The Northwest Festival of Music will offer a free seminar on Friday, November 4 at 5 p.m. at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall at Minot State University with Maestro Thomas Caplin, Swedish conductor and choral educator, professional singer and composer, who teaches in Hamar, Norway, and judges, sings and directs choirs around the world.

This was made possible through the generosity and support of Todd and Janet Mathistad.

The one-hour conference will be aimed at singers, conductors, teachers, music students and anyone who wants to see this Scandinavian maestro in action. The music festival offers the free seminar as a thank you to all the music teachers in the area who have supported the festival over the past half century.

In this session, “Choir, communication and conducting”, Caplin will work with vocalists Change of Pace by Lindsay Kerzmann of Minot, Gold Standard by Michael Seil of Bismarck’s Legacy High School, and Celebration Jazz by Allison Brink of Century High School in Bismarck. These groups will work with Caplin as laboratory choirs to demonstrate various techniques and strategies for conductors and singers.

The session is free, but donations will be accepted at the door. Teachers are encouraged to accompany students and have their students eat at MSU’s Beaver Creek Cafe.