Chattanooga Girls Choir artistic director, LuAnn Holden and Barger Academy of Fine Arts drama teacher, Amy Burton and their students will embrace the process vs. product dilemma as they engage participants in an exploration of the tensions we all encounter as we prepare students for performances.  These experienced teachers will share their philosophies and experiences that connect the dots between rehearsal, performance, and building student artistry.  Discussion moderated by Susanne Burgess, director of music education at the Southeast Center for Education in the Arts, will emerge around these key questions:

• What are the additional skills required of directors in arts education?
• How does choosing repertoire impact the instruction critical to building student artistry?
• How can we nurture artistry in our students and still get the best performances?

The session will include student performances by the Chattanooga Girls Choir and the Barger Academy Players, and provide and opportunity for participants to engage students in the discussion. 

LuAnn Holden is Assistant Professor of Music Education and Chair of the Department of Vocal Music at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. Her teaching responsibilities include the instruction of methods for teaching choral and general music in elementary and secondary schools as well as the supervision of music education student teachers. She earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree with vocal emphasis from Wesleyan College and Masters of Music degree in choral music education from Georgia State University. She was a member of the Atlanta Symphony Chorus, which at that time was conducted by the legendary Robert Shaw. She brings fifteen years of public school music teaching experience into the college classroom. She is active as a guest conductor of honor and festival choirs. LuAnn is the Artistic Director of the Chattanooga Girls Choir – a five tier community chorus with an enrollment of 150 singers. She conducts the Jubilate Choir (7-8th grade) and the Grace Moore Singers (9-12th grade), as well as the touring choir.

Amy Burton teaches drama and theatre at Barger Academy of Fine Arts in Chattanooga, TN. She holds an M.F.A. from The University of Texas at Austin in drama and theatre for youth, and has taught for 18 years in elementary fine arts magnet schools. Amy has presented workshops at conferences held by Magnet Schools of America, Southeastern Theatre Conference, Texas Educational Theatre Association, and American Alliance for Theatre & Education. She also served on the most recent committee to revise the K-5 theatre standards for the state of Tennessee. Amy has directed over 50 productions with youth and adult actors, and she often enjoys teaching summer classes at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre.

Susanne Burgess is director of music education at the Southeast Center for Education in the Arts. As an Orff-Schulwerk practitioner and teacher-trainer, she brings an integrated perspective to teaching and learning that merges instruction in music, dance and drama. She is a regional and national workshop presenter for the American Orff Schulwerk Association and has presented nationally for MENC and ECMMA, as well as internationally for ISME in Bologna, Italy and Athens, Greece. Susanne’s interests in curriculum integration have led her to advanced studies and research in instructional design, authentic assessment, and the benefits of conceptually driven instruction. She is currently in dissertation exploring the balance of practical and theoretical experiences in the arts as guiding factors in professional development.