Sessions

Melody Villegas

The middle school years represent a critical “middle age” that can determine whether a student becomes a lifelong musician or stops singing forever. To ensure students are still singing into adulthood, we must empower them to master their changing voice. This session provides a practical roadmap for guiding students through the adolescent voice change with […]

Westin Sorrel

Intergenerational choirs unite singers of all ages and require intentional pedagogical approaches. This session offers practical strategies for addressing developmental differences from children through older adults, including vocal production, range, and stamina. Participants will explore adaptable warm-ups, rehearsal techniques, and repertoire considerations that promote healthy singing and ensemble cohesion. Attendees will leave with effective, immediately […]

Jocelyn Hagen

Heather Buchanan

Michael Costello

Robert Istad

In a time when questions of representation, authenticity, and appropriation are front and center, choral organizations may be unsure of the best way to sing and present the stories of people different from themselves. This session will highlight the complexities in showcasing women’s stories from the perspective of a mixed choir, offering a thoughtful, nuanced […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Alex Gartner

Mary Biddlecombe

Selecting repertoire for developing singers is not only an art, it is a responsibility. In this practical session, participants will explore key compositional elements that underpin quality developmental repertoire, explore modifications to meet student learning needs, and identify best practices for future repertoire cultivation. Importantly, participants will leave with a lengthy, vetted list of repertoire […]

Daniel Gregerman

Matt Falker

Roger Emerson

John Stafford II

What does it take to build a great vocal jazz ensemble? In this engaging panel session, experienced vocal jazz educators share practical ideas and differing perspectives on many of the key decisions involved in running a successful program. Topics include developing a program philosophy, audition structures and priorities, ensemble size, rehearsal design, and the role […]

Caron Daley

Ryan Sullivan

Occupational health for choral conductors is an emerging field that investigates the unique health risks associated with ensemble leadership. Conductors face a heightened risk of injury, particularly during the middle and later stages of their careers, yet training in injury prevention is rarely included in post-graduate education or employer-provided support. This practical session will outline […]