UUMN Conference 2015 - Boston, MA

July 22-26

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Welcome Back to Boston…where it all began! Back in 1983, UUMN held its first-ever annual conference in historic Boston, MA. We are delighted to welcome you back for this 33rd installment of our ever-popular summer conference. With its rich history and strong UU presence, Boston is always one of our most popular and well-attended conference locations and this year promises to be no different. In order to sufficiently accommodate our spatial needs, the layout will be similar in many ways to that of the 2008 conference, with workshops and events spread out between the conference hotel and three different historic churches, all within a 10 minute walk of each other.The Conference Planning Committee is working hard to secure knowledgeable and dynamic speakers both from within and outside our UU circles to ensure that the 2015 conference will be rewarding for all who attend. Our featured choral clinician will be Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, Founder and Artistic Director of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale in Toronto, ON, which focuses on Afrocentric music. We are also pleased to have lively songwriter and educator Joanne Hammil present sessions on unique rounds, partner songs and choral gems. Watch the website to learn about the other exciting speakers we are pursuing to fill out our program. This year we will be looking to continue and expand our recent track system, enabling us to address the various needs represented by our membership. These “tracks” highlight activities for such focus groups as choral conducting, youth and children’s music, keyboards, composition, and music program support by having compatible workshops and events for each spread out across the schedule in a suggested path. We look forward to seeing you in Boston this July! Host Churches We'll be spending our mornings at Arlington St. Church and afternoons at First Church Boston and neighboring First Lutheran Church. All locations are withing walking distance of the hotel. Transportation will be provided for those with mobility issues. Arlington Street UU 351 Boylston St. Boston, MA 02116 First Church Boston 66 Marlborough St. Boston, MA 02116 First Lutheran Church 299 Berkeley Street Boston, MA 02116

Quick Links Choral Clinician Professional Development Day Choral Repertoire UU Composers Hotel Plenary Sessions Workshops Mentors Bookstore Recitals Scholarships Partner Pass Conference Circle Wednesday evening Friday banquet and Variety Show Conference and Hotel Costs Downloads and Interactive Forms Registration Form Workshop Proposal/Submission Form Conference Scholarship Form

Choral Clinician - Dr. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor

Founder and Artistic Director of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Toronto, Canada

Brainerd Blyden-Taylor is a choral conductor, educator, church musician (born 1954 in Trinidad). Blyden-Taylor was among the first to encourage the study and dissemination of Afrocentric music in Canada and the US. His passion for educating has led to frequent appearances as a clinician, adjudicator, lecturer and workshop leader, extending to the University of Toronto and Queen's University. In 1998, Blyden-Taylor founded The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, and has remained its conductor and artistic director. As a guest conductor with the choir, he has appeared with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, and the Hannaford Street Silver Band. Internationally, Blyden-Taylor has been invited to the USA, Cuba, France, Japan, Turkey, and Israel. His recordings on the Marquis Classics label include Listen to the Lambs (2002); An Indigo Christmas (2003); Nguzo Saba(iN Dett ed Records, 2010) and the DVDs An Indigo Christmas Live (2004) and Carry me Home — The Story of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale winner of a 2003 Gemini award. In addition to his work with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Blyden-Taylor has maintained the position of Music Director at St. Timothy's Anglican Church, North Toronto. He will rehearse the conference choir on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and conduct our Sunday presentation.

Professional Development Day

Wed. July 22, 2015 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Sponsored by the UUA in conjunction with Music Leadership Certification program - Separate registration required - $75 fee

Sexuality Issues for Music Directors With Rev. Debra Haffner What is a sexually healthy religious professional? What role does the musician play in ensuring a sexually healthy faith community? Join Rev. Debra Haffner for a lively, interactive day that covers: Understanding personal values and history Components of sexual identity Life behaviors of a sexually healthy adult Dealing with attraction and boundaries Pastoral presence around sexuality issues Sound practices for musicians and music programs

The Reverend Debra W. Haffner is the President and CEO of the Religious Institute. A certified sexuality educator, she is also the endorsed community minister at The Unitarian Church in Westport. Haffner is the author of seven books and numerous guidebooks for congregations. She has worked closely with the UUA since 2009 on sexual health and responsibility, including serving on the UUMA Presidential Guidelines Task Force, developing a study guide for ministers on sexual boundaries and attractions, and developing online sexuality courses for UU religious professionals. She was a member of the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee for five years, and has offered training workshops to UU religious professionals across the country. She holds degrees from Wesleyan University, Yale School of Medicine, and Union Theological School. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in public service from Widener University in 2011, and is currently studying for her D.Min. at the Pacific School of Religion, where she serves as a visiting Professor.

