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February 9-12, 2022 Boston, Massachusetts

The Sister Cities Girlchoir (SCG) is the girl-empower- Alysia Lee is a Kennedy Center Citizen
ment choral academy serving communities in Philadel- Artist, and the Fine Arts education super-
phia, Camden, and Baltimore. SCG builds communi- visor for the Maryland State Department
ties of music makers that empower girls to occupy their of Education supporting music, dance, vi-
unique position in creating a better world. SCG has sual arts, theatre, and media arts. She is the
performed at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The founder of Sister Cities Girlchoir, the girl empowerment
Kimmel Center, and throughout local communities. choral academy in PA, MD, and NJ. Her composition
Say Her Name is published by Hal Leonard. Lee is a Cho-
rus America Board Member and the president-elect of
State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education.

2022 ACDA Eastern Region Conference

t
e
Interest Sessionsessions
In
r
est S
African American Spirituals and in the Department of Approaching New Arab
the Social Justice Curriculum Music Education and
Therapy at Temple Choral Repertoire
Throughout their history, Afri- University’s Center
can American Spirituals have not for the Performing There is a vast wealth of beau-
only functioned as cultural artifacts, and Cinematic Arts in Philadelphia. tiful choral repertoire from Arab
but also as anthems for social justice In addition to more than 150 cho- countries, but many choral direc-
and social change. This session will ral compositions and arrangements, tors feel daunted approaching it.
highlight the social justice function he has authored 3 books of choral This session will provide an intro-
of the African American Spiritual. warm-up exercises titled Choir Build- duction to Arabic pronunciation
Research-based resources will be ers. Dilworth is a frequent guest con- and vocal style by exploring four
used to make the case for teaching ductor and clinician, presenting on Arabic vocal pieces, including three
social justice in the vocal/choral topics including African American new contemporary choral composi-
music classroom. Participants will choral music, composing/arrang- tions based on traditional material.
sing excerpts from selected Spiritu- ing for choirs, social justice, cultural These varied compositions present
als to better understand opportuni- appropriation, urban music educa- accessible examples of the many

ties for building a music curriculum tion, community engagement, and different genres, rhythms, scales,
based on Bree Picower’s (2012) six diversity, equity, and inclusion. and musical styles within Arab vo-
elements of social justice. Educa- cal music, and are appropriate for
tional outcomes and strategies for multiple voicings and levels of cho-
advocacy for a social justice focused ral ensembles. For each piece, we
choral curriculum will be explored. will cover historical and musical
context and give participants expe-
rience singing the music.
Rollo Dilworth is vice dean and
professor of choral music education

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2022 Volume 62 Number 5 23