If you're sitting on the fence about going to New Orleans, get down, hock something, and sign up. You won't regret it.

Both of these gentlemen are remarkable teachers (and also generally great guys). Time in their presence alone raises one's musical IQ. Scott can make all things clear to a beginner and reinforce the intermediate singer, as well as providing a model of pedagogy for directors that would be the envy of Pestalozzi. Dr. Mahrt leads singers gently out of the fold of Solesmes into the more subtle realms of interpretation (and you still have to sing the right pitches).

I wish I could be there, but there's an instrumental conference in February that demands my attention this year, so I'll have to pass.

Oh, did I mention all the wonderful people you'll meet?