South MountainMiddle School

Nationally Recognized Choral Director Visits with ASD Singers

Nationally Recognized Choral Director Visits with ASD Singers
Posted on 03/27/2019
Allentown School District’s middle and high school choral students will come together for an intense day-long workshop with a nationally recognized figure conductor and composer Dr. Rollo Dilworth. Groups of choir students from all four ASD middle schools (Harrison Morton, South Mountain, Raub, and Trexler) will work with Dr. Dilworth in the morning, and after lunch will be joined by the high school programs for a total of roughly 115 of ASD’s most talented singers. 

ASD teachers Jennifer Rarick and Cara Montagnese have coordinated the event for the past two years and hope to watch the new tradition grow in student participation. 

Dr. Dilworth, Professor of Choral Music Education from Temple University will work one-on-one during the day-long workshop at South Mountain Middle School, Friday, March 29. Conductor and composer at Temple, Dr. Dilworth also serves as the Chair, Music Education and Music Therapy for the University. He is internationally recognized and has traveled to work with K-12 students in the activity for many years, authoring 3 books used to help elementary and secondary students build their choral skills. He also writes and arranges his own music, which is performed by choirs across the country.

While in the Lehigh Valley, he will also conduct a workshop with ASD elementary music teachers and host a full-day program Saturday, March 30 at Community Music School, open to any music educator in the area. 

“I think it benefits our students greatly to work with a new conductor, especially someone as knowledgeable as Dr. Dilworth, said Jennifer Rarick, Choral Director of both Harrison-Morton & South Mountain Middle Schools. “Working with Dr. Dilworth allows our students to expand their horizons when it comes to choral performance,” she continued. “Since we are performing one of his pieces, it will be a unique experience to watch as he leads the rehearsal of his own piece with our students.”

The groups will come together again in the evening on March 29, for a concert featuring all ensembles and is open to the public. The concert will begin at 7:00 PM.