Millersville University’s Tell School of Music would like to invite you and a select SATB quartet or octet of your finest students to participate in our annual “Voices of the Future: Honors Sight-Singing Choir.” This day-long event is scheduled for Friday, October 17, 2025, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The cost is $50.00 per quartet (SATB preferred) or $15.00 per student and includes:

•  Enjoyable and educational rehearsals for students to develop their vocal technique and choral musicianship

•  Exciting repertoire to be learned throughout the day (no advanced preparation necessary)

•  Vocal masterclasses for students to receive individual instruction and coaching on prepared songs (optional). Each school may nominate two singers to participate in the masterclass.

•  Workshop for teachers where participants may bring 2-3 of their favorite pieces (“chestnuts”) to share with their colleagues and learn new repertoire that works!

•  Lunch and snacks, including a light morning snack, lunch, and light afternoon snack

•  A festive concluding concert at 4:00 pm in the Biemesderfer Concert Hall (free and open to the public) with performances by the MU Chorale, MU voice faculty, and the Honors Sight-Singing Choir.

If you are interested in participating in this exciting day of vocal-choral activities, simply complete the online application form below by October 10.

Click here (or copy and paste link into a browser) to register students:  

https://forms.office.com/r/9Cw3cSberM

Each school will provide its own transportation to and from Millersville University (parking permits will be distributed). The Tell School of Music invites each teacher to participate in the day as well, and we hope you will share details of this event with other high school choral conductors. However, to keep the Honor Choir small and selective, we can only reserve seats for the first 80 students that are registered.

Please consider joining us for this fun, educational, and exciting opportunity; a great day of quality choral music-making and vocal instruction. As the event draws near, more specific information will be shared. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions: jeffrey.gemmell@millersville.edu

Tentative Schedule:

8:00 am to 9:00 am       Registration

9:00 am to 10:00 am     Honor Choir Rehearsal #

10:00 am to 10:15 am    Break with light snack

10:15 am to 11:00 am    Honor Choir Rehearsal #2

11:00 am to Noon         Students tour campus, especially Tell School (recording studios, etc.)                                          Teacher Workshop with Music Education faculty

Noon to 12:45 pm Honor Choir rehearses alongside University Choir

12:45 pm to 1:15 pm     Lunch

1:15 pm to 2:15 pm       Choir Rehearsal #3

2:15 pm to 2:30 pm       Break with light snack

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm       Vocal Masterclass led by Voice Faculty

3:30 pm to 4:00 pm       Final Rehearsal for Concert

4:00 pm to 4:45 pm       Final Synthesis Concert (Voice Faculty, Chorale, Honor Choir)

About the Conductor:

Dr. Jeffrey S. Gemmell, D.M.A.

Associate Professor/Coordinator of Choral Studies,

Millersville University’s Tell School of Music

Dr. Gemmell, Associate Professor/Coordinator of Choral Studies, has over twenty-five years of college teaching experience in choral performance and conducting, music education, and studio voice/vocal pedagogy, with advanced degrees earned in each of these specialty areas. Gemmell originally began teaching at Millersville University in 2006, left MU for a position at University of Colorado Boulder in 2009, and returned to MU in 2013. He has also held teaching positions at Ithaca College, Cornell University, and Metropolitan University of Denver. Gemmell holds degrees from Towson University, Northwestern University, and University of Colorado Boulder.