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Wednesday, February 22 Detailed Schedule

Singers baritone Chris Gabbitas Mitos Andaya, presider Tacoma Refugee Choir linked by
will approach several of the group’s Temple University stories from members and a dem-
best-loved arrangements and pass on onstration of community, including
practical skills for use with your own an invitation for attendees to sing
singers no matter their prior experi- 3 Seen, Accepted, Empowered: along and be part of the sharing. As
ence. This is a genre for all singers Fostering Social Emotional one of the few intercultural refugee
to enjoy! Learning in Choral Classrooms choirs in the United States, the les-
sons of belonging learned from this
Chris Gabbitas, presenter Duke Energy CC 2nd Floor unique community are applicable
South Meeting Rooms 230-233 to all ensembles with members who
Joseph Modica, presider feel othered by society. The Tacoma
Director of the School of Performing Students need to feel cared for Refugee Choir is founded upon the
Arts and Conservatory of Music, and connected before they can learn idea that it’s hard not to love people
Redlands University, California in choral classrooms. To flourish, when you sing together. Though our
students need to feel seen, accepted, members come from diverse commu-
and empowered. By embedding so- nities and have even fought against
2 Everyone's Song: cial emotional learning into ensemble one another in their countries of
singing, students can gain key compe-
origin, members are united in hope
Gender-Inclusivity in the Choir Room tencies relating to identity, belonging, and joy. In our weekly gatherings, we
Duke Energy CC 2nd Floor and agency. In this session, Philip create time to acknowledge pain and

North Meeting Room 206 Silvey builds on the work of Edgar then transcend concerns to celebrate
(2017) to show how choral music in laughter and joy.
With men’s choirs, women’s choirs, classrooms are uniquely suited to help Attendees will learn how we culti-
tuxes, dresses, and standard reper- students develop socially and emo- vate this space that feels welcoming to
toire that often reinforces masculine tionally through music making. These so many, including exercises we utilize
and feminine stereotypes, the gender learnings can be strategically planned to acknowledge individual concerns
lines in choral classrooms are well and measured with outcomes that and emotions people may feel upon
established. However, over the past allow for the growth of the whole entering the space, how improvisation
decade the number of students who person through engagement in the and movement reduces judgment and
choose to express their non-binary art of choral singing. improves tonal quality, our pedagogi-
gender identity has seen an increase. cal practice of teaching without sheet
This session will unpack the results of Philip Silvey, presenter music and why this can be a strength
a national study exploring gender-in- even for those classically trained. We
clusive practices in choral music. We Doreen Fryling, presider will briefly share our communal song-
will examine concepts surrounding State President, New York writing process and how being part
the intersection of gender diversity of the writing process is both healing
and singing and discuss practical steps 00 and empowering.
choral directors can take to begin to 4 Tacoma Refugee Choir:
transform their choir room into a Tacoma Refugee Choir, Insight Choir
place of belonging for transgender Healing through Love and Belonging
and non-binary singers. Duke Energy CC 3rd Floor Erin Guinup, presenter
Junior Ballroom D
Dustin S. Cates and Ben Herstig, Amanda Hanzlik, presider
presenters This session will include perfor- President-Elect, Eastern Region
mances of original songs by the

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