Friday Sessions
Revisiting the basics of conducting and gesture – Dr. Julie Yu
Music teachers are so good at spinning many plates! We attempt to conduct while playing parts, taking attendance, passing around trash buckets to collect gum, giving the student on the 3rd row the death stare to stop their foolishness. Perhaps it has been a while since your fundamentals of conducting courses. This session is designed to review the basics of clear and efficient conducting that you and your students need for both physical health and creating healthy music. This session will be interactive!
Using Peer Feedback to Center Identity, Equity, and Engagement in the Music Classroom – Alysia Lee
This dynamic workshop invites music educators to reimagine peer feedback as a powerful tool for co-creation, belonging, and shared ownership in the music classroom. Grounded in critical pedagogy and music-specific practice, participants will explore how to center student identity, amplify voice, and design feedback structures that move learning along the Continuum of Engagement—from participation to true co-creation.
Through reflective inquiry using the case study Austin’s Butterfly, along with collaborative protocols such as fishbowl discussions, educators will examine how peer feedback can deepen musical understanding, build trust, and shift classroom power dynamics. The session is designed to be highly interactive, equipping participants with practical strategies they can implement immediately in rehearsal and classroom settings.
From Screen to Score: Creative ways to teach performance repertoire to our choristers that enhance focus, participation, and skill building – Dr. Angela Kasper
Find effective tools and strategies for introducing pieces to your choirs that bring immediate engagement and interest! Distributing scores and asking students to sing new material without the necessary skills and experience may cause frustration for learners and teacher. In this session, participants will experience new “ways into a piece” that begin with fun activities on a screen and then lead directly to learning passages in performance repertoire.
Saturday Sessions
Creating Concert Programs that Connect Singers and Audiences – Liana Salinas
Every choral conductor makes countless repertoire decisions each year—often guided by voicing, difficulty level, or stylistic contrast. But what if repertoire selection began with a different question: What do we want our singers to experience through the music they perform?
In this interactive session, we’ll explore how repertoire can be used not just to build musical skills, but to create meaningful, connected experiences for singers and audiences. Together, we will examine how considering the human behind the music—the composer—and the cultural, historical, and personal context of each work can deepen authenticity, expand representation, and foster belonging in our ensembles.
Drawing on examples from honor choirs I’ve conducted at ACDA Eastern and Western Regional Honor Choirs, I’ll share how individual pieces can be intentionally woven together to create narrative-driven programs. One program centers on the story of an immigrant, while another traces a journey of individuals coming together, embarking on a shared adventure, and ultimately uniting as one voice that invites the audience to rally behind its message.
Participants will actively engage in collaborative activities to:
• Identify key considerations for selecting inclusive, meaningful repertoire
• Analyze concert programs to uncover narrative and emotional arcs
• Design short programs around a central theme
Grounded in culturally responsive, student-centered pedagogy, this session offers practical tools for creating programs that foster connection, spark creativity, and resonate deeply with singers and audiences.
Off the page: Rehearsals where ear, eye and body align – Dr. Ellen Gilson Voth
In the course of studying music, ear training is often presented or experienced as a set of skills that are developed primarily outside of performing ensembles. For this reason, and because of the performing demands on our choirs, it can be challenging for choral directors to know how to best build ear training into the ensemble rehearsal in ways that are effective, time-efficient, and holistic.
The purpose of this session is to explore how culturally diverse and relevant repertoire can be a gateway toward stronger inner hearing, broader vocabulary for movement, and deeper musicality in our singers. Participants will identify musical concepts in each piece that can be approached through visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning; they will practice physical movement to illustrate musical hearing; they will discuss ways to layer and scaffold in rehearsal spaces with a wide range of singers’ skills; they will explore different cultural expressions of musical concepts, and what those concepts reveal about our cultures.
Harmonic Leadership: Navigating the Shared Podium – Dr. Kyra Stahr and Ashley Vance
“The traditional image of the choral conductor is often one of a singular, solitary figure. However, the reality of modern choral artistry frequently involves collaborative environments, ranging from graduate teaching assistantships and K-12 co-teaching to community and liturgical partnerships. This presentation explores the “”Shared Leadership Model,”” shifting the perspective from a hierarchy to a collaborative partnership that maximizes musical and administrative outcomes.
We will examine the benefits of having “”two minds on the podium,”” focusing on how co-conductors can tap into the potential of their partnership. Participants will gain practical strategies for:
Strategic Time Management: Designing rehearsal flows that allow for seamless transitions between leaders without losing momentum.
