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

University of Arizona Symphonic Choir is the premier choral ensemble
Symphonic Choir at the University of Arizona, carrying on a seventy-
two-year tradition of joyful excellence. Members hail
from throughout the world and represent a variety of
majors. The choir regularly engages in musical col-
laborations in Southern Arizona, including with Tuc-
son Symphony Orchestra, Mariachi Arizona, Reveille
Men’s Chorus (a GALA chorus), Tucson Girls Chorus,
and Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus. The ensemble also
partners with service organizations in the Greater Tuc-
son area to bring awareness and support to vulnerable
populations including refugees, asylum seekers, and
unhoused people.

Elizabeth Schauer is the conductor of this choir. Her
photo and bio are on page 23.

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

In t er est S essions
Interest Sessions

Building a Repertoire of Gestures: summer program, Chanticleer in Sonoma. Bent earned
Laban Movement for Choral Conductors degrees from Boston University (BM and MM Voice
Performance, MM Choral Conducting) and University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (DMA Choral Con-
Receive a crash course in the fundamentals of La- ducting and Choral Literature). Recipient of the 2023
ban Movement Theory, a holistic and efficient gestur- CMEA Pearson/Scott Foresman/Silver Burdett Choral
al approach to choral conducting. Learn a variety of Educator Award and the 2019 CMEA Bay Section Out-
gestures, movements, and rehearsal strategies that are standing Choral Educator Award, Bent serves as trea-
sure to enhance your ensemble’s engagement, improve surer for the California Choral Directors Association.
memory retention, develop a stronger conductor/en-
semble connection, and provide musicians a deeper
understanding of the music that will lead to a more Choirs for Change:
impactful and inclusive performance experience.
Programming with Purpose
Jenny Bent is professor of music, direc-
tor of choral activities, and associate Choirs can be connectional and welcoming spaces for
dean of the school of arts & humanities diverse groups of people who come together through
at Sonoma State University in Rohnert their love of singing. The same sense of belonging and
Park, CA. She is also choral director of compassion that often exists in choral groups can be ex-
the Santa Rosa Symphony and manages Chanticleer’s tended outward into both local and global communities

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5 179