICHELLE hymn tune included in the 1991 Baptist Hymnal is named after Mr. Schwoebel’s wife, Michelle. Together they have three teenage daughters, Brittany, Ashley and Courtney.

E-Mail:dschwoebel@derbyshirebaptist.org

Website:http://www.DavidSchwoebel.com

Dr. Seelig holds four degrees, including the DMA from the University of North Texas and the Diploma from the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He has four books and two DVDs on choral technique including the best-sellers The Perfect Blend and The Perfect Rehearsal. The fifth, The Music Within, is due out in the spring of 2010.

Dr. Seelig’s early training was as a singer. He made his European operatic debut at the Staatsoper in St. Gallen, Switzerland and his solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall. He also created roles in world premiers of world-renowned composers including John Corigliano, Conrad Susa and Peter Schikele (P.D.Q. Bach).

In 2009, Dr. Seelig conducted his 5th appearance at Carnegie Hall and the European Premier of Sing for the Cure at Royal Festival Hall in London. In 2010, he will conduct the 10th Anniversary of Sing for the Cure at Carnegie Hall and the Winspear Opera House.

Known for his enthusiasm and sense of humor, Grammy Magazine says, “Dr. Seelig takes eclecticism to new heights.” Fanfare Magazine says he raises singers from “the ranks of amateur choir to one receiving wide recognition for excellent performances of appealing, fresh repertoire.” The New York Times calls Seelig an “expressive performer,” and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram quips, “Seelig slices a thick cut of ham.”

He is the proud father of two wonderful children and, impatiently awaiting the arrival of grandchildren.

E-Mail:

Website:

During his studies with Maurice Hinson, he earned the Performer's Certificate in Piano Performance. Sharp has served as Minister of Music in various churches in Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana and served in Venezuela as a music missionary with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

As a composer and arranger, he has written and arranged a number of choral and instrumental pieces for use in worship settings, many of which blend old hymn tunes with contemporary material. He is currently serving as Worship Pastor at the Northpoint Community Church in Covington, Louisiana where he resides with his wife Leanne and their three children, Bethany, Brittany, and Brandon.

E-Mail:

Website:

A scholar, Dr. Shaw has a BA degree in Music Education and an MA degree in Choral Composition from San Jose University and a DMA degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington. A teacher, Kirby taught in the Mt. Shasta public schools before joining the faculty at College of the Siskiyous in California where he founded and directed the innovative and highly acclaimed COS Vocal Jazz Ensemble. He also directed similar groups at Colorado State Unversity and The University of Missouri-Kansas City and is now directing the Southern Oregon University Jazz Choir. Dr. Shaw's teaching is infused with a sense of humor and breadth of knowledge that is transmitted in an exciting and highly contagious manner. A composer/arranger with close to 2000 choral arrangements/compositions in print, Dr. Shaw's music is sung all over the world and has sold millions of copies

E-Mail:kirbyshawmusic@aol.com

Website:

Becki has been active as a piano teacher, accompanist, and arranger for over 25 years. A collection of her hymn arrangements, A Journey through the Seasons: Piano Arrangements for the Church Year, is published by Augsburg Fortress.

A graduate of Campbellsville College in music education, Becki went on to complete a master’s degree in piano performance from Mankato State University. She has received numerous ASCAP awards for her contributions as a composer. Becki is the mother of three children (Hannah, Aaron, and Jared) and the wife of Dr. Joseph A. Mayo, professor of psychology at Gordon College.

E-Mail:

Website:

From symphonies to salsa, Slechta scores music in all styles for groups of all abilities and sizes. Recently he completed symphonic orchestrations for the Sony/Miramax film “Once Upon a Time in Mexico,” scheduled for a September 2003 release. The orchestrations were recorded by members of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Gary has played trumpet on over fifty albums and sound tracks, and has served as arranger on several, including Shawnee Press’s “Down By the Riverside.”

He holds music degrees from two Iowa institutions: Morningside College in Sioux City, and Drake University in Des Moines. Following eight years of directing bands in the public schools, he taught bands, trumpet, and conducting at Morningside College from 1971-1982. During his tenure at Morningside he founded and hosted the Tri-State Jazz Festival, which was destined to become the largest in the mid-west. He was elected to the Iowa Jazz Educators Hall of Fame in April of 2002.

Gary has two grown children, four grandkids, and a lovely wife, Anne, who owns her own music copying service in Austin. Free time is spent playing tennis and boating on nearby Lake Travis.

