Were you at the ACDA National Conference in Kansas City? If you were, what were the highlights for you? Leave a comment below! If not, we invite you to enjoy some of the thoughts of those who were!
“For me, the community of choral musicians that were so abundantly and obviously there to support and celebrate each other. More than ever not passing judgment but recognizing the hard work and achievements of others and being truly happy for each other. That transcended clinics and concerts.” – Robyn Lana
“I especially enjoyed observing and then hearing the Legacy Choir featuring world-renown conductors who are now mostly retired. Each of them became youthful on the podium and the music flowed from their fingertips. This event was particularly meaningful in the birthplace of our association.” – Karen Fulmer
“The Aeolians, hands down. I truly believe that was a performance that will help continue to propel ACDA in the direction that so many of us desire and are working toward. Getting to watch that performance with some of my students (I teach at an HBCU) made it all the more meaningful. I am always proud to be an ACDA member, but I was exceptionally proud that day.” – Susan Kelly
“Definitely The Aeolians and Jake Runestad’s “A Silence Haunts Me”. Both were examples of brilliant artistry.” – Kevin Caparotta
“Thank you to Jason Max Ferdinand and the Aeolians of Oakwood University for sharing their amazing talents in tremendous performances at the conference! Your programming was fantastic, well thought out, and your performance was extremely nuanced and amazingly performed. It was refreshing and a joy to watch/listen and definitely one of the highlights of this year’s Conference! It gave me an experience that is hard to find outside of the setting of an ACDA National Conference.” – Timothy Tharaldson
“It was an amazing conference!! I could list so many things!! Besides John Rutter, The Aeolians, the Mass by Andre Thomas, the honor choir concert, and the Oxford UP reading session, I’d have to say that I loved the interest sessions this year! I particularly needed the transgender voice sessions and Susan Brumfield’s session on working with percussion!!!!” – Jill Tolar Campbell
“What Jefferson Johnson did with the TTBB honor choir was nothing short of magic! The choir seemed to be full of squirrelly guys who were encouraged by their conductor to sing their absolute best while having the most fun possible. The four soloists on Nick Johnson’s ‘Hard Times’ absolutely brought the house down – they sang with utmost excellence and heart. What a moment for each of them, and how fortunate that we were there to be a part of that moment!” – Susan LaBarr
“The junior high boys from the Select Men Choir of Southwest Junior High (Arkansas), conducted by Alan Showalter, performed with such skill, musicality, and commitment—defying our general expectations of this age group. They were an inspiring and joyful reminder that EVERY single person is capable of real artistry! #noexcuses #singboyssing.” – Penelope Cruz
“For me it was the Kaleidoscope Concert – especially Isaac Cates and the Ordained – WOW!” – Tom Merrill
“The easy accessibility of both concert halls. The amount of diversity in programming, interest sessions and people evidenced at this conference.” – Eugene Rogers
“The Brock Commission performance!! And the Common Threads piece when all of those diverse choirs were on stage singing together! As a gay Methodist choir director, hearing that song by a gay men’s chorus, children’s chorus, gospel chorus, and chamber chorus all together was just what I needed. Especially on the same day as the UMC vote.” – Joseph Scarbrough
“Being asked to conduct my own piece in the Pepper Women’s Chorus Reading Session! (highlight and unexpected). The collegiality and warmth throughout the conference in the exhibit hall!” – Michael Bussewitz-Quarm
“The performance of Alzheimer’s Stories . . . So incredibly powerful and moving.” – Richard Nickerson
“I was particularly moved by the Vancouver Youth Choir. The programing was refreshing, the singers sounded amazing and heartfelt, and I was moved by listening to the soloist at the end of their program.” – Jacob Funk
“To me it didn’t seem like just another conference. There was something special about it. Everyone seems so excited to arrive, in spite of the weather.” – Kathy Bhat
“Seeing a diverse cohort of conference attendees of color: African Americans, Latin Americans, Blacks, and Middle Easterners.” – Jeffery Ames
“Brock Commission and Dallas Street Choir. Both brought on such an emotional response.” – Kim Munger Schultz
“Seraphic Fire performance – I cried during ‘Steal Away’ – so beautiful!!!! Aeolians concert – loved their entire concert! Brock Commission by Jake Runestad: ‘A Silence Haunts Me’ – The way the piece ended was mesmerizing.” – Tom Shelton
“Performing onstage with the Aeolians, I kept having to remind myself to focus on my playing, not listening to the flawless sounds coming from the singers surrounding me! And then ducking into the audience after both performances, I got to witness the rest of their life-changing set. I’ve never been at a concert that felt so rewarding to every role I play as a musician: as a composer, as a performer, and–maybe my favorite part!–as an audience member with excellent seats to one of the best performances I’ve ever heard, at ACDA or otherwise. This conference felt momentous in a really big way.” – Dale Trumbore
“Albert McNeal and his 99 years of passion for choral music during the Legacy Choir rehearsals- very unexpected indeed.” – Vicky Boechler
“One of my highlights was hanging out with the Legacy Conductors, especially watching Albert McNeal, at 99 years old, skillfully rehearse the choir (and laughing at himself nodding off during the rest of the rehearsals).” – Karyl Carlson
“Seeing Stan McGill get the inaugural Volunteer Award.” – Gretchen Harrison
“Music in worship – and legacy conductor’s concert – and Andre’s mass – and the alzheimer’s concert – and the Bloch – and, and, and…” – Gary Weidenaar
“The Aeolians – I have never heard a choir sound so pure in my life. Their performance was #goals for me!” – Maria A. Ellis
“The Aeolians set the new standard for a national convention performance.” – W. Edward McCall
drdavidschofieldgmail-com says
I made a daily vlog on my youtube channel, and it echos many of the comments others have posted above.
My favorite conference thing: noticing that the Southwest Jr. High Select Men (who were awesome) quietly filtered into the upper balcony and were riveted listening to the Baylor U Men singing. Great big bro mentor moment.
Very special conference. It was as if a cross section of half the world had come together to share their songs. Huge thank you to all who made it possible.