Student Leadership: Cultivating a student-led culture by integrating leadership into the fabric of the ensemble. By leading warm-ups, conducting, and managing executive boards, students drive the atmosphere, ensuring that active engagement is the foundation of our success.
Complementary Pedagogy: Identifying and leveraging each conductor’s unique strengths–such as vocal pedagogy, rhythmic precision, or expressive gesture–to provide the ensemble with a more holistic education.
Collaborative Vulnerability: Establishing a dynamic where conductors can openly cover each other’s weaknesses and provide real-time, constructive feedback.
Unified Vision: Maintaining a singular artistic goal while navigating the nuances of shared leadership responsibilities.
By moving away from the “”primary and secondary”” mindset and embracing a truly collaborative model, conductors can reduce burnout and foster a more vibrant, multi-dimensional learning environment for their singers. Attendees will leave with a framework for building healthy, productive, and artistically rewarding professional partnerships.”
Working with Anxiety in the Choral Setting: Reinforcing Obstructed Connections – Dr. Gerard Micera
This workshop is tailored for choral teachers looking to deepen understanding and
enhance skills in supporting youth experiencing anxiety. Led by Dr. Gerard Micera, a seasoned, practicing clinical psychologist and Director of Choral Music at Putnam Valley High School, this workshop offers tangible strategies to identify potential triggers, recognize symptoms, and understand maintenance mechanisms to manage anxiety that may be interfering with authentic, meaningful connections in chorus. Equipped with practical strategies, attendees will learn to effectively address anxiety symptoms, while minimizing its impact on students’ learning, behavior, and relationships.
Key highlights of the workshop include:
- Demystifying anxiety: Definitions, insights, and the dual role of anxiety in our lives.
- Analyzing the roots of persistent anxiety and its common precursors, including stress and cognitive distortions.
- Introducing evidence-based practices for support.
- Constructing a “Toolbox for Managing Anxiety”
The Choral Athlete – Byron De Leon
“The voice is the most powerful and vulnerable instrument in existence. Unlike any other instrument, it cannot be set down, traded in, or separated from the person who carries it. It is shaped by every experience, emotion, and tension a singer brings into the rehearsal room, and it is our responsibility as choral educators to honor that.
This interest session invites conductors to explore how intentional movement and mindfulness can transform the choral rehearsal into a space where singers authentically connect with their instruments, with one another, and with the music. When we teach our singers to inhabit their bodies, in both small and large ways, we create the conditions for something truly magical: a community unified through breath, sound, and shared physical awareness.
Drawing on voice science, somatic pedagogy, the Alexander Technique, and the presenter’s own journey as a singer and conductor with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City – and now as a professional singer/conductor – participants will explore practical strategies for weaving movement and breath-centered mindfulness into warm-ups and repertoire. From subtle hand gestures that improve pitch accuracy to full-body engagement that unlocks phrasing and expression, every movement is an invitation for singers to deepen their relationship with their own instrument.
This session is for every conductor who believes the rehearsal room should be a place of discovery, where connection is the foundation of artistry, and where every singer leaves feeling more alive in their body than when they walked in.”
You took the words right out of my mouth! – Penelope Cruz
Choral singing is dependent on delivery of TEXT. We conductors should be responsible for what words the singers are delivering, how they are delivering it, and how that delivery affects performance and impact. Using pieces I’ve used in my own practice, we will discuss poetry, teaching understanding, learning diction in unfamiliar languages/dialects, and using articulation and diction to further musical means.
Empowering Trans Voices: Connecting Voice Anatomy and Pedagogy to Choral Practice – Jonathan Morrone
“Trans singers are presetn in our choirs and studios, and directors are increasingly seeking practical, informed approaches to support them with care and musical integrity. This session bridges private voice pedagogy and choral practice to offer a unified framework for working with trans singers across vocal settings.
Drawing from my master’s research in voice pedagogy and identity-affirming teaching, this presentation explores how understanding of voice pedagogy can directly inform ensemble decision-making in rehearsal spaces. Topics include understanding vocal transition and change, the effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy on the voice, aligning choral expectations with healthy vocal function, and anatomy of the voice.
