Sessions

Chantae Pittman
Campbell High School

“At Any Level” is designed for directors across all settings within the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in mind. This initiative is rooted in the belief that enhancing music literacy is fundamental to the success of any chorus or choir program. The session is crafted to arm directors with an arsenal of practical tools and […]

Alicia Walker

The life of a professional musician is inherently connected to evaluation and competition, which we often use to define professional success. How do these, along with online social comparison, affect our self-perception and growth? How can we be discerning in our evaluation of ourselves and others in ways that result in positive, valuable contributions to […]

Mariana Romero Serra
Michigan State University

Recent efforts toward the expansion of the choral canon have led to an increase in the programming of musics outside of the Western European classical tradition. Despite their vocal nature, some of these musics did not emerge as choral forms, but have had modern choral adaptations throughout their historical transformations. As strides are made in […]

Bridget Sweet-Manternach

The body map is one’s self-representation in one’s own brain. If the body map is accurate, movement is likely to be good. If the body map is inaccurate or inadequate, movement may be inefficient and potentially injury-producing. This injury-prevention information for musicians focuses on the body in movement and is designed to bring awareness to […]

Dustin Cates

For more than a century, men’s glee clubs and men’s choirs have played an important role in the landscape of American choral music through rich tradition, camaraderie, and a distinctive repertoire. Today, many directors are reimagining these ensembles to welcome and affirm singers of all gender identities. This session explores how the tenor/bass choral tradition […]

Stephen Rew
Raymore-Peculiar High School

Active – Engaging – Celebrating the Joy of Music Making This session will explore the benefits of being “brain-smart” in rehearsals and how we can use activity and novelty to bring out the very best in our rehearsals, our singers and ourselves. Directors will walk away with an INCREDIBLE resource including a toolbox of activities […]

Philip Doucette
Philip A. Doucette, LLC

Voice changes due to fatigue, overuse, aging, illness, and injury can be both physically and psychologically debilitating. A growing body of research suggests that individuals throughout the choral music profession will inevitably face moments where they must reckon with “a voice problem” which impacts themselves or someone they work with. Multiple studies have shown the […]

Jenny Tisi

Children’s and youth choirs are essential to the future of church music, yet many congregations face challenges in recruitment, retention, and balancing musical excellence with spiritual formation. This session explores practical strategies for building and sustaining a thriving children’s and youth church choir program using the model at All Saints Church in Pasadena, California, as […]