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Mystic History Mystic Board Nick Page's Biography |
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Nick Page is a Boston-based song leader, composer, and author who is dedicated to teaching people of all ages that they are capable of great miracles through the simple yet powerful, act of singing. He is the founder and Artistic Director of The Mystic Chorale. He also works extensively with children and with educators, both classroom teachers and music specialists. A native of Lexington, MA, Nick was born into a musical family where singing was a constant part of family life. He began his career as a teacher at both the elementary and high school levels, while also composing and arranging choral works and musical comedies. In 1983, he joined the 600-voice Chicago Children's Choir as a conductor and training units director. It was in Chicago that he became involved with the worlds of black Gospel and folk, classical, and pop music from Jewish traditions, which led to a passion for choral styles from diverse cultures.He studied the South African Mbube choral style with Joseph Shabalala of Ladysmith Black Mambazo; jazz and pop choral styles with Bobby McFerrin; and African-American vocal styles with Ysaye Maria Barnwell of the woman's singing group Sweet Honey in the Rock; among others. He began leading sing-alongs for people of all ages, and traveled across North America leading what he calls "Power Sings" with adult groups, elementary, junior high, and senior high school students as well as at many colleges. He also began to incorporate the cultural styles of many traditions in his compositions, sometimes using elements from two or more traditions in the same piece. And in 1989 he began the Mystic Chorale as a natural extension of his vision. Nick Page holds an undergraduate degree in Music Education from Ithaca College and a Masters in Education from Lesley University. He is an active member of The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and is a former chair of the Eastern Division Committee on Multicultural and Ethnic Standards. His website (www.nickmusic.com) lists all his publications and contains articles and resource information on multicultural music. Nick Page is the author of two how-to music books. His first book, Sing and Shine On! The Teacher's Guide to Multicultural Song Leading, is aimed at classroom elementary school teachers. His second book, Music As A Way Of Knowing, shows how to use music to teach reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. He is currently developing a third book called Sing With Us, a multicultural collection of songs that school choruses could use as the basis for sing-alongs with their audiences. -Over 25 published Choral works (Boosey & Hawkes) and the Nick Page CD featuring songs from sing along concerts -Commissions by top American choruses -Member of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and former chair of the Eastern Division Committee on Multicultural and Ethnic Standards.
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