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Awards/Recognitions

Eugene Thamon Simpson was a ton. From 1960 to 1995 he built a choral program of
versatile musician known for his abili- national renown and taught two generations of choral
ties as a conductor, arranger, singer, and musicians who continue to carry the torch. In addition
pianist. Regarded as a child prodigy, he to holding many positions of leadership in local and
went on to pursue music professionally, state organizations, Dave was a board member of IFCM
graduating from Howard University as in its early years and served ACDA as president of the
the “Most Distinguished Student in Applied Music” western division and later as national president. He was
and from Yale University, where he received a second particularly known for his work with Helmuth Rilling
undergraduate degree as well as a master’s degree in at the Oregon Bach Festival from 1973 to 1989. On the
piano performance. His doctorate is from Columbia home front, he brought his skills to the service of church
University. He was an expert on the music of Hall music throughout his career.
Johnson and wrote his biography, published in 2008
by Scarecrow Press: Hall Johnson: His Life, His Spirit, His Guy Webb led the choral program at
Music. Dr. Simpson served as music department chair Missouri State University for thirty-
at Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, and four years, during which his choirs
taught at Virginia State College, conducting their Choir performed at regional and national
at a national ACDA conference in the early 1970s. ACDA conferences and undertook
many domestic and international tours.
Carmen-Helena Téllez, a native Previous teaching positions included those at the Uni-
of Venezuela, most recently taught at versity of Florida, the State University of New York at
Notre Dame University (appointed in Cortland, and New Mexico State University. He served
2012), where she founded the doctoral ACDA in several roles, most notably as Southwest Re-
program in choral conducting. She was gion President 2004–2006. He was editor and author
a champion of contemporary music and of Up Front: Becoming the Complete Choral Conductor (ECS
also developed new approaches to classical music presen- Publishing Group), a frequently-referenced resource in
tation by exploring the relationship of music to other arts the profession. When he died at the age of 90 in 2021,
and technology. As a doctoral graduate of the University he left wonderful memories as a kind-hearted gentleman
of Indiana, she won the Julius Herford Dissertation with a love for people, and a sense of humor that always
Award from ACDA in 1991. Also a composer, she wrote elicited smiles from colleagues and students.
A Dance for Seurat, which was premiered by the South
Bend Symphony in January 2022. An advocate for Latin
American music, she commissioned and recorded new
works, producing fourteen CDs and organizing several
Inter-American Composition Workshops. She is the first
woman on record to conduct Berlioz’s Grande Messe des
Morts (Indiana University, 2000).

David Thorsen, a Michigan native
and WWII Navy veteran, spent his
entire professional life in California.
After earning a Masters under Howard
Swan, Dave taught high school and
community college for eight years and
was appointed an inaugural faculty member at the new
Orange County State College—later Cal State Fuller-

154 CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 63 Number 6 February 2023 / 2023 ACDA National Conference Program Book