by Cera Babb, Performing Arts Teacher, Sanford School, Hockessin, Delaware

When I received approval to attend the National ACDA Conference, I quickly booked my flight and began poring over the light blue magazine ACDA had released. I was determined to attend all the best sessions, and began planning my trip right away.

When my flight landed in Utah, I was sure my planning would pay off. My focus was on music education. How can I teach certain techniques better? What kind of repertoire am I unfamiliar with? What is out there that I do not know exists? These were among the questions I was determined to answer as I was exploring my conference path through interest sessions, concerts, and quick coffee runs. I was eager to learn helpful tricks and tools from experts in the field, and was sure my schedule of sessions and concerts would give me some answers. In the end, what I ended up taking away from this conference is worth so much more than anything I could have planned.

After arriving at the conference center, I was thrilled by how close everything was. The proximity of each session and concert allowed attendees to maximize their time at the conference. Instead of worrying about getting to the next place on time, I was able to arrive early to each session. This gave me the opportunity to speak with different musicians who were also devoted to music education. For instance, at a middle school reading session, I met a woman from Utah who just began her work as a middle school music teacher this year. At an afternoon concert, I met an educator who is also an editor for an educational magazine. Even on my way to get coffee, I met a graduate composition student from Indiana University who was eager to share some of his work. It was incredibly interesting to speak to each of these people. More impressive, I think, is how so many people came from so many different situations in pursuit of the same thing: new, exciting ways to experience music.

By attending many different interest sessions, I was introduced to new concepts that I am looking forward to using in my own classroom. At an interest session focused on group-singing, I experienced how easy it can be to lead an informal, improvised jam session. While singing in a Kodály-focused interest session, I explored a new method of approaching folk music in a choral setting. In a movement-focused session, I looked at how movement is used in 21st century choral music, and what this means for choral music as an art. In total, was able to attend 18 diverse and insightful sessions.

Through these sessions, I learned many invaluable ideas which I plan to use in my everyday teaching. In the end, however, there is one more thing I took away from this conference which is perhaps more valuable than all of these sessions combined.

I saw performances of all kinds. Ensembles comprised of musicians who were extraordinarily different from one another came together to perform in this conference. For me, seeing this unity in choral music across so many different domains was a representation of what music can and should be: a method of communication that forgoes all boundaries. Watching all of these wonderful ensembles come together for one common purpose was incredible. And for that purpose to be something as pure and beautiful as music, is the most striking thing I experienced on that trip.

I walked away from this conference with answers to my questions, new contacts from all over the country, and most importantly, a renewed sense of excitement and purpose for something I believe in so deeply.

You can count on seeing me in Minneapolis!

The first annual Delaware Collegiate Choral Composers Competition was held March 10 in Dover with four composers participating: Emily Bentz (Wesley College), Emily DeWoolfson (University of Delaware), Nicholas Oakley (Wesley College), and Carl R. Pariso (University of Delaware). Singers from the Delaware Choral Society, Coro Allegro, and the Kent Chamber Choir came together to form a group of over 100 strong. Each of the students' works were rehearsed for 25 minutes and then performed before a panel of four judges.  Emily DeWoolfson's piece, "Siren Song", was chosen as the winner and will be featured on the Delaware Choral Society's spring program at the Schwartz Center on April 19. The event was a huge success and we look forward to hosting it again next year. Here are a few pictures from the evening:

by David Lockart, President-elect, DE ACDA

Of the many benefits ACDA membership provides, I would like to reflect on ACDA’s mission to “inspire choral excellence,” and my experience with the finest choral conference I have attended. 

Having spent the past two Eastern Division Conferences (Rhode Island and Baltimore) as the Interest Session Chair, I was delighted when Dr. Robert Duff, Director of Choral Activities at Dartmouth College, called and asked if I would take on the role of Asst. Interest Session Chair for the National Conference. For approximately a year, Bob and I organized the General Interest Sessions and, with leadership from composer Steven Sametz, the Composers Track Interest Sessions. We organized and edited over 70 presenters’ session information, photos, biographies, and session handouts for publication in the Choral Journal and on the conference app. During the conference, we coordinated the presenters, the session rooms and AV set-ups, pianos, risers, Session volunteers, presiders, and conference center personnel. 

One of the best aspects of attending any ACDA conference or event is strengthening the connections made with our friends and colleagues. The Salt Lake City conference was no exception, as I enjoyed connecting with the ACDA leadership, friends old and new, and meeting new friends. The organizational meeting in ACDA President-Elect’s suite included Mary Hopper, ACDA President Elect, Executive Director Tim Sharp, Program Chair Mike Huff, ACDA Associate Director Craig Gregory, performance site chairs, and the leaders of the Honor Choirs, Hospitality, Interest Sessions, Auditioned Choirs, and Foreign Choirs. 

Being from NJ, I was delighted to enjoy a dinner at the famous Red Iguana restaurant with Jack Hill, Chris Thomas, Laurie Lausi, Lori Lynch and the rest of the NJ delegate. It was a delight visiting with Joseph Flummerfelt, one of my most influential mentors, and reconnecting with some graduate school buddies including Andre Thomas and Anton Armstrong. I enjoyed spending time with our Delaware contingent, including Duane Cottrell, Cera Babb, Joanne Ward, Arreon Harley, Paul Head, Alexis Ford, Peter Solecki, Ned Perwo and Sara Gaines. Tom Sabatino was also on hand manning the JW Pepper booth. 

Salt Lake City provided an excellent conference site. Several major hotels were within walking distance to the massive Salt Palace Conference Center, which housed all of the Interest Sessions, Conference Registration, Honor Choir rehearsal space, and industry vendor booths. Over 5000 choral directors attended. An additional 5000 choristers from invited, auditioned and honor choirs were present to perform at the many concert venues, all within easy walking distance. The venues included the Abravanel Hall (home of the Utah Symphony Orchestra and Chorus), the Mormon Tabernacle, the LDS Conference Center (whose 21,000 seats were full for the closing conference concert), and a nearby cathedral. 

One obvious benefit of attending an ACDA conference is listening to excellent choirs – how they shape phrases, balance, blend, unify vowels, infuse feeling in their performance, and manage a variety of literature. Notable performances were given by our friend Stephen Holmes and the Maryland State Boychoir, the USC Chamber Singers, the Iowa State Singers, as well as some fabulous foreign choirs, The Metropolitan Chorus of Tokyo, Sine Nomine from Cuba, and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. The big evening concerts were phenomenal. On the opening night, the King’s Singers and the Real Group performed to a packed audience in the Tabernacle. The next night featured the Utah Symphony with combined ensembles of the University of Utah, featuring the Verdi Four Sacred Pieces and other selections. On the third night, I attended a flawless concert in the Tabernacle by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The closing concert in the LDS Conference Center featured the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Sylvia McNair, Santino Fontana, the USAF Singing Sergeants, which were joined by all of the honor choir members for the final selection. After a poignant message from Sylvia McNair about how important we all are in the lives of our singers, there were few dry eyes. 

I am hopeful that this article will inspire you to set aside the time and expense necessary to attend ACDA events, including our DE ACDA Choral Workshop in June, Voices United in August, the Division Conference (February 2016 in Boston), and the 2017 National Conference in Minneapolis. You will be inspired, and the singers in your choirs will benefit from what you have experienced. Mark your calendars and visit the DEACDA website frequently for new news and information. 


Please visit http://www.deacda.org/resources.html to sign up for DE ACDA notices.