The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is pleased to present the
33nd Annual Clearwater Choral Festival.
Under the direction of
Dr. Frank A. Watkins & Dr. Christopher G. McGinley,
the two-day festival will feature three performances.
33nd Annual Clearwater Choral Festival.
Under the direction of
Dr. Frank A. Watkins & Dr. Christopher G. McGinley,
the two-day festival will feature three performances.
|
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 |
Directors may nominate up to five balanced octets (40 students total) of talented singers using the online application. Directors will be notified of selected students on a rolling admissions basis. Nominations are due Monday, September 29 (nominations will begin September 15, 2025.) Directors will be notified of selected students starting Friday, October 3.
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 33rd Annual Festival, the UWEC Choral Faculty has worked diligently to choose repertoire that upholds the standards of excellence we showcase in our festivals and ensembles.
Repertoire coming soon! PRACTICE TRACKS AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 Packets are ordered through using the Application Form. Packet price for individual member: $11.00 plus shipping The Musician's Choice, LLC 1520 North Church Road –Suite D Liberty, MO 64068 816.781.9700 Fax: 816.781.3299 Toll Free: 888.571.6640 [email protected] |
Payment |
The participation fee for each student is $30 (does not cover cost of music), and is due upon registration October 18. 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 ($30 per student) will be collected at registration and should be made payable to the UWEC Choral Area. No school purchase orders, please.
*Any students that drop after Friday, October 10th or do not attend the festival the day of will be charged only $15 per student to cover their festival t-shirt and other expenses. Note: Ensembles are responsible for purchasing their music packets via the invoice shipped with the music |
OuTstanding Vocalist Award |
UW–Eau Claire Choral Festival Scholarship, $1,500.00 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 2026-27 academic year in order to receive the scholarship. Outstanding Vocalist Award Adjudicators: Christine Amon, mezzo-soprano Emily Sternfeld-Dunn, soprano Mark Mowry, tenor Kenneth Pereira, baritone Please complete the Outstanding Vocalist Award Form and submit by Mon. October 6. |
|
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 7:30pm - 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 4:45pm - Dinner Break 6:30pm - Honor Choir Warm Up 7:30pm - Clearwater Choral Festival Concert |
|
A Cappella Extravaganza
Friday, October 17, 2025 - 7:30 PM Schofield Auditorium From pop to renaissance, this must-see performance by our university a cappella ensembles showcases the art of a cappella singing. The 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 – 715.836.4636. Tickets are $10. |
F E A T U R I N G . . .
Fifth Element, Callisto, Impromptu, Audacious, and The Innocent Men |
UWEC Theatre Musical: Young Frankenstein
Saturday, October 18, 2025 - 1:15 PM
Pablo Center at the Confluence - JAMF Theatre
Free admission - In the middle of the day, UW-Eau Claire's Theatre and Musical Theatre students will perform a FREE showing of the musical production "Young Frankenstein" for the participating students at Clearwater Choral Festival with the chance for a Q&A session afterwards.
Saturday, October 18, 2025 - 1:15 PM
Pablo Center at the Confluence - JAMF Theatre
Free admission - In the middle of the day, UW-Eau Claire's Theatre and Musical Theatre students will perform a FREE showing of the musical production "Young Frankenstein" for the participating students at Clearwater Choral Festival with the chance for a Q&A session afterwards.
Festival Concert
Saturday, October 18, 2025 - 7:30pm
Pablo Center at the Confluence - RCU Theatre
Featuring Festival Honor Choir, UW-Eau Claire Choirs,
Outstanding Soloist Award winners, and Featured Festival Choir.
Tickets available soon!
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 our university's Concert Choir and Novum Voce, the winners of the Outstanding Soloist Awards, and the Featured Festival Choir.
Saturday, October 18, 2025 - 7:30pm
Pablo Center at the Confluence - RCU Theatre
Featuring Festival Honor Choir, UW-Eau Claire Choirs,
Outstanding Soloist Award winners, and Featured Festival Choir.
Tickets available soon!
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 our university's Concert Choir and Novum Voce, the winners of the Outstanding Soloist Awards, and the Featured Festival Choir.
F E A T U R E D F E S T I V A L C H O I R
|
|
Beaver Dam High School's Bel Canto
Mark Lefeber, director
The BDHS choirs are in their 99th season, eagerly anticipating their 100th next year, which will include the world premier of a commissioned piece by Dr. Z. Randall Stroope. The BDHS choirs consist of three ensembles: Bel Canto (an auditioned mixed ensemble), Treble Choir (non-auditioned sopranos/altos), and Varsity Choir (non-auditioned Tenors and Basses. The program has three contemporary a cappella groups: Good Old A Cappella (regular quarter finalists in the International Championship of High School A Cappella), Treble Threat (sopranos/altos, directed by Mark's wife, and Beaver Dam Middle School choir director, Jessica Lefeber), and Bro Re Mi (tenors/basses). The department is active in solo and ensemble festival participation, with nearly half of all choir members performing a solo or in a small ensemble, and nearly two-thirds of Class A events qualifying for state in recent years. Bel Canto won a "Christmas Idol" competition through a local radio station with their recording of "No Room, No Room" by Ruth Morris Gray in 2019.
Mark Lefeber, director
The BDHS choirs are in their 99th season, eagerly anticipating their 100th next year, which will include the world premier of a commissioned piece by Dr. Z. Randall Stroope. The BDHS choirs consist of three ensembles: Bel Canto (an auditioned mixed ensemble), Treble Choir (non-auditioned sopranos/altos), and Varsity Choir (non-auditioned Tenors and Basses. The program has three contemporary a cappella groups: Good Old A Cappella (regular quarter finalists in the International Championship of High School A Cappella), Treble Threat (sopranos/altos, directed by Mark's wife, and Beaver Dam Middle School choir director, Jessica Lefeber), and Bro Re Mi (tenors/basses). The department is active in solo and ensemble festival participation, with nearly half of all choir members performing a solo or in a small ensemble, and nearly two-thirds of Class A events qualifying for state in recent years. Bel Canto won a "Christmas Idol" competition through a local radio station with their recording of "No Room, No Room" by Ruth Morris Gray in 2019.
Questions?
Contact Dr. Frank Watkins, Director of Choral Activities
([email protected]) or via phone at 715.836.2329, or
Danika Trzebiatowski, Choral Area Assistant
([email protected])
Contact Dr. Frank Watkins, Director of Choral Activities
([email protected]) or via phone at 715.836.2329, or
Danika Trzebiatowski, Choral Area Assistant
([email protected])