The Davidson Fine Arts School Chorale
THE SCHOOL. - Davidson Fine Arts School, located in Augusta, Georgia, was founded 25 years ago. During the past decade, Davidson has consistantly been the number-one school in the state in both SAT scores and academic achievement
DAVIDSON CHORALE - The DFA chorale perfoms regularly at prestigious events across the state and the nation. The group has recently perfomed at the National Cathedral and the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, both in Washington, D.C., on a prestigious concert series in Salt Lake City, for the 2004 and 2006 GMEA conventions and the 2004 American Chorale Director's Association (ACDA) Southern Division convention (Nashville, TN). Last year, the group travelled to Los Angeles to present four concerts at the American Chorale Director's Association (ACDA) National convention. In 2007 the group will make it's first perfomance on the National Gallery of Art Concert Series in Washington, D.C.
THE 2004 NATIONAL GRAMMY SIGNATURE SCHOOL AWARD. - In 2005, members of the group returned to Los Angeles a week after their ACDA performances to sing in special GRAMMY week dignitary events. There, the group sand at the GRAMMY Salute to Classical Music, Omega Medina, director of the GRAMMY Salute to Classical Music, commented about the singers in the group: "From all accounts, they were a memorable addition to the Classical Music protion Luncheon. Everyone spoke to me about their fine ensemble singing, their conduct and the grant. Their presence made all the difference. I personally fellin lov with them because of their musicianship and their enthusiasm about performing. they made the [Recording] Acadamy proud."
the diginitary GRAMMY Week Performances were in recognition of the school being named "The 2004 National GRAMMY Signature School." the GRAMMY Foundation gives this award each year to the top high school music department in the nation. In recognition of this honor, 7UP awarded the school a $25,000 cash prize.
THE 2005 GRAMMY SIGNATURE GOLD SCHOOL AWARD. - The School is currently enjoying special status as GRAMMY Signature School Gold. This award, which was present to the school in May 2005, was presented to the top 7 highschool music departments in the nation.
Davidson Fine Arts School will not be receiving further GRAMY Signature School recognition in the neat future. The Foundation jas intiated a new eligibility requirement for the 2006 awards: a school that has recieved a National Award must now wait four years before resubmitting an application. (in honor of the DFA 2 consecutive year winnings)
Chorale Repertoire. - The chorale is renowned for the diversity of its repertoire and prides itself in not favoring any particular style. Recent major works, extended works, and operas include Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, Rutter's Gloria, Barber's Agnus Dei, Palestrina's Stabat Mater, Puccuni's Messa di Gloria Mozart's Messa Brevis in F Major, Sullivan's Trial by Jury, Bach's Singet dem Herrn, Hanson's Song of Democracy, Orff's Carmina Burana, Miskinis's O Sacrum con Vivium, Haydn's Little Organ Solo Mass, and Dello Joio's The Mystic Trumpeter. the group perfoms at least one double-chorus work each year.
THE DIRECTOR. Dr. Timothy Michael Powell is a composer, conductor, songwriter, painter, and poet. He graduated from Belmont University in 1996 with a Bachelors in Music and again in 2000 with a Masters. He was the 1999 National Choristers Guild Scholar and a recipient of a Fulbright grant for study in Bulgaria in 2002. Powell finished his doctorate at the University of South Carolina in 2004. He and his wife Jennifer live in North Augusta, SC with their daughter Lily, dog Wolfy "Amadeus" and their cat Clara "Schumann". He is the Director of Choral Activities at Davidson Fine Arts School in Augusta, GA and Director of the Davidson Chorale.
THE ACCOMPANIST. - Paul Hennessy is in his 12th year at Davidson. he received a B.A. degree in music from The Catolic Univ. or America, where he majored in piano performance. he has concertized in Switzerland, Italy, across the USA. he currently divides his time between positions of choir director at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Augusta and instructor of piano at Davidson.
KUDOS. - As said by Dr. G after hearing a Chorale Concert at Dunwoody United Methodist Church, "Jim Dunaway, sees no limitations when he looks at a piece of music. There are no challenges that he can't teach to high school students. No rhythms too difficult, no level of independence to complicated. Jim has no peer that I'm aware of. In fact, I have no idea what his rehearsal must be like."
