From the President
Welcome to the Web Page for American Choral Directors Association-Michigan. We are a community of dynamic, creative musicians dedicated to exploring, cultivating, and celebrating the choral art. We are teachers in public and private schools, colleges and universities, church and community ensembles. We work with musicians of all ages, children to senior citizens, performing music that celebrates the great diversity of cultures, and the finest vocal art produced by the masters of western and world music. Our art is living, breathing, and always new, whether it was conceived hundreds of years ago or in this century.
ACDA-MI is affiliated with the national organization, the American Choral Directors Association and, as such, follows the basic structure of our umbrella organization. Consequently, our Board members include Repertoire and Standards Chairs, whose function is to serve as advocates for the particular focus of choral music in which they have become masters. We also have Area Representatives who serve as liaisons between their geographic area constituency and the wider state choral community. Contact information for Board members can be accessed on this site.
Members of ACDA-MI gather at an annual Fall Conference, as well as annual Spring conferences which alternate between National and Divisional. Our 2007 Fall Conference will be an exciting one-day event at Calvin College, in Grand Rapids. We will open with an all-conference “sing” led by Jerry Blackstone, winner of the 2006 Maynard Klein award. He will be joined by two other Maynard Klein award winners, Duane Davis and Mel Larimer, leading reading sessions of their favorite music, including both secular and sacred works. Our conducting masterclasses will be led by Sigrid Johnson and Phillip Brunelle. The afternoon Plenary Session, featuring VocalEssence, will explore American choral music of all types, including a new Bluegrass Mass. Interest Sessions will be led by Susan Matych-Hager discussing the use of IPA in the choral rehearsal, and Kevin Dobreth exploring the many ways the choral musical can employ computer-based and web-based research, teaching, and learning. Three outstanding choirs will conclude the afternoon: the Midland Chorale, James Hohmeyer, conductor; the Traverse City Junior High School Choir, Phil Johnson, .conductor; and the Calvin Capella, Joel Navarro, conductor. Following dinner, the conventioneers will return to join the Calvin Artist Series, enjoying a full concert by VocalEssence.
The 2007 – 2008 school year will also include an outstanding Central Division convention in Grand Rapids, on Feb. 22 – 24, featuring concerts by the finest regional choirs representing a wide variety of ages and specialties. In addition, there will be a Multicultural Honors Choir, directed by Maria Guinand, a Children’s Honors Choir directed by Anton Armstrong, and a Collegiate Repertory Choir, directed by Joe Miller. Details regarding the convention, which will be held at the Amway Grand Plaza, can be found at the ACDA Divisional Link.
You are invited to read further details and register for the conventions online.