While grounded in voice pedagogy, the focus will remain on immediate application for choral directors. Attendees will leave with better understanding of the voice as well as concrete approaches for creating inclusive rehearsal environments that honor vocal health, musical growth, and individual identity while maintaining strong ensemble artistry. “
Cultivating Your Choral Community: Motivational Tools for Classroom Choral Directors – Dr. Edryn J. Coleman
This session is an invitation to rethink everything you believe about your rehearsal room—not as a place where music simply happens, but as a space where people are shaped, seen, and transformed. Centered on five powerful pillars—Know Yourself, Know Your Singers, Know Your Craft, Know You Need Other Voices, and Know You Must Give Back—we will dig beneath the surface of teaching to uncover the kind of leadership that truly changes lives.
Through honest storytelling, real rehearsal moments, and intentional reflection, we’ll explore what it means to lead with clarity, purpose, and authenticity. How do your students experience you when you step on the podium? What are you building beyond the notes on the page? And how can your choices cultivate trust, belonging, and musical excellence at the same time?
This is more than pedagogy—it’s personal. You’ll leave with practical strategies you can implement immediately, but more importantly, with a renewed sense of why this work matters. Expect to be challenged, affirmed, and re-centered in your purpose.
If you’re ready to build a choral community that feels as powerful as it sounds, this session is for you.
Sunday Sessions
All Voices are Welcome! Circlesinging & Song Leading – Destiny Cooper
It’s making waves online and maybe in your own communities, Circlesinging, Singing Circles, One-Day Choirs. What do these groups represent in our music communities today? Why can it be so powerful? How can we connect with this audience of people to bring into our our community ensembles? Be ready to sing, move and experience why Circlesinging and Song Circles not a trend and a way to keep music making inclusive for all!
Who Are You Listening To? Targeted Model Recordings for Teaching Jazz Singers – Dr. Tyler Thomas
We all know the importance of listening when learning jazz, but selecting the right model recordings for our students can sometimes be a daunting task. Moreover, many students need more guidance to know what we want them to hear from the artists and albums we assign. In this session, we’ll go beyond the traditional approach and provide practical playlists perfect for every pedagogical purpose. We’ll practice by applying targeted listening strategies to a few common, real-world challenges, and we’ll demonstrate how to leverage the provided listening materials to make the most of the masters, past and present. Accessible to vocal jazz directors of all backgrounds and experience levels.
Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors: Connecting All Singers to our Repertoire – Amy Kotsonis
“This session will address the need for developing varied repertoire in our choral program, particularly regarding the composers, texts, and genres that we select for our ensembles. Our singers must see themselves as well as those different from them in the music we program, and we should consider this each time we are selecting music. The scores we choose should also reflect the values of the director and program, with representation at every performance as the goal, rather than a single concert utilized to “cover the bases.” We can look through a new lens at the choral standards to examine which gems should remain in the canon, or whether some pieces in our libraries are past their moment to shine.
The session will have suggested works for all ages and include text and ability appropriate repertoire for less experienced to advanced singers. The lens of windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors will be used in addition to many other considerations when selecting repertoire. Through examining what we value, creating goals, curriculum, and mission within our program, we can begin to refine our programming process and choose repertoire accordingly. Attendees will have the opportunity to read through and listen to choral octavos during the session, as well as take home a reading packet to add to their own library. The more we connect with our repertoire, the stronger experience we can create for the ensemble and the audience alike.”
Navigating the Five R’s in Middle School (Recruitment, Rapport, Recreation, Reputation, Repertoire) to achieve Retention – Garrett Fujarski
In this session I would like to explore some common issues that we may have as middle level choral educators. I find that our unique position is one that gets students “dumped” in our programs due to scheduling, and how can we overcome these scenarios. What techniques, repertoire and resources have you used that were both effective and ineffective? How do we strengthen the “bridge” between Elementary School and High School, with both, strong numbers and a well balanced, and confident group of singers as they move to the next level.
Conducting with Care: Being a Servant Leader – Robyn Hilger
Choral conductors are often trained to lead from the podium, but some of the most effective leadership happens off it. Drawing on the ten tenets of servant leadership, this session explores how conductors can build stronger ensembles, cultivate trust, develop future leaders, and create cultures where singers thrive. Participants will examine practical applications of listening, empathy, stewardship, foresight, community building, and other core servant leadership principles within the unique context of choral music. Whether leading a school choir, community ensemble, church choir, or professional organization, conductors will leave with actionable strategies for conducting with care—placing the growth, well-being, and success of their singers at the center of their leadership.