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Local choir director receives award

Courtesy Photo Local choir director and vocal teacher Ann Wood, left, receives the Upper Peninsula Choral Leadership Award from Marquette Choral Society President Bruce Larson at a concert in Marquette last Sunday.

ESCANABA — A local choral and choir director has recently received a prestigious award within the choir community.

Escanaba resident Ann Wood, who has been teaching or directing music in the local area for 38 years, was awarded the Upper Peninsula Choral Leadership Award during a performance with the Marquette Choral Society last Sunday. This award, which is submitted via nomination, is given every year by the Marquette Choral Society. Nominations must be submitted in writing and show the nominee has provided at least 10 years of choral musical service in the U.P., including excelling in teaching, conducting, and/or support for the quality of choral music. The award was started back in 1991 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Marquette choral.

Wood explained that a former Bay de Noc Choral Society member had wanted to nominate her for the award, but later died before he could further the process. This year, however, other former choral society members decided it was time for Wood to be put back in the running and possibly win the award.

After the concert, Wood was presented a plaque by President of the Marquette Choral Society Bruce Larson.

Over the span of her musical career, Wood has directed and taught, including providing ­leadership to the First Presbyterian Church Choir since 1989, and directing the Bay de Noc Choral Society since 1992. Ten years prior to being director of the Bay de Noc Choral, Wood said she provided accompaniment for the singing group, which performs throughout the year including during the Festival of Choirs close to the Christmas holiday and on Palm Sunday during the Easter holiday.

“They’re a great group. They work really hard,” she said of the choral. “People do this because they love to sing.”

Wood said receiving the award was extra special because some of the other choir directors who have been awarded are also close friends to her. Past local winners include Conrad Beck, who was Wood’s choir teacher and John D. Beck, who is the current choral and choir director at Escanaba High School. John is Conrad’s son and received the award the same year as his father, who was given the award posthumously.

“It was really, really special to be receiving this award,” she said. “It’s really special to be receiving an award that a lot of people to whom I look up have also received.”

Along with her many other accomplishments, Wood has taught music appreciation and theory courses at Bay College in Escanaba and currently teaches a public speaking class. Wood also provides private vocal lessons to residents locally.

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