The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is pleased to present the
30th Annual Clearwater Choral Festival.

Under the direction of
Dr. Frank A. Watkins & Dr. Christopher G. McGinley, 
the three-day festival will feature three concerts.

Details coming soon!
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Clearwater Choral Festival offers high school students from the greater Wisconsin-Minnesota area an opportunity to collaborate in an advanced ensemble directed by our outstanding UW-Eau Claire Choral Faculty. Students sample the fast-paced rehearsal process of collegiate choir while learning repertoire chosen for its musical excellence and finish the festival day with a culminating concert. The festival features performances by several university choral ensembles over the course of two days, as well as a scholarship competition for outstanding vocalists interested in attending UW-Eau Claire. Learn more about how your students can be part of the festival below!

APPLYING
​​Ensemble Applications - COMING SOON 

Directors may nominate up to four balanced octets (32 students total) of talented singers using the online application. Directors will be notified of selected students on a rolling admissions basis at a later date prior to the festival.

Note: We recognize that all schools may not be able to submit balanced octets. Please do not leave out any students because of this. Please submit all names and a selection will be made.

REpertoire
The Clearwater Choral Festival takes pride in the quality of repertoire that is selected for the festival choir each year. For the 30th Annual Festival, the UWEC Choral Faculty is working diligently to choose repertoire that upholds the standards of excellence we showcase in our festivals and ensembles.

Repertoire  - coming soon!

Practice tracks  - coming soon!

Payment
The participation fee for each student is $25, and is due upon registration (TBD). Participating students will receive a complimentary digital recording of the final concert and a Clearwater Festival T-shirt. All meals will be on your own while attending the festival. Checks for the participation fee ($25 per student) will be collected at registration and should be made payable to the UWEC Choral Area. No school purchase orders, please.
Note: Ensembles are responsible for purchasing their own music. 

OuTstanding Vocalist Award
The UW-Eau Claire Department of Music offers $1,500.00 in Choral Scholarship(s) to qualifying high school senior members of the Clearwater Festival Honor Choir.
​Participants must prepare a memorized classical solo for the audition. The Voice/Choral Faculty will determine scholarship recipients; outstanding vocalist(s) will perform at the Festival Concert Saturday evening. Scholarship recipients are required to participate in a choral ensemble at UW-Eau Claire during the 2023-2024 academic year in order to receive the scholarship.

The audition application will come out soon. Auditions will be scheduled during the festival. It is in the student's best interest to provide their own accompanist.
Director Schedule
SAMPLE

​7:45am    - Student Registration Haas Fine Arts Center
8:00am    - Director's Lounge
9:00am    - Reading Session #1
10:30am  - Reading Session #2
12:00pm  - Lunch Break
1:15pm    - UW-Eau Claire Choral Area Concert
2:30pm    - Guest High School Choir Rehearsal
3:00pm    - Director's Session
4:30pm    - Dinner Break
7:00pm    - Clearwater Choral Festival Concert
Student Schedule
SAMPLE

​7:45am    - Student Registration Haas Fine Arts Center
8:30am    - Full Rehearsal
9:00am    - Sectionals
10:00am  - Outstanding Soloist Competition
10:00am  - Combined Sectional
11:00am  - Full Rehearsal
11:15am  - Outstanding Soloist Recalls
12:00pm  - Lunch Break
1:15pm    - UW-Eau Claire Choral Area Concert
2:15pm    - Full rehearsal
2:30pm    - Guest High School Choir Rehearsal
4:00pm    - Full Rehearsal
4:30pm    - Dinner Break
6:00pm    - Honor Choir Warm Up
7:00pm    - Clearwater Choral Festival Concert
A Cappella Extravaganza
Schofield Hall Auditorium

From pop to renaissance, this must-see performance by our university a cappella ensembles showcases the art of a cappella singing. Our university a cappella groups are student-led and consist of both music majors and non-majors. 
Purchase tickets online or at the UW-Eau Claire Service Center – 715.836.3727. Tickets are $7. 
F E A T U R I N G . . .
​Novum Voce, Fifth Element,
Callisto, Impromptu, Audacious,
and The ​Innocent Men
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​​ Choral Area Concert
 Gantner Concert Hall

In this afternoon concert, the esteemed Women's Concert Chorale and Singing Statesmen take to the stage to astound audiences with another showcase of UW-Eau Claire's Choral excellence. Both ensembles are comprised of students from various academic disciplines that come together to carry on the tradition of excellence. This concert is free admission to all; we hope to see you there!
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 Festival Concert
 Pablo Center at the Confluence - RCU Theatre
​ Featuring Featured Festival Choir, UW-Eau Claire Concert Choir,
 Festival Honor Choir, and Outstanding Soloist Award winners.

The Festival Concert concludes the weekend of choral excellence. At this concert, the Festival Honor Choir of over 200 regional high school students will showcase the repertoire they worked hard to learn during the festival day. The concert will also feature performances by Spring Grove High School Choir, our university's Concert Choir, and winners of the Outstanding Soloist Awards. Tickets may be purchased from the Pablo Center at the Confluence at www.pablocenter.org

F E A T U R E D  F E S T I V A L  C H O I R
    
Questions?
Contact Dr. Frank Watkins, Director of Choral Activities
(watkinfa@uwec.edu) or via phone at 715.836.2329, or 
Hannah DeYoung, Choral Area Assistant
​(deyounhv3391@uwec.edu)