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STANDING COMMITTEES
From the INTERIM

ADVOCACY & COLLABORATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CO-CHAIRS, LYNN BRINCKMEYER
lbrinckmeyer@txstate.edu
ROBYN LANA
rrlana@cincinnatichoir.org As I write, it is February, and much of North
America is experiencing frigid weather. It seems
COMPOSITION INITIATIVES
hard to imagine that April will bring warmer tem-
CHAIR, DAN FORREST peratures and the beginning of spring. It strikes me

that this contrast is particularly significant now. Just
dan@danforrest.com
as the coming of a new season signals change and
DIVERSITY INITIATIVES
Hilary Apfelstadt hope, so does the passing of time as Covid-19 case
CHAIR, ARREON HARLEY-EMERSON numbers drop. If we continue to take precautions so
aharley@choirschoolofdelaware.org
the declining trend continues, we hope to be making music face-to-face
next fall as school resumes, and when community and worship setting
EDUCATION & COMMUNICATION
choirs typically begin their yearly rehearsal schedules.
CHAIR, JAMILA MCWHIRTER At present, we still hear warnings that we must be careful about fol-
jamila.mcwhirter@mtsu.edu lowing rules around physical distancing and wearing masks, etc., because
of the potential threat of other variants of Covid-19. So even with en-
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
couraging signs on the one hand, we must continue to be vigilant on the
CHAIR, T.J. HARPER other. As we breathe sighs of relief, we know it is likely we will need to
harper.tj@gmail.com
wear masks for some time. That will be a pandemic holdover.
REPERTOIRE & RESOURCES Other aspects of the pandemic may remain with us, too. What are
some of the changes we have made that turned out to be advantageous?
CHAIR, GRETCHEN HARRISON
gharrison.jhms@gmail.com As a profession, choral music has experienced multiple changes. For ex-
ample, choral music in the schools has adapted to the times with some

RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS programs on hiatus, some in hybrid form, and some completely online.
CHAIR, JOHN SILANTIEN We have presented programs completely virtually, featuring other format
jsilan@satx.rr.com changes as well; due to the amount of time it takes to edit virtual choir
pieces, some conductors have chosen to present fewer pieces of music
than they might have done in a live performance, but they have given the
ADVOCACY STATEMENT audiences more information about the context, sometimes by having a
singer share the background of the music or by reading the text. Some-
The human spirit is elevated to a broader understanding times artwork or movement accompanies the singing. In the process of
of itself and its place in the world through the study of and rehearsing on Zoom, for example, some groups have included dedicat-
participation in choral music. Singing in a choir produces ed community time during rehearsal, featuring some kind of social ex-
more active and involved citizens. It affects self-worth

in youth and adults. It builds connectivity throughout change or game, or simply by making time to greet each other.
communities. Society benefits from the aesthetic beauty Zoom rehearsals have allowed teachers to check on students’ prog-

and community of singers created by choral programs ress individually by hearing them singing single lines, for example, and
within schools, houses of worship, and community holding singers accountable for knowing their music. Groups rehearsing
organizations through involved citizenry, connectivity live have found themselves divided into smaller ensembles where sing-
throughout communities, and feelings of personal self- ers have great responsibility if they are one of only two or three on a
worth. The American Choral Directors Association and
its membership resolve to ensure the survival of choral part, for example. The kinds of repertoire we explored have refl ected the
programs for this and future generations by: change in size, as we have not been able to manage as much divisi like
we do in large groups. Perhaps we have been able to experience music
Actively voicing support for funding at local, state,
and national levels of education and government; we might not have otherwise approached. Another blessing of this time
collaborating with local and national organizations to has been the generosity of colleagues who have shared their expertise
ensure the distribution of arts funding data and arts- with groups on Zoom. Composers, conductors, pedagogues, and other
related activism opportunities; advocating for full access professionals have enriched our gatherings.
to choral singing and inclusion of all singers in a choral
program; and ensuring the distribution of advocacy
statements and data regarding choral programs.
2 CHORAL JOURNAL February 2021 Volume 61 Number 7