Director:

Ann Williams is the conductor of the Vivace Choir. Ann received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Elementary Education from The College of St. Benedict, then earned her MA in Music Education at the University of St. Thomas.    

 

Ann is inspired by youth and loves teaching.  For the past thirty-six years, she has been a classroom educator, music educator and youth choir director.  She began her teaching career as a third grade classroom teacher at The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Bloomington. She then moved her career to the Osseo Area Schools, where she served as a K-6 music specialist for thirty-five years.  In addition to music teaching, Ann is passionate about youth choral music.  Her directing experience includes the auditioned District 279 Children’s Chorus, the St. Alphonsus Children’s Choir, and is a founding director of the Twin Cities Youth Chorale (TCYC), an auditioned children’s chorus in the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis.  

 

Over the years Ann’s choirs have had the distinction of performing at both state and national conventions for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME and MMEA) as well as the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA-MN) fall conference.  Ann was also selected as an elementary honors choir co-director for ACDA-MN.  Choirs under Ann’s direction have performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Dale Warland Singers, and the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University Chamber Choir.  TCYC also performed with the Minnesota Children’s Chorus Consortium at the Chorus America National Conference as well as with many other community-based choral and instrumental organizations throughout the Twin Cities.  

 

Ann was a member of the Education Board for the Dale Warland Singers (DWS), and assisted with curriculum writing for both the DWS, and the Osseo Area Schools.  She holds memberships in both ACDA and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).  As a vocalist, Ann currently serves as a cantor at the Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis.  

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Philosophy:

The Vivace Choir offers a rich, comprehensive and immersive experience with community, musical expression, and choral basics at its heart.  Through engaging and thoughtfully prepared lessons, young artists will explore diverse repertoire as well as fundamental skills such as pitch matching, breathing, and singing alignment.  Through games and vocal play, singers will also gain knowledge and practice in the areas of music reading and harmonic singing.   

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