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2024 ACDA Southwestern Region Conference February 27 - March 2, 2024 Denver, Colorado

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The 4x4 Approach: C. Michael Porter will be the clinician for this session.
Creative Programming for His photo and bio are on page 10.
Secondary Choral Ensembles

Many struggle to find engaging choral repertoire Anton Bruckner Unknown
that suits the needs of a developing ensemble. Join
the clinicians as they explore literature appropriate for In 1824, Anton Bruckner was born in a little Aus-
middle, high school, and collegiate programs that will trian village. Two hundred years later we celebrate the
incorporate and encompass arts standards and invigo- birthday of a composer whose symphonies inspired a
rate singers. Teacher-conductors will walk away from century and whose choral works are still amongst the
this session with repertoire to meet the specific needs best of what Western canonic choral music. In this
of students, creative programming suggestions, and workshop we’ll take a closer look at Bruckner’s lesser-
scaffolding techniques to support growing choral pro- known choral pieces for both mixed and male choir.
grams. In this session, we will share our philosophy of
programming centered on inclusivity, variety, and en- Florian Maierl is a German-based Aus-
gagement through the 4 x 4 approach. trian conductor and composer. He stud-
ied church music and singing in Vienna
McKenna Stenson will be a clinician for this session. and taught at the University Mozarteum
Her photo and bio are on page 82. Salzburg and the Vienna Music Univer-
sity. With his choir, coro siamo, he won several national
Kyra Stahr will be a clinician for this session. Her photo and international choir competitions. In 2022 he was
and bio are on page 82. appointed professor of choral conducting at the Uni-
versity for Music and Theater in Leipzig, Germany.

A Place for All:

Diverse Perspectives in Best Practices in Program Administration
Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantatas for New Choral Directors
This session is for new choral directors who are en-
In order to honor a work’s original context, con- gaging with the non-musical realities of music edu-
ductors encourage participants to engage deeply with cation in the twenty-first century. It will inform new
a work’s text and meaning. When a student or audi- professionals by providing practical guidance and in-
ence member comes from a religious perspective dif- formation regarding the professional environment. The
ferent from the selected repertoire, achieving this goal session covers program philosophy, program develop-
becomes complex. The sacred cantatas of J. S. Bach ment, professional development, relevant technology,
offer countless opportunities for participants to engage and recommends other professionals with whom one
deeply with his works while discovering themes that should have a healthy working relationship to benefit a
resonate beyond its original theological purpose. This growing choral program.
lecture examines four cantatas (172, 56, 158, and 25)
through various non-musical, diverse perspectives, and Joshua Cheney, a native of Fayetteville, North Caro-
demonstrates how Bach’s cantatas engage musicians/ lina, is assistant professor of music and director of cho-
audiences with a plurality of beliefs and experiences. ral activities at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling

112 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5