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

Chandler Children’s Choir Crystal Children’s Choir
Ad Astra

Established in 1994 within Northern California,
In its fifteenth season, the Chandler Children’s Crystal Children’s Choir was founded with the mission
Choir created an ensemble of top performers ages 16- to pursue choral music excellence and to serve as a cul-
18 who demonstrated a desire to excel, naming it Ad tural ambassador harmonizing the finest facets of East-
Astra (to the stars). Many founding members had been ern and Western cultures. Crystal singers from more
singing with CCC since ages 6 or 7. Now high school than 120 schools have graced the stages of numerous
juniors and seniors, Ad Astra enables singers to launch globally renowned venues. They have performed at
into future musical opportunities after graduation, conferences including Kodaly, CMEA, MENC, and
either as a hobby or academic pursuit. In 2023 they ACDA. Over the past three decades, they have estab-
released an album, To the Stars: An Ad Astra Christmas, lished an education platform that serves as a nurturing
and were invited as featured performers at the Arizona ground for choral arts and addressed the pressing need
MEA conference. for arts funding in California to provide a distinctive
musical experience for young singers.
Aimee Stewart is the founder and artistic
director of the Chandler Children’s Choir Karl Chang has held the positions of co-
in Arizona. Since its inception in 2008, founder, president, and conductor of
CCC has grown from a young choir of Crystal Children’s Choir since 1994. He
twenty-seven singers to a comprehensive has led performances and interest ses-
choral program with five choirs. She also conducts the sions at ACDA conferences and is a fre-
Chamber Singers at Chandler-Gilbert Community quently sought-after guest conductor for youth and col-
College, the Tempe Community Messiah, has served legiate choirs throughout Asia. Chang is the visionary
as president of AzACDA, and currently serves as Com- behind a 200 mixed-voice community chorus started
munity & Children Youth R&R Chair for WACDA. In at Stanford University in 1981. Over these forty-three
2022 she was awarded AzACDA Choral Director of years, he has served as the founding director, consistent-
the Year. Stewart is in a master’s program for choral ly igniting musical passion within singers from diverse
conducting with Jace Saplan at Arizona State Univer- backgrounds. He holds a doctoral degree in education
sity. She enjoys skiing with her husband, Adam, and leadership, an MBA, and an M.S. in engineering.
their four children.

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5 173