E-Mail:slechtamusic@earthlink.net

Website:http://www.selectapress.com

She currently resides in Dallas, Texas where she is the Music Associate at Lavon Drive Baptist Church. In her “free” time, Heather works with the youth at her church. Mentoring teenagers is her passion -- most weekends find her camped out at Starbucks, solving all the world’s problems with “her” kids.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

As a composer of over 250 compositions and arrangements for vocal and handbell choirs, Howard says: "I have been composing and arranging for handbells since 1964. There was very little published music available for handbells at that time and there was a need. My first single and first collection for handbells was published in 1970 by Shawnee Press (Flammer). My aim has been to write music worthy of worship and praise that would be useable by most handbell choirs."

Howard is a member of the South Carolina Baptist Singing Churchmen, ACDA, Phi Mu Alpha, American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, and past member of the Florence Symphony Orchestra. Howard and his wife Nell reside in Florence, South Carolina and are the parents of an adult son and daughter.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:http://www.jamesmstevens.com

Stroope studied conducting with Dr. Douglas McEwen at Arizona State University and with Margaret Hillis, Chorus Master of the Chicago Symphony. He is currently the Director of Choral Studies at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, where he conducts the Concert Choir and directs the undergraduate and graduate choral conducting programs at the University. Dr. Stroope is also the Artistic Director of a summer international choral festival in Somerset, England and another summer music festival in Rome, Italy. This year, he will direct his 27th all-state choir, and is the only clinician to ever conduct the Texas all-state three times. Choral groups under his direction have taken 15 international tours, including China, Russia, Japan, Sweden, and South Africa. In the most recent international tour, he lead the Rowan Concert Choir in a tour of Italy, and a performance at the Vatican for mass. Dr. Stroope has also had performing groups on the ACDA and MENC National Conventions and the International Society of Music Education.

Dr. Stroope studied composition with Cecil Effinger and Normand Lockwood, both students of Nadia Boulanger (who was a student of Gabriel Faure'). Stroope has published 80 musical works and was the ACDA Raymond Brock commissioned composer for 2004. He has written works for the American Boy Choir, Boseman Symphony, Hilton Head Choral Society, Texas Choral Directors Association, and over 40 other groups.

Dr. Stroope was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, received a masters in Voice Performance from the University of Colorado, and received a doctorate in choral conducting from Arizona State University. He and his wife, Cheryl, enjoy travel and time with their Sheltie.

E-Mail:

Website:

When the Paris group disbanded in 1973, Swingle moved to London and formed an English group, expanding the repertoire to include classical and avant-garde works, along with the scat and jazz vocal arrangements. His pioneering ideas in new choral techniques have produced invitations to conduct a wide variety of choral ensembles: The Stockholm and Netherlands Chamber Choirs, The Dale Warland Singers, The Sydney Phil harmonica Motet Choir, The BBC Northern Singers, The Gregg Smith Singers, and the MENC National Honors Choir at Kennedy Center.

Over the last ten years, he has given a long series of workshops and seminars at outstanding universities in both Europe and North America. In March of 1994, Ward and his wife moved back to France, where he continues his work in arranging, composing, adjudicating and guest conducting. His book, titled Swingle Singing, tells the story of the French and English groups, Ward's own personal story, and defines "Swingle singing" techniques with illustrations from his arrangements and compositions.

E-Mail:

Website:

Professional, church, college, and school choral groups regularly record his music, and some of these performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio and Public Radio International.

He will be profiled in the forthcoming 59th edition of the original Marquis biographical directory Who's Who In America, included among the country’s 100,000 most accomplished men and women from all fields of endeavor.

At Wells College in Aurora NY, Crawford R. Thoburn is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities. His student choral groups have won international awards in juried competition, performed by invitation at ACDA conventions and MENC meetings, toured in the U.S. and Europe, participated in many inter-collegiate choral groups, and sung with professional orchestras.

Professor Thoburn has a B.A. from Allegheny College, where he studied theory, arranging, and conducting with Morten J. Luvaas. In 1999, the Allegheny Alumni Association awarded him the Association's Gold Citation, "in recognition and appreciation of the honor reflected upon the college by virtue of his professional achievements."

At Boston University, Professor Thoburn received an M.M. and worked as an assistant to his instructor in voice and conducting, Allen C. Lannom. He later studied choral and orchestral conducting with Otto-Werner Mueller, Margaret Hillis, and Robert Shaw.

