EARTH AND SKY, BODY AND SPIRIT: INDIGENOUS MUSIC OF NORTH AMERICA
Country: USA
In this presentation Native American Music of the Southern Plains Tribes will be explored from the perspectives of a member of the Wichita tribe (Dr. Gregg-Boothby) and a composer (Dr. Childs). Native American music has frequently been misunderstood and misinterpreted by westerners, who incorrectly label the genre as ‘world music’. This presentation will draw attention to the importance of cultural, religious, political and historical aspects that lie at the heart of Native music.
Dr. David N. Childs, is a freelance composer, conductor, Adjunct Professor, and owner of River Avon productions. He believes that music has the power to transform lives for the betterment of all, and that the choral arts in particular should be freely accessible to all. David is President and Artistic Director of Vox Humana, a professional choir of 24 singers drawn from all over the USA. Additionally, he serves as Adjunct Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of North Texas and at Tarleton State University.
He received a Bachelor's degree in music from Canterbury University, Christchurch, New Zealand; an MM degree in orchestral and choral conducting from the Florida State University, Tallahassee; and a DMA degree, also in orchestral and choral conducting, from Louisiana State University. Following his graduate studies at LSU he then served as tenured Associate Professor of Choral Studies at Vanderbilt University from 2001- 2011.
Dr. Tracey Gregg-Boothby is Professor of Music at Rose State College, Midwest City, Oklahoma, where she directs the Rose State Chorus and Rose State Chamber Singers, and is instructor of voice and other undergraduate courses in music. She is an active member of numerous professional music organisations, including Vox Humana, and the Berwick Chorus of the Oregon Bach Festival. In the Oklahoma City area, she has recently been heard as “Marcellina” in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro at Southern Nazarene University. She is an active guest choral and vocal clinician with area middle and high schools and has served as stage director and music director for numerous musical theatre productions.
Dr. Gregg-Boothby received her undergraduate degree in vocal performance from Oklahoma State University, her Master’s degree in vocal performance from Oklahoma City University, and her DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Oklahoma.