John Trotter, Member

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.