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Show PAGE 6 THE THUNDERBIRD SUSC MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1989 - Arts & Leisure Q n Mecham elected Chapter head SUSC THEATRE AND ASSUSC PRESENT BY KATRINA NIELSEN FRONT PAGE Mark L. Mecham, SUSC music department member, was recently elected president of the Utah Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. The SUSC choral director will assume responsibility of the Utah Chapter on July 1 from outgoing President Ronald J. Staheli of Brigham Young University. Mecham is a life member of the ACDA and boasts having only missed one national convention since joining the organization in 1974. He will represent Utah as president-elec- t at the national convention in Louisville, Ky., March Increased membership is the goal of the state group. ACDA is involved in choral music at every level: childrens choirs, community choruses, church choirs, mens and womens choruses, and elementary, junior high, high school and college choirs, Mecham said. Our task is to include all of these constituencies in our membership. At the clinic of the Utah Music Educators Association, where he was nominated for president, Mecham presented a paper titled The Choral Rehearsal: Variations on Charles Leonhards Laboratory Approach. Through his presentation, he encouraged his fellow educators to involve students in the rehearsal process. Ideally, he explained, the rehearsal functions as a laboratory or a place where persons are actively involved in the pursuit of knowledge. By engaging students in the analysis phase of music, the rehearsal hall is a place where musical learning is achieved through performing, feeling, discriminating, hearing, knowing and composing music, he said. Upon entering college, Mecham decided to follow in his fathers footsteps and study prelaw. However, being involved in the University of Utahs music program helped him to realize his love for music. He then switched from a major in political science to music arts. Mecham received both his bachelors and masters degrees in music at the University of 1976 and 1978, respectively. He worked as an assistant director of the Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus from 1974 to 1978 when he was offered a teaching assistantship at the University of Illinois at n School of Music. He completed course work for his doctoral degree in 1980, and was subsequently offered a teaching position at Mary College in Bismark, N.D., and directorship of the Bismark-Manda- n Civic Chorus. In 1984 Mecham became director of choral activities at the University of Texas, Tyler. Mecham, his wife Pat, and three children moved to Cedar City in 1986. He directs the SUSC Chorale, the SUSC Womens Chorus, and Opus VII. He also directs the Southern Utah Chorale. Utah in Urbana-Champaig- mid-wint- A COMEDY DIRECTED MARCH BY BEN HECHT AND CHARLES BY ROGER BEAN and 8-- FOR TICKET INFORMATION MACARTHUR AUDITORIUM 8 00 PM CALL 108 CURTAIN 586-787- 6 a FOR YOU! Now is the time to make your choice Because every ArtCarved college ring from handsome traditional to contempois on sale rary stales now' You U be impressed with the fine ArtCarved craftsmanship that s backed by a Full Lifetime Warranty And you II appreciate the savings Don t miss out' The Quality The Craftsmanship The Reuard You Deserve March 6 197 Art( nJ ls JUiiRn Campus Bookstore t, Mecham |