At the annual Board of Trustees retreat of the Savannah Children’s Choir (SCC), Roger Moss, co-founder and formerly Artistic Director of the organization was awarded the title of Director of Development. As Director of Development, Mr. Moss is tasked not only with matching potential sponsors with the goals and mission of the organization, but also identifying new strategic partnerships, and improving the understanding of music education in the community.

“Several years ago, we developed a five-point plan that continues to guide our work,” comments Moss. “In addition to implementing our missing of uniting Savannah’s children through the power of song through our annual Summer Camp, Rehearsal & Performance Season, Artist in Residence program and travel opportunities, we’re always seeking new partnerships and collaborations.”

Accomplishments already include collaborating with the Savannah Philharmonic for their upcoming Holiday Family Pops concert, and the SCC’s new Fellowship program which gives area schoolteachers an opportunity to work with the Savannah Children’s Choir to accomplish specific educational goals. Also, the SCC was recently awarded a five-year grant to develop an administrative internship specifically for students of Armstrong State University.

“We’re proud of Roger and the work he does for the SCC, and we’re looking forward to the many great things he will be able to accomplish in this new role,” comments Board of Trustees president Adam Kirk.

SCC’s Director of Education, Emmy Williams, has been selected to participate in a prestigious international exchange program sponsored by the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA).

According to ACDA staff, “the International Conductors Exchange Program (ICEP) is committed to leading the world in the creation of opportunities for intercultural and artistic dialogue with these choral communities from around the world. This dialogue is the key to creating connections and forging stronger relationships between ACDA and the rest of the world. It is an ongoing exchange program for emerging leaders from the U.S. and their international counterparts to interact with choruses and choral musicians from one another’s respective countries.”

As one of only fourteen conductors chosen from across the country, Williams was informed that the ICEP Review Committee unanimously decided that she was “ideally suited to represent the American Choral Directors Association during the 2015 ICEP exchange with Sweden.” Furthermore, her selection was based “on the outstanding quality of her work and strength of her portfolio.”

The ACDA will host fourteen Swedish choral conductors as part of the organization’s annual conference in Salt Lake City, UT next spring, and then Williams will travel to Sweden in the fall of 2015 for two weeks to meet, travel and work with conductors and choirs there. The award includes all lodging, transportation and meals once in Sweden, but does not include air travel there, so the SCC will be seeking sponsors to help offset the cost of the ticket.

“I guess one of my first new jobs will be finding funds to cover Emmy’s trip to Sweden,” laughs Roger Moss.
 

For more information about the choir or upcoming events, visit www.savannahchoir.org.