Sessions

Emily Mercado

Jason Bowers

Intentional choral partnerships can strengthen collaborative learning and promote lifelong singing. Despite their potential, partnerships are difficult to implement and sustain due to limited funding, unstable policy structures, and institutional misalignment. Successful partnerships depend on consistent personnel, substantial time for successful implementation, and the abilty to navigate institutional barriers. In this interactive session, participants will […]

Erika Tazawa
Kennesaw State University

B.E. Boykin
Georgia Institute of Technology

Have you ever wondered why there is a lack of representation of women conductors of color in leadership roles within the choral community? Have you ever observed any patterns or trends that contribute to invisibility of women conductors of color in different choral organizations or institutions? Join us for an empowering session dedicated to amplifying […]

David Garcia Saldana

Corie Brown

Dive into the music of Latina composers from across Latin America through singing, movement, and rhythm-centered pedagogy. Attendees will explore works by Elisa Schmelkes (Mexico), Suzzette Ortiz (Puerto Rico), and Charito Acuña (Colombia) while learning practical frameworks for teaching Latin American choral music. Through clapping patterns, vocalized percussion, and guided singing, conductors will discover how […]

Jonathan Palant
Dallas Street Choir, Credo Community Choir, UT Dallas

Dallas Street Choir, Credo Community Choir, UT Dallas Choirs

This session features singers from the Dallas Street Choir, UT Dallas, and the Credo Community Choir, led by conductor Jonathan Palant with composer Jacob Ryan Smith. Together, we will explore how the transformative power of communal singing fosters connection for our unhoused neighbors. (Re)discover how music cultivates empathy, understanding, and drives social change. Hear selections from […]

G. Phillip Shoultz, III

VocalEssence Singers Of This Age
VocalEssence

Drawing on his experiences as an educator and conductor of church, community, school, and professional ensembles for singers of all ages and abilities, G. Phillip Shoultz III will invite participants to consider a pedagogy of relationships that fosters belonging, awakens artistry, empowers creativity, affirms identities, and creates a space for courageous singing that seeks to […]

Erica Glenn

Transform any choir into an instrument of social change! This session will explore communal singing as a galvanizing sociopolitical force through the lens of forty years of Eastern European history. Drawing on the presenter’s own Fulbright and Title VIII-backed fieldwork in Estonia (interviewing musicians involved in the Estonian Singing Revolution) and in Poland (leading music […]

William Powell

Rosephanye Powell

Concert spirituals, anthems, and gospel music are distinct styles of sacred choral songs by Black composers influenced by Western European classical music. These songs have transcended race and cultures, performed globally by diverse choral groups on concert stages and in religious venues. While African American spirituals, anthems, and gospel music are unique, they share musical […]