Required Readings for Music Leadership Certification Program candidates (suggested for others):
Debra Haffner, A Time to Build: Creating Sexually Healthy Faith Communities. $18 including shipping. Purchase from the Religious Institute, www.religiousinstitute.org/publications

Finger, William and Debra Haffner, "Sexual Attraction for the Religious Professional", available at http://www.uua.org/safe/handbook/self-care/165738.shtml

Recommended Reading for All Participants:
McClintock, Karen "Preventing Sexual Abuse in Congregations: A Resource Guide for Leaders", The Alban Institute, 2004.

Choral Reading Sessions

There will be three choral reading sessions in Boston featuring music appropriate for use by a UU choral ensemble in a worship or similar setting:

✦ UU composers and publishers
✦ Unison/Easy SATB
✦ Medium/Difficult

UU COMPOSERS

A panel of 3 UUMN members selected by the Conference Planning Committee will select 15-20 self-composed UU choral pieces using BLIND SUBMISSION process. Submissions may be either electronic or ground mail deadline: 3/1/15 (postmark). See specific submission instructions below:

We are looking for accessible music appropriate for use by a UU choral ensemble in a worship or similar setting.

• Composers may submit no more than two manuscripts (MS)
• Three quality copies of each MS WITHOUT composer identity or attributions
• One quality copy WITH the following, should your piece be selected

‣ composer identity and attributions
‣ info on how to obtain music (your email or website)

• MS must be accompanied by a cover letter giving the title of the work as well as the composer’s name and contact information (including home address, e-mail address, and telephone number) and any necessary permissions, if you are using another’s material.
• MS must be accompanied by a signed statement giving the UUMN permission to produce enough copies to be included in conference rep packets.
• MS must be in a clear, readable form; preferably in a professional music notation format (e.g., Finale, Sibelius).
• Postmarked March 1, 2015 or before

Ground mail address:
Donna Fisher, UUMN Executive Administrator
2208 Henery Tuckers Ct.
Charlotte, NC 28270

Electronic instructions:
Email to [email protected] 3 pdf files per entry by 3/1/15.
• cover letter/permission to copy - file name: "title"_cover.pdf i.e. walkingforjustice_cover.pdf
• unattributed version - file name: "title"_ unattr.pdf i.e.walkingforjustice_unattr.pdf
• attributed version - file name: "title"_"composername".pdf i.e. walkingforjustice_fchopin.pdf

OTHER REPERTOIRE

Our other two reading sessions will contain a wide range of repertoire divided into two categories:

• Unison to Easy SATB: music that would work for smaller choirs with fewer resources
• SATB and beyond: more challenging music that is better suited to larger choirs with more musical resources

A committee of UUMN members, including members of the Repertoire & Standards Committee will determine the final selections for the sessions but we welcome and encourage your suggestions. We are looking for newer releases and quality pieces that align with our principles and haven't been read at past UUMN reading sessions. Your invaluable input helps us to introduce new works to our community so we may continue to build our canon of choral music.

Please send those gems that you think everyone needs to know about to committee coordinator Dallas Bergen <[email protected]>, including at minimum; title & composer, and appropriate reading session (Unison to easy SATB / SATB and beyond). Additional information including sample scores or audio/video links is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your suggestions! Please send them by March 1.

Hotel

The Boston Park Plaza Hotel is a beautiful, historic hotel located just 15 minutes from Boston’s Logan International Airport. The hotel is within walking distance of a number of shops and restaurants, and conveniently located across from Arlington Street Church, and a short walk from First Church and First Lutheran.

Hotel Reservations
Conference attendees are responsible for making their own hotel reservations. The conference rate is $189 plus tax per night single/double occupancy, $209 plus tax for triple occupancy and $229 plus tax for a quad and includes complimentary wifi.

Hotel reservations can be made on line click here or by calling 1-800-225-2008 to make a reservation. Be sure to mention the Unitarian Universality Musician Network Conference in order to get the special conference rate.

IMPORTANT: July is prime tourist season in Boston! Rates are high and rooms go fast! We have negotiated a great rate for the area! We urge you to book your hotel room as soon as possible.

Please note: a one night’s deposit is required to guarantee your reservation and will be charged at the time your reservation is made. This amount will be applied to your total bill at the end of your stay. Deposits are refunded for cancellations made at least 72 hours prior to your arrival date.

If you have any problems making your hotel reservations, please contact Bea Ann Phillips, [email protected].

