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2024 ACDA Western Region Conference March 6-9, 2024 Pasadena, California

H eadliners/S pecial E v en ts
Headliners/Special Events

Headliners es. He earned degrees and certificates from California
State University, Fullerton, the University of Cincin-
nati College-Conservatory of Music, Berklee College
of Music, and the University of Southern California.
Choral Arts Initiative

säje

Widely recognized as a champion of new music,
Choral Arts Initiative has been praised as “gracefully
lyrical” (Tim Mangan, Voice of OC), and hailed as
one of Orange County’s “Best Choirs” (CBS News,
Los Angeles). Winner of the American Prize in Choral
Performance, recipient of the ASCAP/Chorus Ameri-
ca Award for Adventurous Programming, and winner
of the San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice
Awards for Best New Music Performance, Choral Arts
Initiative continues its commitment to musical innova- When a jazz ensemble earns a Grammy Award
tion. Their passion for new music has led to the com- nomination with its very first song, something unusual
mission of twenty-five compositions, the premiere of is in the works. säje is an unprecedented collaboration
over one hundred works, and the release of two Bill- that brings together four women creators who are all
board-charting albums. composer/arrangers, vocalists, and entrepreneurs with
impressive individual careers. Featuring Los Angeles-
Brandon Elliott enjoys an expansive career based Sara Gazarek and Erin Bentlage and Seattle-
as a conductor-educator, musician, arts situated Johnaye Kendrick and Amanda Taylor, säje
leader, and consultant. He is the founder (rhymes with beige) is closer in spirit to collective in-
and artistic director of Choral Arts Ini- strumental ensembles than jazz vocal combos. Encom-
tiative and the Choral and Vocal Studies passing finely wrought originals, reimagined jazz stan-
Director at Saddleback College. He has received the dards, and inventive interpretations of contemporary
Louis Botto Award for Innovative Action and Entrepre- tunes, the group’s eponymous debut album is a striking
neurial Zeal from Chorus America and was recognized achievement.
by the Recording Academy as a 2022 Grammy Music
Educator Award Semifinalist. He currently serves as the
ACDA National R&R Co-Chair for Two-Year Colleg-

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5 169