A member of the American Guild of Organists and the American Choral Directors Association, Crawford served on the original National Committee on Editorial Standards of the ACDA. His scholarly articles have appeared in the American Choral Review, Wells College Express and the Choral Journal, where he served as head of the Choral Review Department for five years.

At Wells, Professor Thoburn has chaired the Music Department, the Division of the Arts, the Centennial Committee, the New Arts Facilities Committee, the Summer College Program, and the Faculty Advisory Committee, and he was named the first Campbell Professor of the Arts.

Crawford enjoys a national reputation for expertise in women's choral literature and performance. With years of experience as a music director for Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Episcopalian congregations, he is pleased to find his music being sung by large and small church choirs throughout the English-speaking world.

E-Mail:

Website:http://home.att.net./~langburn/

In January 1997, Vladimir Ashkenazy conducted The Deutsches Symphonie Orchester/Berlin in Dr. Thomas's Marimba Concerto, "Loving Mad Tom". Evelyn Glennie was the soloist. "... his arsenal of romantic ghost music from Weber to Berlioz to Liszt is recognized here, and sound-consciously conveyed into the modern idiom." - Jürgen Otten, Der Tagespiel.

Many chamber organizations and orchestras have performed Dr. Thomas's music in the United States and abroad. His work for solo Marimba, "Merlin", has become a standard among percussionists. Currently, a number of recordings of this work are available, including ones by William Moersch on Newport Classics, and Nancy Zeltsman on GM Records. Recent works include Wind for solo Marimba, premiered by Makoto Nakura, "The Heroic Triad" a commission from Twentieth Century Unlimited for Guitar, Percussion, and String Orchestra. On January 4, 2001, Renée Fleming sang Mr. Thomas's song "I Just Found Another New Voice Teacher" with the Orpheus Strings on "Live From Lincoln Center". Ms. Fleming commissioned and performed a new work from Dr. Thomas in April, 2003. He accompanied her on the piano at Alice Tully Hall.

Dr. Thomas has become a regular guest of the People’s Republic of China. In March 2000, as a guest of the Chinese Government, Dr. Thomas performed his composition for solo piano, "Music at Twilight", in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. While in China, he was the head western judge of a panel of pianists from all over the world judging the 2000 Chinese Works Piano Competition.

In December 2001, Dr. Thomas went to Nanning, China to conduct his "Three Scenes from the Summer Palace" and other works, to perform as a pianist and to teach master classes in composition. Dr. Thomas is an Advisor of Guangxi Arts College and a guest conductor of the Guangxi Arts College Youth Orchestra. He returned to Nanning in October 2002 for further conducting and as the main Western speaker at a conference of middle school administrators and government officials from all parts of China. He is currently working on composing a new cross cultural ballet for the Chinese people with an original story written by his partner Howard Kessler.

In August 2003, and again in July of 2004 he lectured, taught, and performed in Muju Korea. He now heads this festival.

The American Brass Quintet has just recorded Dr. Thomas‘s "Consonanza Stravagaant"’ on their American Visions album and performed it at Lincoln Center in the Fall of 2003. Also at Lincoln Centerhe, he recently conducted the premier of "A Samba", his new work for two flute choirs and chamber orchestra. On October 9, 2004, he will have a piano recital in Paul Hall at the Juilliard School celebrating his 65th birthday and 35 years teaching at the Juilliard School.

E-Mail:AndyJuil@aol.com

Website:

In 1995 the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers conferred upon Martha Lynn the status of Master Instructor of Handbell Notation.

In 2001 she was granted an Honorary Life Membership in the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers. "This status is deemed to be the highest honor which the AGEHR can bestow, it is reserved for individuals of the highest caliber who have made outstanding contributions to the art of handbell ringing."

Mrs. Thompson is a graduate of Henderson State University where she received her Bachelor of Music Education degree with a major in organ and theory. She has more than 225 published arrangements and transcriptions that range from music for the beginning bell choir to music for the most advanced choirs. With Frances Callahan she has written five series of music books for the beginning handbell choirs. There are thirteen collections in the Begin to Ring, Ready to Ring, Clapper Classics, Key Rings, and Classic Rings series. Alone she has authored other collections for beginning and intermediate bell choirs, Rhythm and Bells, three collections in the Time to Ring series and two collections of Christmas music entitled Hear the Bells at Christmas, and Hymns of Joy and Praise. She also has two published organ transcriptions, is the author of a handbook for directors and ringers entitled Bell, Book, and Ringer, and the author of a book for beginning directors and choirs entitled Handbell Helper.

