Testimonials

A great many conductors I respect are members of ACDA, and I look forward to seeing them at conventions.  It was ACDA that first introduced me to the breadth of the choral field, from scholarship to treble choirs to conductor education to curricula, and everything in between. Anyone considering a career in choral music should join ACDA...those starting out have the most to gain through access to thousands of conductors at every age and stage.  Anyone currently in such a career should join ACDA...it provides an instant network of peers, many of whom will understand exactly what you are going through.  Anyone at the peak of their career should join ACDA... to enjoy the blessings that come from sharing one's knowledge, experience, and wisdom.

I value the opportunity to interact with conductors I greatly respect but who live too far away for me to visit them regularly. I also enjoy hearing many choral performances each day: each represents a different perspective on the choral art, and the resulting cross-pollination never fails to revivify my own aesthetic and goals, sometimes in a surprising way.

In retrospect, I can see that the Student Conducting Competition in 2006 was an important moment in my career.  The result I was fortunate to obtain there has since opened doors for me: I have benefitted from significant professional opportunities and invitations, and have been able to access further advanced conducting training opportunities internationally.

ACDA represents to us an example of choral organization, networking, perseverance and hardwork to promote choral singing. Its 50th aniversary is undoubtedly a benchmark for the whole international choral community. The success of our performances and sessions encourages Venezuelan and Latin American choral music in the world. It also strengthens our institutions such as the Cantoría Alberto Grau because its members feel recognized and motivated. I personally think it is a new opportunity to showcase the work I do in my country with love and enthusiasm.

ACDA is instrumental to the development of choir conductors to interact among them as much as possible through these international events. There, they can learn a lot, expand their horizons and open new channels of communitation. Besides of having the possibility of new projects by attending events like these.

Those who don’t attend ACDA conference events are giving up a great deal of knowledge and experiences.

Words cannot describe the importance of ACDA to my professional life. I learned, literally, about using fingers for consonant articulation in conducting by watching Lloyd Pfautsch demonstrate the technique at an ACDA convention.  Watching Weston Noble match voices at a Western Division Convention completely changed the way I seat singers and rehearse. Recently I learned from a Choral Journal article on the Voice that my sopranos' high tones would be improved if they warmed up in their chest voice.  Anyone who wants to improve their effectiveness as a choral conductor/teacher must be a member of ACDA--attend conventions, read the Choral Journal, go to summer conferences and workshops, learn from each other, watch the masters in the field, make life-long friends, hear and observe great choirs, BE INSPIRED!

The amazing thing to me about ACDA conferences is the long-lasting charge that I take with me from the experience. The 5 day conference schedule is so packed with interest sessions, concerts, trips to the exhibit hall, and chances to run into old friends and teachers, that I would expect to return home exhausted.  Instead, I'm invigorated--I'm ordering new music, going into my rehearsals with fresh ideas and perspective, and talking on the phone several times a week with old friends with whom I am reconnected!

-Will Breytspraak, Presenter
Sight-Singing and Ear-Training in the Choral Rehearsal
Presenter at the 2009 National Conference

Conducting at the 2007 ACDA National Convention was exciting and humbling and certainly one of the highlights of my career.  The children knew they had “stuck it to the mat” at that performance.  I was very impressed with the organization of the entire event. Though my involvement in ACDA, I have met wonderful processional colleagues and been exposed to many resources at conventions and in publications.  I’ve observed many great conductors. 

Joining ACDA will enrich your career.

Joining ACDA has been the single most important event of my career that has led me through the professional path I am on today.  I cannot imagine teaching without this organization. I became a member of ACDA during my student-teaching experience.  My cooperating-teacher told me of this wonderful organization of choral directors that I had to be a part of.  He did not make it an option – it was something that I was expected to do.

It was this push as a young teacher that opened up a whole new world.  ACDA has impacted my life greatly.  I have been part of the Iowa ACDA board 12 of the past 14 years in various capacities, serving through the ranks all the way to my presidency.  I have a strong passion to give back to the young teachers to give them the opportunities that I was given. 

My teaching has been impacted immensely from the wealth of information I have received by attending various state, regional, and national ACDA conventions.  Having the opportunity to witness live performances, being part of interest sessions, and experience new music through reading sessions has impacted not only myself, but also the thousands of students that I have had the opportunity to work with.  To grow as a teacher - one must seek growth opportunities.

My association with ACDA has provided opportunities to learn and perform that have far exceeded my greatest expectations. Sitting in sessions and learning from Weston Noble, Eph Ehly, Hilary Apfelstadt, Elena Sharkova (pictured), and James Jordan to name but a few have given me skills and techniques that I likely would not have encountered without the assistance of ACDA. 

The opportunities that ACDA provides to grow as a conductor and performer are unparalleled with any other organization in America.  It was a thrill for me and my choir to perform at the National convention in NYC and Miami.  The warmth of support from the audience coupled with a high expectation challenged us all to climb to new heights.  I look back on my membership with ACDA with a grateful heart.

BRAVO ACDA!  For a conductor this remarkable organization, through its conferences, journals, and talented people, is a generous, rich, replenishing resource. Here one finds solid connections with other conductors from all over the world, firm validation in what we do, renewed inspiration to go on, and the absolute affirmation of choral music’s ability to change lives.  

To be invited to perform at an ACDA conference is both terrifying and exhilarating.  Here is where conductors and their choirs have the opportunity to share their art, to learn, to demonstrate, and to be inspired.  No conductor or choir could possibly walk away from this experience without positive impact on their future, their newly determined goals for themselves and their continuing, eager participation in the choral art.  Thank you, ACDA.

Diane Loomer, C.M., Artistic Director,
Chor Leoni Men’s Choir

I love being connected with other conductors and choral musicians. As a young conductor, their wisdom is invaluable to my own success. It's also great to know that I'll receive Choral Journal every month.  This is a wonderful resource to help me keep on top of the happenings in the choral world.

ACDA has helped me know that I can indeed have a life full of choral music. I'm sure that information I've gained from ACDA publications and conferences has only made my own music-making more fulfilling and meaningful to myself, the choirs I've had the pleasure to be a part of, and the audiences that enjoy the music we make. On a very practical note, being able to indicate on my resume that I am a member of ACDA helps potential employers know that I have an ongoing interest in this field.

Participating in the National Student Conducting Competition was an exciting opportunity to learn a little more about myself as a conductor and to learn from my colleagues in the competition. Even though we all knew it was a competition, we were willing to discuss our musical and gestural choices with each other. This is so important for us novices, seeing how other conductors interpret a score and how they choose to communicate it to an ensemble. I learned a lot about fixing problems very quickly and developing a rapport with people in the choir as soon as you're in front of them.

To say that I appreciate ACDA would be a dramatic understatement. I joined in 1997, which seems like yesterday, and the minimal cost of membership is worth every penny.  Membership in ACDA results in many desirable outcomes, but perhaps most important are the opportunities for genuine inspiration and meaningful inquiry.  Writing for the Choral Journal continues to be a distinct honor and attending conferences at the state, divisional, and national levels has directly connected me with so many outstanding colleagues in a personal way.  Bravo ACDA as we celebrate our 50th anniversary – here’s to 50 more – at least.