Page 136 - CJFeb25

ACDA NATIONAL
2025 Awards/Recognitions

March 18-22 Dallas, TX

Past President’s Award Winner Julius Herford Dissertation Prize Winner

André J. Thomas is professor emeritus of Andrew Major received his DMA in
music at The Florida State University. He choral conducting from Northwestern
was visiting professor of choral conduct- University, where his dissertation advisors
ing at Yale University 2020-2022. He also included Dr. Donald Nally, Dr. Danuta
served as a faculty member at the Univer- Mirka, and Dr. Alan Pierson. He received
sity of Texas, Austin. He is presently an associate artist an MM in choral conducting from North-
with the London Symphony Orchestra. He is in demand western University, and a BA in music, and a BS in cell
as a choral adjudicator, clinician, and director of honor/ biology and neuroscience from Montana State University.
all-state choirs throughout North America, Europe, He currently serves as lecturer in choral studies at the Uni-
Asia, New Zealand, Australia, and Africa. Dr. Thomas versity of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; as artistic director
has conducted choirs at the state, division, and national and conductor of Roots in the Sky; and as director of
conventions of NAfME and ACDA. He has led numer- music at Northminster Presbyterian Church of Evanston,
ous prestigious orchestras and choirs around the world. IL. Dr. Major is also active as a professional singer with
Thomas is a distinguished composer/arranger/author many Chicago area ensembles, including The Crossing.
and the immediate past national president of ACDA.

Outstanding Student Chapter Award
St. Olaf Choral Series
Edited by Anton Armstrong
and John Ferguson

The ACDA Student Chapter at The Florida State Univer-
sity (FSU) provides all interested students with the oppor-
tunity to deepen their understanding of choral music. The
ACDA Promotion chapter’s members come from a variety of backgrounds,
Save 15% on all St. Olaf Choral Series including undergraduate and graduate students, both mu-
anthems through April 30, 2025. sic and non-music majors. Each year, the chapter provides
Use promotion code ACDA25
augsburgfortress.org/StOlaf a wide range of professional development opportunities,
community engagement, and innovative programming.
Recently, the chapter has focused on preparing members
for careers in music education through sessions such as

134 CHORAL JOURNAL Volume 65 Number 6 February 2025 / ACDA National Conference Program Book