Stewarts Creek Athena Treble Choir to Perform for National Audience
The Athena Treble Choir, the premiere treble vocal ensemble at Stewarts Creek High School, has been selected to perform at the National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in March 2025 in Dallas, TX.
Dr. Susan Kelly and Dr. Brian Russell, co-directors of choirs at Stewarts Creek High School, will present an interest session with University of North Texas choral conductor Dr. Marques L. A. Garrett on Voices from the Light by 20th-Century composer Dorothy Rudd Moore. Athena recorded the piece, written for treble voices, string quartet, oboe, and piano, in the 2023-2024 school year. This represents only the third time the piece was performed since it was premiered by the Harlem Girls' Choir in 1997, after which the piece fell into obscurity.
"We are excited to bring Dorothy Rudd Moore's work to a national audience," says Dr. Kelly. "Dr. Garrett's research into non-idiomatic works by Black composers led us to this piece, and Athena's performance at a National Conference will help elevate it to its rightful place in the choral canon."
In order to be selected as a performing demonstration choir at a National Conference, Athena submitted performance recordings from multiple years, which were adjudicated by a national panel of choral experts. Only a few ensembles are deemed 'conference ready,' with even fewer gaining the invitation to perform.
"This performance represents the largest largest geographical footprint, the most exclusive honor, and the highest creative output any Stewarts Creek choir has ever achieved," said Dr. Russell. "We could not be more proud of the Athena Treble Choir!"
To hear the April 2024 performance of "Voices from the Light" by the Athena Treble Choir, click below.