On the AGEHR National level, Martha Lynn has served on numerous committees and currently she serves as Member-at-large on the Communications Committee.

In her retirement, as a volunteer she continues to direct two handbell choirs at St. James UMC, to work behind the scenes with the St. James Alumni Ringers which her husband directs, and to be active as an arranger of handbell music.

E-Mail:mltgft@aristotle.net

Website:

E-Mail:

Website:

As a graduate of Juilliard, he has arranged/composed/conducted music for Frosted Fantasy, an ice show presented in Tokyo during the occupation. Presently he is a music director for a traveling troupe here in Long Island, N.Y. and composes, arranges and plays piano for the players. Three shows with the original musical are: Money the Musical, The Tortoise and the Hare Run the 5K, and Best of the Beasts.

E-Mail:Hollowhill@juno.com

Website:

E-Mail:ascott@enter.net

Website:http://www.enter.net/~ascott/

Weymuth moved to his last position at Northwest Missouri State University in 1980. As Director of Choirs and Professor of Music, he not only directed the Northwest Celebration and Madraliers, but also taught courses in secondary choral methods, choral conducting and applied voice. His administrative duties included: Director of the Northwest Summer Music Camps, Director of the 48-School Northwest Jazz and Show Choir Festival, Choral Director of University Musicals and Producer of the Northwest Yuletide Feasts.

Weymuth received his B.M.E. and M.A. degrees from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg and his Ph.D. from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. His dissertation title was “The Development and Evaluation of a Cognitive Music Achievement Test to Evaluate Missouri High School Choral Music Students.”

Dr. Weymuth is a past president of Missouri American Choral Directors Association, a past vice president of the Missouri Music Educators Association and a past president of Missouri Student Music Educators Association. In 2002 he was inducted into the Missouri Music Hall of Fame as the thirtieth recipient. In 1992 he received the Luther T. Spayde Award from the Missouri American Choral Directors Association as the Outstanding Choral Director of the Year. He was named Outstanding Music Alumni of the Year in 1981 by Central Missouri State University and has received honors from the National Junior Chamber of Commerce as an Outstanding Young Man in America.

Along with his teaching and directing achievements, Weymuth is known for his numerous junior and senior high school choral clinics. During the past years, he has conducted over 700 choral clinics and festivals. He has conducted major choral festivals and all-state choirs in 39 states. Dr. Weymuth is also known for his numerous national and regional workshops on Classroom Motivation, Student Leadership, Success in the Classroom, Choral Literature and Show Choir Techniques.

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:jpaulyrics@sbcglobal.net

Website:

Ed's educational background includes a B.A. in Church Music and Conducting (Bethel College, St. Paul, MN), an M.M. in Composition (The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ), and a D.M.A. in Composition, with a Minor in Theory (The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ). While at The University of Arizona, Ed studied composition with Professor Jean Berger. In addition to serving at SBC, he has been a professor at Point Loma University in San Diego, CA, on the pastoral staff at College Avenue Baptist Church in San Diego, CA, and on the editorial staff of Good Life Publications (working under renowned Gospel composer and Gospel Music Hall of Fame member, John W. Peterson).

Ed is the composer/arranger of more than 100 published works and several recordings, and he served on the Advisory Board for The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration, the best selling hymnal from Word Music, Inc. He has also been the recipient of several ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) awards for his contribution to church music. Ed's desire is to provide creative corporate worship services for bringing people into God's presence on a weekly basis and to create opportunities for others on the Music Ministry staff and gifted lay persons to live out their giftedness to that end as well.

In 1995, while on sabbatical, Ed created Shepherd's Staff Worship Music®. In 2002, Shepherd's Staff Worship Music released "Gift From the Heart," its 21-track debut recording of music that Ed wrote and/or arranged, along with several other writers. It is truly an outpouring of Ed's heart, using the gifts and talents that the Lord has given him. The orchestra was recorded at Gaither Studios in Alexandria, IN, and it features the Scottsdale Bible Church Worship Choir from Ed's current church home in Scottsdale, AZ.

In 2003, Ed completed his first film score. Ed composed, orchestrated, and conducted the original score, and he also contributed two original songs. The film is titled "Arizona Summer" and will be in limited release in 2003. This music is published under Ed's WillmingTune Productions™ label.

