Alumni Conduct High School Honor Choirs at Michigan Music Conference

January 25, 2016

Associate Professor Clayton Parr, ’80 (foreground), takes a bow on stage at DeVos Performance Hall.

On January 23 at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids, two Albion alumni conducted statewide high school honor choir concerts before a packed house of more than 2,000 in DeVos Performance Hall.

Wendee Wolf-Schlarf, ’83, and Clayton Parr, ’80, were selected for this honor by a statewide ballot of their vocal music teaching colleagues across the state of Michigan.

Wolf-Schlarf, who teaches in the Traverse City Public Schools, and Parr, who returned to Albion College in 2012 as associate professor of music and director of choirs, spent three days in rehearsals working with the top high school singers in the state. Wolf-Schlarf conducted the state women’s honor choir, and Parr led the men’s honor choir.

Parr (left) with Wendee Wolf-Schlarf, ’83

“It was a great experience to work with these young singers,” said Parr. “It’s a particular point of pride to have two Albion grads among the three selected to conduct high school honor choirs this year. Wendee’s program was so varied and creative, and the choir gave a fantastic performance under her leadership.”