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: Clearwater Choral Festival Application Form (available soon)
Nominations for the 2021 festival will begin on September 13, 2021. Directors may nominate up to four balanced octets (32 students total) of talented singers using the online application. Applications are due October 8, 2021. Directors will be notified of selected students on a rolling admissions basis no later than October 11, 2021.

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 29th 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 selections coming soon!
Practice tracks will be provided and will be made available on September 13, 2021.

Payment
The participation fee for each student is $25, and is due upon registration on October 22, 2021. 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. If a student is registered but does not attend the festival, their fee is reduced to $10.

Oustanding 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 2021-22 academic year in order to receive the scholarship.

Please complete the Outstanding Vocalist Award audition application form (Available soon) and submit by Monday, October 4.  Auditions will be scheduled during the festival Saturday, October 23. It is in the student's best interest to provide his or her own accompanist.
Questions?
Contact Dr. Frank Watkins, Director of Choral Activities
(watkinfa@uwec.edu) or via phone at 715.836.2329, or 
Jose Peña, Choral Area Assistant
​(penaja9710@uwec.edu)