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2024 ACDA Northwestern Region Conference January 24-27, 2024 Spokane, Washington

Stevie J. Hirner (she/her) is a choral con- Group Composition in the
ductor, composer, and singer who special- Middle School Classroom
izes in science-informed practices that
promote transgender inclusivity. As a lead-
ing voice in trans issues in singing, Hirner As a follow-up to a session presented in 2022 about
has presented her research at the 2023 National ACDA group composition at the collegiate level, Dr. Steve Dan-
Conference, 2022 Western ACDA Regional Conference, ielson breaks down the process of composing together as
and 2023 World Symposium on Choral Music in Istan- a class at the middle school level. Even beginning choral
bul. Hirner is nearing the completion of her DMA in students can find success in this project. Hear student
choral music from the University of Southern California perspectives about their experience moving from choos-
and holds a BME from Auburn University and an MM ing a class theme to completing and performing a fully-
in choral conducting from the University of Missouri. formed composition. Attendees will walk through every
step in detail in a way that will allow immediate applica-
tion in the classroom. He will talk about the challenges
of the project and ways to improve it in the future.
A Garland of Madrigals:
The Music of Vittoria Aleotti Steve Danielson is currently directing
choirs at Mountain View High School in
Meridian, ID. He earned a DMA from
Vittoria Aleotti was an Italian composer of the late the University of Washington, an MM
Renaissance who was born around 1575 in Ferrara. from the University of Memphis, and a
Her 1593 collection of twenty-one Italian madrigals BA from BYU. He spent five seasons as the conductor
for four voices provides artful and accessible repertoire and artistic director of the Ensign Symphony Chorus in
options for high school, college, and community choirs. Seattle, WA, and was previously the director of choirs at
The short works are settings of texts by the popular Ital- Jefferson Middle School in Olympia, WA (2020-2023).
ian poet Giovanni Battista Guarini and feature secular Danielson is also a composer with self-published works
themes of love and longing. Attendees will receive free and pieces published through Two Bridges Music Press.
resources to facilitate the inclusion of this historical fe- He hosts the podcast “Moveable Do,” where he inter-
male composer into curricula and concert programs. views living composers about their lives and music.
Participants will also sing through madrigals from this
collection.

Elizabeth Schauer serves as director of How Teaching Applied Voice
choral activities at the University of Ari- Changed My Choral Rehearsals
zona, where she has received recognition
for her innovative and inclusive curricu-
lar approach. An award-winning educa- The session will focus on how teaching applied voice
tor, Schauer conducts Symphonic Choir and teaches can inform and change three specific areas in choral re-
graduate conducting and choral literature courses with hearsals. It will give effective and practical ways to ap-
a student-centered focus to an international population proach breath support and healthy vocal production
of learners. Choirs under her direction have performed within a rehearsal context. It will also explore rehearsal
at the conferences of ACDA, College Music Society methods that are commonly used by applied voice teach-
(CMS), American Guild of Organists, and Arizona Mu- ers to help their student’s placement, range, diction, and
sic Educators. Former students are active as music edu- tone color. Finally, it will examine how conducting ges-
cators throughout the world. ture can better facilitate healthy singing. This session will

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5 23