Michigan ACDA
Student Conducting Masterclass
2026 ACDA Michigan Fall Conference
Alma College
October 9-10, 2025
Clinician: Dr. Jerry Blackstone & Dr. Derrick Fox
Demonstration Choir: The Eastern Michigan University Choir, Dr. Brandon Johnson, conductor
Repertoire:
Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, BWV 226 (Graduate Repertoire)
Flight Song, Kim André Arnesen (Undergraduate Repertoire)
Congratulations to our Masterclass Conductors!
Jake Zimmer is an undergraduate senior at Western Michigan University majoring in Choral Music Education. Originally from Los Angeles, California, Zimmer’s first encounters with choral music were in high school hearing the Los Angeles Master Chorale at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. He attended Pasadena City College for two years before transferring to Western and had the opportunity to serve as assistant conductor for the PCC choirs during his second year. Since moving to Kalamazoo, he has become an active member of the Southwest Michigan choral community in school, community, and liturgical settings. Zimmer currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Kalamazoo Male Chorus, is an Undergraduate Representative for ACDA Michigan, and holds paid singing positions at St. Augustine Cathedral in Kalamazoo and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Grand Rapids. In February 2026, he was one of two undergraduate students selected to participate in the Midwest ACDA Regional Conducting Masterclass in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In October, he will make his singing debut with the professional early music ensemble Bach Collegium San Diego, singing on their season opening concert, Salzburg Connections. Zimmer is passionate about early and sacred music, and after graduating he plans to continue his studies in choral conducting and historical performance.
Shirley Han is a pianist in her 3rd year at the University of Michigan, pursuing a BM degree in Choral Music Education. She is very active in Michigan’s choral community, having sung in Out of the Blue – a prison outreach choir; Touch of Blue, a vocal jazz ensemble; and chamber choir. She’s currently serving as the Undergraduate Assistant Conductor for Arts Chorale and the Social Media and Marketing Manager for the UofM ACDA chapter. In addition to choir, Shirley is very passionate about musical theater and has music directed and assisted on productions both professionally and at the University of Michigan. Her theater credits include: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Into the Woods, The Gondoliers, Matilda, Come From Away, Footloose, Carousel, and Cats. Shirley is very passionate about creating meaningful musical experiences for performers through choral music and musical theater. She is especially grateful for the opportunity to participate in this masterclass and learn from the musicians and educators around her.
Bridget Kenny is a senior at Hope College studying Vocal Music Education and Theatre. She serves on the executive boards of Hope College Chapel Choir, the Hope College NAfME chapter, and Tap Dance Club. She is also the choir intern at Hope Church and is actively involved in Hope College’s Music, Theatre, and Dance departments both on and off the stage. Bridget is grateful and honored to be the alternate for the undergraduate conducting masterclass. As a conductor and educator, she is passionate about creating meaningful musical experiences and sharing the joy of music-making with the next generation of musicians.
Gukhui Han is a conductor and pianist who enjoys learning and making music in both roles. As a conductor, she has served as Lecturer in Choral Music at California State University, Los Angeles, Conducting Teacher at the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, and Music Director at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach. Continuing to grow as a conductor, Han has been selected twice for Chorus America’s Conducting Academy and has participated in international conducting workshops in the Czech Republic, Croatia, and Bulgaria, where she has had the opportunity to work with professional orchestras and conductors. Han holds an MM in Choral Conducting from California State University, Fullerton, where she studied with Dr. Rob Istad, and is currently pursuing a DMA in Choral Conducting at the University of Michigan under Dr. Eugene Rogers. At Michigan, she has directed the Opera Chorus and served as an assistant conductor of the Women’s Glee Club. This year, she is thoroughly enjoying her work as Director of Arts Chorale, an ensemble for students from all academic backgrounds, and Out of the Blue, a prison outreach choir.
Adam Good is a first-year DMA student in Choral Conducting at Michigan State University, where he serves as Assistant Conductor of the MSU Singing Spartans and assists with undergraduate choral conducting courses. Previously, Adam enjoyed a fulfilling 15-year career as a high school choral director in New Jersey. Adam is a member of the Delaware Choral Scholars, with whom he has competed in choral competitions in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Spain, and Slovenia. In September 2026, he performed as a member of Caritas at both Crathie Kirk and St Margaret’s Church in Braemar for Their Majesties The King and Queen and members of the Royal Family. He holds an MM in Choral Conducting from Ithaca College, where he studied under Dr. Janet Galván, and a BS in Music Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Outside of music, Adam is passionate about traveling, playing badminton, and maintaining his green thumb.
Sophie Choate is a conductor, soprano, and violist from Provo, Utah. As a master’s student in choral conducting and Graduate Student Instructor at the University of Michigan, she studies with Dr. Eugene Rogers, associate conducts the Orpheus Singers, and assistant conducts the Women’s Glee Club and Michigan Youth Chamber Singers. She has participated in the Yale Norfolk Chamber Choir Festival as a conducting fellow, as well as Eastman’s Choral Masterworks conducting workshop. Sophie previously served as Choir Manager and Ferris Choral Fellow of the Harvard University Choir and Soprano Section Leader of First United Bloomington. Opera appearances include title roles in The Merry Widow, Dido and Aeneas, and Iolanthe. On viola, Sophie’s previous engagements include the Next Festival for Emerging Artists, Sarasota Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, and National Youth Orchestra of the USA. She is passionate about new and exploratory music practices, early music, and building musical communities. Sophie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Government from Harvard University and a Master of Music in Viola from IU’s Jacobs School of Music.