Ed is married to Mary Lou, and they have two adult daughters, Nicolette and Camilla.

E-Mail:naw@shepherdsstaffmusic.com

Website:http://www.shepherdsstaffmusic.com

LARRY AS DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT HONOR CHORUS (2003 CAPITOL PERFORMANCE).

E-Mail:retmusaz@earthlink.net

Website:

He has written widely for choir, orchestra, organ, piano and a variety of other instruments. His works are heard regularly on the Tabernacle Choir's CBS radio broadcast. He is listed in the International Who's Who In Music Dr Wolford served for many years as a member of the LDS Church's General Music Committee and was a member of the Executive Hymnbook Committee that was responsible for the publication of Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (1985). He also assisted in the preparation of the Church's publication for children, Children Songbook (1989).

He has well over 350 published compositions with Harold Flammer and other publishers. His Organ Studies for the Beginner is published in English in this country and in Japanese by a publishing firm in Osaka, Japan. He and his wife, Julie, are the parents of five children, four of whom are living.

E-Mail:

Website:

In 1995, he accepted a part-time position at Coventry Cathedral as Associate Director of Music in order to pursue a very busy career with BBC television and radio, as well as an increasingly active life as a composer and arranger.

He is also currently Associate Conductor with the ESO Symphony Orchestra as well as Musical Director for the Saint Michael's Singers, Coventry, with whom he has just recorded his 15th CD.

In 2007, he was commissioned to compose a cantata to commemorate the tri-centennial birthday of Charles Wesley. Praise the Lord! Has received many performances in both the UK and USA.

He was guest conductor for Belmont University's 2007 Christmas at Belmont which was recorded in Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Centre, and broadcast nationwide on PBS Christmas 2007 and 2008.

He receives several commissions every year, and is constantly arranging for BBC 1 Television's weekly series, Songs of Praise.

E-Mail:

Website:

He has been Minister of Music in churches in California and Arizona. From 1984-1995 he served at the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources) in Nashville, TN. His duties at the Sunday School Board included being the Project Coordinator for The Baptist Hymnal, 1991. That hymnal contains five of his hymns including Worthy of Worship. Dr. York’s hymns also appear regularly in Christian Reflection, the journal of Baylor University’s Center for Christian Ethics. Sixteen of his hymns (set by David Bolin) appear as the 2005 Abingdon Press collection God in Time, one of the single-author collections in the Abingdon Press Hymn Series.

Dr. York has written a number of choral anthem texts (set by composers such as Bob Burroughs, David Danner, Tom Fettke, Benjamin Harlan, Mary McDonald, Earlene Rentz, David Schwoebel, and Vicki Hancock Wright) as well as articles dealing with worship, church music, and hymnology. He is a frequent guest lecturer and conference leader on those same subjects. His most recent book is The Voice of Our Congregation, co-authored with David Bolin( Abingdon Press, 2005).

Dr. York and his wife, Janna, have two adult children: Matt, and Melody York Zuniga.

E-Mail:

Website:

In 1964, he returned to Rome, Italy to compose film music for RCA Italiana. During that period, he became conductor/arranger for Metropolitan Opera soprano Anna Moffo. During his career, he has served as composer-in-residence at the University of Calgary and the Banff School of Fine Arts. Since 1973, he has been the composer-in-residence at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Among his numerous honors are a Steinway Prize; ASCAP Awards since 1964; and Outstanding Achievement Award, Province of Alberta. In 1998, he became the first four-time winner of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Music Award. With more than 300 published works to his credit, Zaninelli has been commissioned to compose for all mediums including opera, ballet, chamber music, orchestra, band, chorus and solo songs. He has also composed several movie and television scores, including the PBS documentaries: The Islander, Passover, and The Last Confederates.

In February 1998, United States Air Force Band, Washington, DC will premiere his newest work, A Crown, a Mansion and a Throne for soprano and wind ensemble with text by Phillis Wheatley, one of America's first Black poets. Luigi Zaninelli's music is known both under his name and his pseudonym, Lou Hayward. Writing as Lou Hayward, he brings a unique, sophisticated style to popular music. His ability to write so well in a multitude of styles attests to his superior talents as a musician.

Luigi Zaninelli's orchestral, band, and theatre works are available from the rental catalog at

E-Mail:

Website:

E-Mail:

Website: