Guest Clinician
Frank Watkins
Frank Watkins is assistant professor of music and director of
Choral Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. A native of Omaha,
Nebraska, Watkins taught secondary choral music in Texas for six years. He holds
degrees in piano performance from Jackson State University (BM), the University
of Arkansas (MM), and choral conducting from Northwestern University (MM) and
Michigan State University (DMA).
Watkins is in demand as
guest conductor and clinician. Recent engagements include the Mid-Michigan
Honor Choir (2013), University of Nebraska Omaha Collegiate Choir Concert Series
(2014), Dunn St. Croix Honor Choir (2015), Lakeland All-Conference Honor Choir
(2015), University of Nebraska Omaha Middle School Honor Choir (2016), Eau Claire
Chamber Orchestra (2016), Red Cedar Honor Choir (2017) and the Big Nine
Festival Honor Choir (2017). Future engagements include the Great Northern Conference
All- Conference Choir (2017), Cloverbelt All-Conference Honor Choir (2018), and
the 2018 Men’s Choir Festival in Stillwater, Minnesota. He has presented workshops on
choral methods for the International Music and Christian Arts Conference,
Michigan State University, and the Ohio State University. In 2015 he presented
at both the Wisconsin Music Educators State Convention and the National
Collegiate Choral Organization National Conference.
In 2016, Watkins completed a summer research trip to
Corsica studying ancient Corsican polyphony. In 2017, Watkins will lead an
International Fellows Trip to Dakar, Senegal, to study the use of hip-hop and
rap as a form of non-violent political protest. Watkins' research interests
include the intersectionality of race, class, and gender in the music of
African-American Women in the 21st century.
Watkins joined the
faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2014. In 2016, he was
appointed conductor and music director of the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra. A
dynamic young conductor, Watkins’ love and passion are teaching. He believes
that in order to educate, you must first inspire! It is his goal to make an
impact—not just an impression on the lives of those that follow his baton.
Rules
The intention is for this to be simple and nonthreatening. You are free to present whatever music you choose. Each choir will have a total of 30 minutes. This includes both performance time and your clinic.
Please be prepared to supply three original copies of each of your scores, with the measures numbered, for our panel. These will, of course, be returned to you.
Each clinician will fill out the enclosed “rubric.” Numbers and ratings will not be used, nor will they be posted. This is simply a form to help guide our listening and provide you with feedback. In addition, recorded comments, a performance recording, and on-stage clinic will be provided.
We respectfully ask that food and drink be kept out of Fisher Auditorium.
Attire
While it is typical that ensembles wear their performance attire for adjudication, this is not required. Changing facilities/dressing room space will be limited. It is suggested that each ensemble wear what they intend to perform in. This is completely at the conductor’s discretion.
Hosts
Each participating school will have one to two IUP students serving as their hosts. These students will meet you when your buses arrive, escort you through campus, help you stay on schedule, and assist you in any way needed. Expect that they will be contacting you via e-mail prior to the event to establish your ETA so that they are prepared to meet you.