Testimonials

Having been an active member of ACDA for over 35 years and serving as state president in Iowa and Arizona, I have come to really appreciate all that ACDA provides for local, state, regional and national constituencies.  I remember as if it were yesterday my first ACDA convention where I experienced the magic of Frauke Hasseman's Voice Building session which changed my approach to choral sound forever.  Seeing and hearing the enthusiastic faces and glorious voices of the OPUS HONOR Choirs in Iowa touched me so profoundly that my first order of business in Arizona was to establish CANTOREMOS. Suffice it to say that ACDA has brought me fulfillment both as a consuming member and as an active board member.  Many thanks ...

I am a choralographer who became a member of ACDA because of my love of
choral music and sincere desire to contribute to the choral arts and
ACDA has allowed me to do just that!
I have a professional background in the performing arts.  Over my
twenty years of working with choral directors, their choirs, hearing
their concerns, giving interest sessions and participating as a
convention exhibitor, I have developed a philosophy and approach to
working with singers (who are not dancers) and seen choralography’s
benefit in choral performance. I define my work as, “The marriage of
movement, drama and concert choral music, without sacrificing the choral
sound.”  Generally, my work can range from a simple gesture, to
staging, to full on choral ballets, thereby enhancing the concert-going
experience and critically contributing to the success of a choral
piece.  I commend ACDA for now crediting the choralographer (as it would
the composer, arranger, conductor or accompanist) in and on all media. 
Choralography is indeed an art form which more and more choral
directors are utilizing, further solidifying its validity to the choral
arts. Bravo, ACDA, for embracing the future, longevity and immediacy of
concert choral performance in the 21st century!
 

I remember attending my first national convention and being overwhelmed
with such an incredible amount of inspiration, world class
performances, repertoire, and workshops....it truly changed my life,
both professionally and personally!
I first became aware of ACDA when I was an undergrad in college, and my
mentor/professor emphasized the value of ACDA standards, networking,
repertoire sharing, and professional development.   Later, as I served
ACDA as an officer at State, Regional, and National levels, I realized
the impact of ACDA's mission, nurturing, and commitment to the choral
art.  The passion and promotion of choral music in all forms,
nationalities, styles, and age levels continues to inspire choral
directors, choristers, composers, students, and educators.  Now, as a
university professor myself, I emphasize the importance of ACDA to my
students and love watching their growth!

I have been a member of ACDA my entire professional life and truly
cannot imagine why anyone would not be a member of their professional
organization. 
Choral directors who belong to this prestigious association benefit in
many different ways.  ACDA is dedicated to the promotion of excellence
in choral music through performance, teaching, composition, research,
technology and publication.  Having the opportunity to further my
professional development each year is my greatest benefit.  State and
national conventions give every choral director the opportunity to
further their knowledge of choral music education while providing time
to connect and network with fellow choral directors from all over the
world.  What better way to learn than to be with experts in the field
both in interest sessions and choral performance concerts encountering
new choral music and ideas.

ACDA has always been the single greatest resource in my professional
life. Concerts at conventions always remind me where the high-water mark
is with respect to performance, and always inspire me to program
better, rehearse better, and hear better. (Sometimes they shame
me into doing all of those things.) And I have always enjoyed the sense
of community at conventions, at which the brightest dignitaries in our
profession always seem willing and eager to meet the students or
first-year teachers. Students, get involved and stay involved!

ACDA has been and remains the one indispensable professional affiliation in my career. As a student I was inspired, as a teacher I am nourished, and as a performer I have been rewarded. The friends, collaborators and colleagues I have been privileged to be among at conferences and concerts have provided me with a constant and vital source of inspiration and support over four decades. The evolution of the organization, especially in the last few years has been extraordinary. I am proud to be a member and I believe that anyone who is serious about choral music as a conductor, composer, performer or engaged listener would profit by being a part of ACDA.

Every year ACDA delivers the inspiration, opportunities, and examples of excellence for which we all strive. Every year I look forward to seeing old friends, meeting new ones,
sharing ideas and hearing beautiful music.  I always go home refreshed,
encouraged,  and ready to set the bar higher for myself and my students
and to continue to advocate for music remaining a core subject in
school. How does ACDA serve a middle school choir director with non-auditioned choirs?  I remember asking a wise old director this very question at my first ACDA Convention.  The choirs were brilliant, the repertoire amazing, but I couldn't see the connection to me in my lowly middle school classroom.  My new found friend reminded me that even if my choirs may never perform at an ACDA convention, or we may never be able to sing the repertoire that I heard, it was important for me to watch, listen, and learn.  He was right.

ACDA gives conductors access to our most important resource: other
conductors.  Every conductor’s strengths and interests have the
potential to enrich my conducting and my choirs’ experiences if there’s a
way for me to learn about them. 
Many of us work in isolation—I, for example, have been conductor of the
community choir, the choral person at the high school, the musician at
the church, and the only choral-area doctoral student amidst three band
guys!  It would be easy for me to do all my work and never speak with
another choral conductor; but it’s a pleasure to find out what’s going
on outside my own rehearsal room and to talk with others about what I’ve
been working on.  ACDA is the way I connect with other conductors, and
I’m grateful for the opportunities they provide.  They make it easier
for me to do better.