The cut-off date for making hotel reservations is Friday June 19, 2015. After this date, or when the room block fills, we can no longer guarantee room rate or availability. We urge you to make your reservations as soon as possible.

Looking for a roommate? Contact Donna Fisher at [email protected]. Please include your arrival and departure dates, and any smoking/non-smoking, gender or other restrictions.

Transportation and other information will be posted in April.

Plenary Sessions

Thursday - Sexual Boundaries and Professional Ethics - Rev. Debra W. Haffner
What does it mean for a musician to be religious professional in regards to sexual boundaries? More importantly, what does it mean to be a professional musician in our association when it comes to expectations regarding romantic and sexual relationships within our congregation? How do we handle it when we are attracted to a choir member or a member of the congregation asks us out? What is our ethical accountability to our colleagues as religious professionals?

The 2013 report of the UUA’s Task Force for Excellence in Share Ministry showed that the UUMN, UUMA and LREDA codes of professional practice are not currently in alignment on these issues. This complicates staff member accountability to one another and to the congregations they serve. What agreements must be made in order for UUMN to be sexually healthy and responsible? Come find out how a mutual understanding among religious professionals about sexual boundaries is vital to us as music leaders and to the health of our professional relationships, our congregations and our wider association.

The Reverend Debra W. Haffner is the President and CEO of the Religious Institute. A certified sexuality educator, she is also the endorsed community minister at The Unitarian Church in Westport. Haffner has worked closely with the UUA since 2009 on sexual health and responsibility, including serving on the UUMA Presidential Guidelines Task Force, developing a study guide for ministers on sexual boundaries and attractions, and developing online sexuality courses for UU religious professionals.

General Information

Workshops
The conference will feature workshops on children’s choirs, vocal pedagogy, choral conducting, composing and other topics and guest clinicians as the Conference Planning Committee develops these themes. We can already report that we Joanne Hammil, a nationally touring performer, songwriter and educator will be presenting two workshops on intergenerational singing. We solicit your workshop suggestions and proposals. Please fill out the workshop proposal form click here.

Conference Mentors
For several years, we have matched first-time attendees with veteran conference participants in order to help them meet other members and to have their questions answered. First-timers and mentors are invited to arrive at the opening reception at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, July 22 so that they can get acquainted and meet the other first timers before the rest of the group arrives at 6:00 pm. If you would like to be assigned a mentor OR if you are willing to serve as a mentor, please check the appropriate box on your registration form. For more information contact Anne Watson-Born [email protected].

Bookstore
We hope to have a vibrant and busy bookstore area at the 2015 conference. We will have options open for vendors, for UUMN members attending the conference who have a small number of items for sale, for UUMN members attending the conference wishing to bring free promotional or educational items for display, and a music / book swap area for items you are no longer using. Bookstore space is very limited and available on a first come, first served basis. You may reserve bookstore space on the registration form.

Recitals
There will be opportunities for conference attendees to perform as soloists or in an ensemble at lunchtime recitals. All music is welcome: classics, originals, secular, sacred. If interested in participating please contact Claudia Keyian, [email protected]

Scholarships
There are a limited number of full ($900) and partial ($325) conference scholarships available, with preference given to first time conference attendees. Click here for application. Application deadline is March 31. For more information contact Sonja Johnston, [email protected]

Partner Pass
Partner Pass is $65 and allows a guest to attend Wed/Thurs/Sat evening events. Friday night banquet is a separate fee.

Conference Circle
This year, you can connect with other conference attendees months before the actual event. When you join the “Boston 2015” Circle at uumn.org, you’ll be able to put names with faces and find out what other UUMN members want to talk about when we gather this summer.

Wednesday Evening
Our opening celebration will feature a reception and program. We will mingle with each other, introduce and welcome newcomers, and sing together in an energizing and fun opening celebration sure to prepare you for the exciting days ahead.

Friday Banquet and Variety Show
The conference banquet will be held on Friday, July 24 beginning with a cocktail hour. As always, we look forward to the fellowship of having a meal together and the sharing of a different kind that takes place at the Variety Show. Consideration for performances at this yearly event is given to newcomers at the conference, those who haven’t had a chance to perform at lunchtime recitals and others who haven’t participated previously. We are looking for fun (silly) light-hearted acts which can be performed in a maximum of 3-4 minutes. Signup is at onsite registration.

Conference Choir and Sunday morning
All conference attendees are eligible to sing in the conference choir that rehearses Thursday, Friday and Saturday with our choral clinician, Dr. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor. The conference culminates on Sunday morning with the choir singing in worship at Arlington Church. Our closing circle will follow the services.