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NATIONAL OFFICERS
From the
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT
LYNNE GACKLE
lynne_gackle@baylor.edu
Untold hours, immense energy, and great care has
been given to the intricately complex planning of our
VICE PRESIDENT
2021 Virtual National Conference. I want to thank Dr.
ANDRÉ THOMAS
athomas32312@aol.com André Thomas and his outstanding Steering Commit-
tee, for a fabulously creative virtual conference. I am so
PRESIDENT-ELECT appreciative to André, the National Conference Steering

DAVID FRYLING Committee, and the National Offi ce Staff for their com-
dfryling@mac.com Lynne Gackle mitment and dedication to ACDA and its membership.
To each choir and every presenter, on behalf of the
SECRETARY/TREASURER
ACDA Executive Committee, our leadership and the entire membership,
TOM MERRILL
merrillt@xavier.edu thank you for sharing your music, your knowledge, and your hearts with us
at this very special ACDA conference during what is undeniably, one of the
PAST PRESIDENT most unforgettable periods in US history.
TOM SHELTON This conference reminded me of the collective creativity of our member-
ttshelton@aol.com ship and the powerful effect music has on us as human beings. This year, in

particular, has been fraught with many challenges—great pain, tragedy, fear,
INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR social unrest, anger, and political division. Often, it seems that the chasms that
HILARY APFELSTADT lie between us as citizens in this land grow wider, day by day. However, for us
hapfelstadt@acda.org as musicians, it is music that binds us together. I believe that music is a gift—a
“balm” that can soothe and heal the soul.
EASTERN REGION PRESIDENT
I have recently been concerned to observe the tendency in the arts and arts
PENELOPE CRUZ
pcruzacda@gmail.com organizations to allow political agendas to drive their vision and often, deviate
from their mission statements. Those who would use the arts for their own po-
MIDWESERN REGION PRESIDENT litical ends do so because they know the power of the arts, and they are keenly
MARY EVERS aware of the sensitivity of the artists and the ease with which they open their
meversmusic@comcast.net hearts and minds to the promise of a better world.
ACDA is an organization representing members who are on all sides of the
NORTHWESTERN REGION PRESIDENT
political spectrum. Thankfully, in this country, we have the freedom to think
TIMOTHY WESTERHAUS our own thoughts and to speak our minds and voice our opinions. Our coun-
president@nwacda.org
try was founded on this principle. With that said, we each have a responsibility
SOUTHERN REGION PRESIDENT and obligation to respect each other’s views—even those views that might not
CONNIE DROSAKIS agree with our own.
connieisms@aol.com The theme of our National Conference was Diversity in Music—Educa-
tional, Cultural, and Generational. The logo for the conference depicted a
SOUTHWESTERN REGION PRESIDENT tree with multiple branches, each one unique, spreading to reach in all direc-
RYAN SULLIVAN tions, yet attached to a strong trunk with deep roots that nurture each branch.
ryanwsullivan@gmail.com
As I study the picture, it seems obvious to me that the roots represent MUSIC,
a force which gives life, just as the roots do to the branches, and provides a
WESTERN REGION PRESIDENT
common source of inspiration. Music is that which brings us together, pro-
LOU DE LA ROSA
l.delarosa@gmail.com viding commonality which binds us in community. May we all remember that
we are one, and our “agenda” as an organization must always be to preserve
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATE REPRESENTATIVE and promote excellence, beauty, understanding, community, and peace for all
KATHY FERNANDES people through choral music.
J.W. Pepper
Kfernand@jwpepper.com

4 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2021 Volume 61 Number 6