Reply To: First Festival-Help!

[nafmeadmin]

The Eph Ely book is excellent and a great recommendation. Hosting a festival is a detail-intensive task for sure. Always work from big to small:

1. Get the date (in consultation with the participating teachers)
2. Get the venue (maybe do this first to see what dates are available)
3. Get the guest conductor contracted (inform him/her the level of ability and the length of the program and how much time there is to rehearse)
4. Select the literature (or approve the conductor’s choices)
5. Audition the choir (or get recommendations from the teachers)
6. Communicate at every step with everyone
7. Hold the festival

Clearly this is a simple list without much detail, but it helps to guide you through the big decisions that affect the smaller ones. I hope this helps a little. Be Well! Chris Peterson