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2022 ACDA Southern Region Conference
2022 ACDA Midwestern Region Conference

Special E
Special Events/Concerts
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New York Voices Valparaiso University
Bach Choir

“It’s certainly not something that occurred to us when
we were thinking about starting a band in 1988,” says
Darmon Meader, musical director and tenor singer of
New York Voices, about the seminal vocal ensemble’s
30th anniversary. “But the band has a momentum of its
own—it has a life now.” Indeed, that momentum and The Valparaiso University Bach Choir is an audi-

life force has a firm grip on Meader and his bandmates, tioned ensemble serving the Bach Institute at Valparaiso
baritone Peter Eldridge and dual sopranos Lauren Kin- University. The choir includes Valpo students, faculty,

han and Kim Nazarian. Each has a career working as a staff, and members from the wider Chicagoland com-
soloist and educator in the jazz vocal world. munity. The Bach Choir made its debut in the 2001
performance of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and partici-
pated in the inauguration of the Bach Institute in Jan-
uary 2004, performing under the direction of Maestro
ACDA COVID-19 Conference Guidance
Helmuth Rilling. In 2006, the Bach Choir performed at
ACDA is providing the following guidance for all in-person conference ac- the opening worship of the AGO National Convention.
tivities coming this spring. Decisions regarding protocols will be based on the In 2012, the Bach Choir performed Bach’s “Cantata
following three-tiered approach, in this priority: 106” for the Central ACDA Region Conference.
A) CDC guidance: All people, vaccinated and unvaccinated, should wear
masks while in group settings and practice social distancing where possible. Christopher M. Cock is director of the Bach
Conference attendees are advised that masks will be required in all public Institute at Valparaiso University. He holds
conference spaces.
the Phyllis and Richard Duesenberg Chair
B) State and city mandates: ACDA will honor the COVID-19 mandates of in Lutheran Music, and is director of cho-
our host states and host cities. Conference attendees and performers are ad- ral and vocal activities at the University. As
vised that there may be additional mandates in place in the localities where
conferences are being held. Attendees and performers will be required to a solo artist, Cock’s extensive range and communicative
abide by these mandates. performances established his reputation as a premier
C) Venue mandates: ACDA will honor the COVID-19 policies of our host lyric tenor in a career now approaching 40 years. Cock
venues. Conference attendees and performers are advised that there may be studied at the University of Southern California and
additional mandates in place for specific conference venues. These mandates completed his undergraduate study at Pacifi c Lutheran

could include required masking, proof of vaccination, and/or proof of nega- University. He holds a DMA from the University of Ar-
tive COVID-19 tests prior to being admitted to the venue.
izona (Tucson).
The full policy is on page 6.

36 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2022 Volume 62 Number 5