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Happy New Year! Whether you teach in schools or universities, you are a church musician or conduct community based ensembles, September 1 is the choral conductor’s “New Years Day”! To that end, these dog days of August represent New Years Eve; a time to reflect on the past and to plan for the future.As you begin your next exciting year of music-making, don't forget to make some New Year's resolutions! Resolution #1 Our jobs begin and end with the music. Are you planning on celebrating the anniversaries of Mendelssohn (200th anniversary in ’09) or Pennsylvania’s own Samuel Barber (100th Anniversary in ’10)? Perhaps you are looking forward to a theme-based concert or hoping to find a new work that will challenge your singers or yourself as a conductor- or both! There is a wealth of historical and new repertoire to review, and this search can be difficult. But, make a resolution that your singers will be enriched through the music you select for them. Resolution #2 It is essential that we dedicate ourselves to being life-long learners. We are so fortunate that there are opportunities to attend workshops, classes and conferences that can help us learn new things, hone our craft and network with other professionals. To that end, I encourage every Pennsylvania choral conductor to attend the ACDA Eastern Division conference next February 9-13 in Philadelphia. Go to acdaeast.org to check out the bounty of interest sessions, reading sessions, concerts and special events that await you. The 16th Annual Conference for Choral Musicians will return to the University Park campus of Penn State next summer on August 1-3! Check the ACDA-PA website often for updates regarding this traditional gathering of Pennsylvania's choral conductors!\ For those who are users of Facebook, please join the ACDA-PA and Eastern Division groups, and check these pages often. Coming soon: a facebook page exclusively for student members that outlines student activities at the division conference in Philadelphia! Read the Choral Journal regularly and check acda.org (the national website) often for additional learning opportunities. The national website has recently been overhauled, and it contains a wealth of new material! Whether you’re looking for a summer graduate program or a one-day workshop, these ACDA resources are invaluable! As your New Year starts, make a resolution to stay involved in your profession! Resolution #3 We are so fortunate that we not only get to share music -making opportunities with our singers, but we can also share what we do with our professional peers. Building your network of professional friends may be the most important thing you do for yourself. I cannot imagine my life without my ACDA friends. I know that I'm a better teacher, conductor and person because of the valued group of friends I've made through ACDA. This is even more essential for conductors who live in isolated environments who often feel like they’re “going it alone”. If you're not sure how start, refer to Resolution #2! ACDA meetings offer unlimited opportunities to renew old friendships and to begin new ones. Choral singers are, by nature, a social group. Make the most of these opportunities! Although conferences and workshops come to a close, these friendships live on, and these friends can be a source of that valued “shot in the arm” we all need when our energies start to sag. There's no reason to go it alone! Make a resolution to build a network of new friends and colleagues! I am grateful that my repertoire has been selected and ordered, I have some special events planned for the year that will stimulate my singers and stretch myself as a conductor, my hotel reservations have been made for Philadelphia and my large circle of professional friends are ever-present in my life! I challenge you to do the same, and wish each of you a Happy New Year! Expect great things to happen!! |
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ACDA is funded in part by the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts |
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Message from the President