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2022 ACDA Northwestern Region Conference

Performing Choirsorming Choirs
P e r f

Chor Anno Great Falls High School

Delphian Choir

Founded in 2009 by Howard Meharg, Chor Anno
provides an opportunity for teachers and conductors of
choral music to enjoy “facing the other direction” on
the stage. Chor Anno (“the annual choir”) sings just one
concert program per year, with a three-day rehearsal in
August and concert weekend in mid-September. Profes-
sionals all, but none are paid. With a guided yet collabo-
rative rehearsal process led by conductor Nicole Lamar- Founded in 1958, the Delphian Choir of Great Falls
tine, the choir is able to access and build on the collective High School has appeared on fi ve Northwest ACDA
wisdom of the choral professionals in the group. region conference programs. This SATB choir is audi-
tioned and consists of sophomores through seniors. The
Nicole C. Lamartine is a director of this choir. Her photo choir frequently collaborates with other high school and
and bio are on page 135. collegiate choirs, as well as the Great Falls Symphony.
Recently the choir has commissioned and premiered
Howard J. Meharg taught vocal music in works by John Muehleisen and Timothy Takach, and
SW Washington for over 30 years. He also this year enjoyed working directly with composers Josh
directed church choirs and community Rist and Jake Runestad.
groups. He has been active in ACDA since
the mid-1960s, including two terms as WA Patrick Ryan is a choral director at Great
ACDA president. He began the websites for both Wash- Falls High School, where he leads a thriv-
ington and NWACDA and served as web-person for 20 ing program of seven choirs and over 200
years. He was the 2008 recipient of NWACDA’s Lead- students. Ryan is a past president of North-
ership and Service Award. In 1982 he founded, along west ACDA and of the Montana Choral
with colleagues Bruce Browne and Larry Marsh, Male Directors Association. He holds degrees from Pacifi c
Ensemble Northwest. He founded Chor Anno in 2009. Lutheran University and Northern Arizona University.

Jordan Lee is a choral director at Great
Falls High School, where she directs the
Select and Aeolian treble choirs as well as
the Chorale Choir. In addition, she teach-
es general music in a self-contained special
education classroom, manages a guitar class, and assists
with the Delphian choir. She received her BM from
Gonzaga University.

148 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2022 Volume 62 Number 5