Wirth Music Academy

May 10 – May 18, 2008

CHURCH OF ST. AIDAN, WILLISTON PARK NEW YORK

Vienna Boys’ Choir Artistic Director Gerald Wirth presents Conducting and Vocal

Training Masterclasses. May 10 –18, Church of St. Aidan, Williston Park, New York

Dear Choir Directors,

Dear Parents and Students.

For centuries the Vienna Boys Choir has been a standard of musical excellence for choirs throughout the world. Now, you can get the same training as boys and choir directors in the Vienna Boys’ Choir receive: from their Artistic Director, composer and conductor Gerald Wirth. Maestro Wirth is founder of the Wirth-method, the unique musical training method combining entertaining group experience with high-quality artistic development. The teaching approach is holistic and incorporates associative learning, integrating body, voice, and music. The Wirth Academy offers training for choirmasters / music teachers both with children and adult choirs. It teaches techniques to sustainable vocal development, vocal awareness and pitch differentiation. The classes are enjoyable and take place in small groups.

As the Music Director of the Church of St. Aidan, I have also had the honor to be a regular guest artist with the Vienna Boys Choir and have been working with maestro Wirth since 2002. I have personally tremendously benefited as a musician and a choir director from working with maestro Wirth’s, from his charismatic style and unique artistic personality. This past December the Church of St. Aidan was proud to host the Vienna Boys’ Choir for our Christmas concert. Our partnership with the Vienna Boys Choir continues and we will be hosting the Wirth Music Academy, conducting and vocal training workshop for choirmasters, children and adults.

MUSIC TEACHERS AND Choirmasters. The workshop for music teachers / choirmasters focuses on conducting, efficient choir training methodology, basics of vocal training and childrens’ voice development, exercises to correct singing deficiencies, discussion on style and interpretation of various choir pieces. Choirmasters will have the opportunity to rehearse choir(s) under the guidance of Gerald Wirth and conduct a choral composition at the Festival Concert on May 18. Choirmasters who only wish to observe choral rehearsals can register at adult singers’s rate.

Children will participate in vocal masterclasses led by Maestro Wirth using the same method used to rehearse and prepare students in the Vienna Boys’ Choir for admittance into the performing choirs. Children and adults attending will also have the opportunity to receive individual and small-group lessons with maestro Wirth and his assistants. Space is limited to 12 choirmasters / teachers and will be assigned on the first come / first serve basis.

Adults. In addition to rehearsing repertoire, the sessions will cover topics as sight-reading, rhythm and aural training, body awareness and breathing techniques. Several St. Aidan’s choir members and school students attended Wirth Academy in Austria in past years and gained valuable musical experience.

Classes will be held at the Church of St. Aidan in Williston Park and at Our Lady of Grace Retreat Center in Manhasset. Assistants to Maestro Wirth will be Christian Herbst, the renown vocal coach from Salzburg, Austria; Ms. Reagan Stone and Mr. Terence Goff, St. Aidan Cantors and Voice Teachers with studios in Manhattan and Long Island. Please refer to the enclosed materials for additional information. This is the first time maestro Wirth is holding the Academy outside Austria. It’s a unique musical opportunity I believe you will tremendously enjoy. Please email to drago@staidanparish.org or call 516 / 746 65 85, ext. 130 for more details. Please use the following links to view more information and to register for classes.

REGISTRATION FORM SEMINAR BROCHURE SCHEDULE WIRTH METHOD BROCHURE

Wishing you all the best in your musical endouevours I hope to see you in May with Maestro Wirth.

Sincerely

Rev. Robert L. Hayden, Drago Ivanov Bubalo,

Pastor Director of Music

CHURCH OF SAINT AIDAN ● 505 Willis Av. ● Williston Park New York ● T: 516/746-6585 ext. 130