48th Annual

Youth Choir Rally

May 1-3, 2009
University United Methodist Church
San Antonio TX

www.reachingyouth.org

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What is Youth Choir Rally?

The Conference Youth Council along with youth choir directors and pastors help sponsor Youth Choir Rally. The event is in its 48^th year and still going strong. Hundreds of youth gather each year to participate in this weekend of singing, sharing, and fellowship with youths from across the SWTC.

For more info contact: Karen Andrews, Youth Choir Director, University UMC karen.andrews@uchurch.tv, 210.696.1033, or Rusty Freeman, SWTC Dir. of Youth, rhf143@aol.com

Registration Information for the 48th YCR, May 1-3, 09

Regular Registration Fee: $50 (youth and adults)
Early Registration Deadline:  Monday, 4/13/09
Registration Fee after 4/13/09: $60        
Final Registration Deadline:  Monday, 4/20/09

Contact Patty Chebultz,Youth Ministry Assistant, pattyc@umcswtx.org, 210.408.4538, 888.349.4191 x538 or Rusty Freeman at rhf143@aol.com for questions. Please note that this is a Youth Choir Rally Deadline. Your Local Church Deadline is TBD by your youth choir leader. These fees do not include motel, transportation, or breakfast costs. Please see your Choir or Youth Director for total cost. Late registrations must pay an extra $10 fee. Refunds are for emergencies only and exclude a $10 processing fee.

Attention: Churches

Please send one check for all registrants. Checks should be made payable to: SWTC Treasurer. Mail forms to: SWTC Registrar,  16400 Huebner Road, San Antonio TX 78248. Churches bringing sponsors need to make sure they have been cleared through the SWTC Background Saftey Check. This is both a Conference and local church policy. For scholarship assistance please contact Rusty Freeman at the SWTC Office of Youth Ministry, 210.408.4510

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Clinician: Mark Hayes

As a beginning piano student of ten years of age, Mark Hayes had little idea of the foundation he was laying for his future career in music. From those inauspicious beginnings in northern Illinois, his career has blossomed into international tours to Europe, the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Brazil. Now an internationally known writer, his music can be found in the music libraries of the finest churches and universities in the country, and he is in increasing demand for choral clinics and concerts.
Two exceptional piano teachers who encouraged Mark to develop improvisational skills within the first year of lessons guided his early musical training. His musical talents grew through the support of his family and through playing at church and school events. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance, magna cum laude from Baylor University, but his degree was only a small part of what he gained from those four years. During his college years his dream to become a composer and arranger of contemporary Christian and sacred music was born and nurtured.

Today Hayes' vocal and instrumental writing is widely acclaimed and performed across the nation. He is well-known for his unique choral settings which draw from such diverse styles such as gospel, jazz, pop, folk, and classical to achieve a truly "American sound." The popularity of his music is evident in the numerous offers of commissions he receives from universities and churches throughout the country. Te Deum, his newest work for oratorio chorus and orchestra, was commissioned and premiered by Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX in April 2004. His works are regularly featured at annual conventions of the American Choral Directors' Association and the Music Educators' National Conference. His personal catalog, compiled over the last 30 years, includes well over 600 published original compositions and arrangements, which are distributed by several leading publishers. Hayes has produced and arranged over 50 recordings for various artists and publishers, 25 keyboard folios, and seven volumes of the Mark Hayes Vocal Solo Collection.

"Empowering church musicians has always been one of my goals", says Hayes. He lives this out by regularly serving as a clinician at arranging, orchestration, and piano improvisation workshops throughout the country. Because of his creative arranging approach, his performance expertise, and his "hands on" experience as a church pianist for so many years, Hayes is able to give fresh insights into improvisation, accompanying, and congregational hymn playing for the church musician. He is also a co-creator of a multi-level piano method series designed for young church pianists. To further educate and encourage new arrangers and composers, he has served as an adjunct composition instructor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri from 1991-1993.

Hayes often incorporates a piano concert featuring his own arrangements into a weekend choir clinic. His warm, sensitive style at the keyboard and behind the conductor's podium makes him an instant favorite among all age groups. Mark is often contracted to provide music leadership for national church conferences, and has shared the stage with such people as former president Jimmy Carter, and well-known authors Tony Campolo, and Keith Miller.

May 27, 2007 marked Hayes' conducting debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He conducted a 200 voice chorus and the New England Symphonic Ensemble performing the East coast premiere of his Magnificat and Spirit Suite and the Carnegie Hall premiere of his Te Deum.
 
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 recurring recipient of the Standard Award from ASCAP, and his album, I've Just Seen Jesus," received the Dove Award, the equivalent to a Grammy in gospel music.

Visit www.markhayes.com for more info.

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Tentative YCR 2009 Schedule

Friday, May 1, 2009
6 PM Registration Begins
7 PM Introductions
7:20 PM Rehearsal #1
9 PM Break/ Snacks
9:20 PM Worship w/ Ryan Barnett & Mark Swayze Band
10:15 PM Dismiss
 
Saturday, May 2, 2009
8:30 AM Devo in Fellowship Center
9 AM Sectional Rehearsals
10 AM Snacks/Break
10:20 AM Rehearsal #2
12 PM Lunch & Choir Directors’ Meeting
1:15 PM Rehearsal #3
3:15 PM Announcments / Questions
3:30 PM Dismissal
4 PM Free Time Options / Break
7 PM Celebration Dinner and Party
9 PM Concert with Grey Holiday
10 PM Celebration ends!
 
Sunday, May 3, 2009
8:30 AM Gather for Final Rehearsal & Group pic
9:30 AM Worship Service 1
10:45 Short Break
11 AM Worship Service 2
12 PM Dismissal / Groups get sack lunches
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Housing Information

Hotel Registration
YCR has joined with CCC (Creative Convention Consulting) for all hotel reservations. This will save time and money as CCC has pre-selected hotels for YCR discounts. In order to make a reservation please visit CCC online at www.mycreativeevent.com.

For additional assistance please call CCC at 330.430.9999 or Doug Vaughn at 817.269.1673. *Note: Groups choosing to stay in hotels will do so by providing their own adult supervision and in accordance with their local church Youth-Child Safety Policy.
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