News from the executive commitee
Executive Meeting, January 16 – 18, 2009
On the 16th of January, 2009 the seven members of the EVTA executive board gathered in northern Germany for what turned out to be a very productive and convivial meeting concerning upcoming EVTA and ICVT activities. The site of the meeting was Rellingen, a quiet village northwest of Hamburg. There we found the simple and comfortable Rellinger Hof, a hotel and restaurant that accommodated all our needs for the weekend. Most of our working time was spent discussing the upcoming ICVT-Eurovox 2009 in Paris and the Young Professionals’ Program contained within it, and of course the next and future Vocal Pedagogy weeks, starting with the week scheduled for Stockholm in April of 2009.
The young professionals selected to sing at the conference in Paris were announced and plans were discussed for financing their sojourn in Paris and their participation in the ICVT congress. President Norma Enns presented the ICVT program, and we were all intrigued by the variety and quality of planned presentations. This is thanks also to the hard work done by Claudia Phillips, Anne Constantin, Norma Enns and the representatives of NATS – bravissimi! We are all looking forward to July!
Bjorgulv Borgungvaag, outgoing treasurer, presented EVTA’s financial picture both in general for 2008-9, and specifically for the projected YPP costs in July. At the same time our new EVTA treasurer, Sebastian Bielicke took over duties as administrator of the organization’s finances. In addition, he brings to EVTA a wide knowledge of the German legal system, which will no doubt serve us well in the future.
Led by Vice President Scott Swope, the projected second application for the Leonardo Partnership Grants was discussed, and additional EU programs were suggested as a potential source of funds for EVTA activities. The second application will be prepared for submission in February 2010.
As a new member-at-large, I experienced the intensity and focus brought to the meeting by Norma and Scott, no small accomplishment when there are so many items to discuss and decide. Helga Meyer-Wagner, new to her role as secretary but not to the EVTA executive, contributed as always her wisdom, experience and sharp observations. The meeting was conducted in a challenging mixture of English and German, with frequent translations in both directions!
During the weekend we also enjoyed one evening foray to a local Greek restaurant for moussaka and retsina, but otherwise were well taken care of by the staff of the Rellinger Hof. Many business discussions flowed over into mealtimes, demonstrating the level of personal involvement felt by all present.
EVTA Executive
2009 - 2011: l. – r. Standing: Sebastian Bielicke, Elizabeth Aubry,
Nora Tiedcke, Scott Swope, Bjögrulv Borgundvaag
Seated: Helga Meyer-Wagner, Norma Enns
I thank the council for electing me as a member-at-large, together with Nora Tiedcke and Björgulf Borgundvaag, thus giving me the opportunity to return to AICI in Italy with renewed energy and enthusiasm for our own national projects!
For the executive
Elizabeth Aubry
International coordinator, AICI Italy
Jury meets to choose Participants for YPP
On the weekend of January 8 – 10, the jury met in Vienna to choose the participants for the Young Professionals Project, one of EVTA’s contributions to the International Congress of Voice Teachers to be held in Paris in July, 2009. (www.icvt2009.com) Prof. Helga Meyer-Wagner hosted the meeting, giving the jury the opportunity to enjoy several typical Viennese delicacies. Paul Deegan, founding and honorary member of EVTA, Anne Constantin, President of the ICVT organising committee, and Claudia Phillips, president of AFPC met with Prof. Norma Enns, President of EVTA for this part of ICVT preparations.
Forty-six applications from twelve countries made this a complex assignment. After agreeing on a set of criteria including quality, international representation, age and so on, we set to work looking at DVDs. It was most interesting to note that quality is convincing across international borders, but also that we have many weaknesses in common! The experience of pooling our various approaches led to a spirited and profitable exchange of ideas. In the end, we listed eighteen candidates and set up a waiting list of eleven candidates, which in itself testifies to the quality of the applications.
n further discussion we dealt with the YPP programme for the week. There will be many opportunities to make presentations interactive by demonstrating unusual vocal literature, so we set up a tentative list of singers for the opening concert, the various master classes and lectures. We are
The jury at work: l. – r.: Helga Wagner, Paul Deegan, Norma Enns, Ann Constantin
also convinced, that a free afternoon and evening on July 14, the French national holiday, Bastille Day, will be used to good advantage in furthering international exchange between our young professionals!
As I write a week after our meetings, the first young singers are committing to attend the programme. Once more, it is exciting to see ideas and plans become reality, to see our exchange growing through our projects.
Prof. Norma Enns
President, EVTA