ACDA Eastern Conference: Rochester 2020

On March 5, 2020 our ACDA chapter traveled to Rochester, New York for the ACDA Eastern Regional Conference. The conference, titled “Open Ears-Open Hearts," embodied the ideas of creating choral music in an inclusive and uplifting way. Members of our chapter attended multiple workshops and seminars that delved into the meaning behind the conference.  Such workshops included “Exploring Gender Choirs," “Culturally Responsive Choral Arranging: Considering the Source," and “Women Giving Voice to Women," to name a few. Each of these workshops were wonderful learning opportunities that allowed for the expansion of knowledge within the choral world. Through networking events, our members were able to connect with other ACDA members from multiple collegiate chapters in our region. A highlight of this conference included the ability to attend numerous concerts that were presented throughout each day and offered a diverse representation of choral music. Another highlight for our chapter was seeing three of our members participate in the conducting masterclasses – we are so proud of them!

Performances were located at the Hochstein School, the Downtown United Presbyterian Church in Rochester, and the Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre and offered different experiences for our members to hear the music being presented. Concluding with the Honor Choir Concert, this conference was filled with enriching experiences that were engaging to our future choral directors. 

-Megan Rowburry; IC ACDA Member

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