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2024 ACDA Midwestern Region Conference February 7-10, 2024 Omaha, Nebraska

In t er est S essions
Interest Sessions

Jessica L. G. Steuver (pronounced STY- Improving Vocal Ensemble Intonation
ver), she/her, is a PhD student in music
education at Case Western Reserve Uni- Seeking to “rejuvenate” our choral sound, this ses-
versity in Cleveland, OH. Her research sion focuses on concrete tools and vocal/choral exer-
interests include intersectional feminism cises to strengthen the ears of choristers for more con-
in music, theater, musical catharsis, choral curriculum sistent intonation and more focused vocal production.
and assessment, and mental health and choral par- Attendees will learn the methodology behind various
ticipation post-pandemic. In addition to her work as a ensemble exercises and will participate in singing ex-
graduate assistant, Steuver serves as the artistic direc- ample exercises that can be brought home to their own
tor for University Chorale at CWRU and Windsong, choirs. Research behind these exercises is based par-
Cleveland’s Feminist Chorus. She holds degrees from tially on Edwin Gordon’s music learning theory and
Bowling Green State University (BM) and University of also the research of the presenter. This session gives
Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (MM). tools for exploring intonation without bias toward any
particular choral sound or genre.

Albert Pinsonneault is director of choral
Gender Issues and a Brief Introduction of Choral activities at the University of St. Thomas,
Literature by Eastern Asian Female Composers where he conducts the Chamber Singers
and Concert Choir and teaches in the
graduate program in choral music educa-
This research presentation focuses on gender issues tion. Pinsonneault is also founder and artistic director
in Eastern Asian choral literature and underrepresented of the Madison Choral Project, Wisconsin’s only fully
Eastern Asian composers. This research study address- professional chamber choir. Previously he was associ-
es the gender issue and bias toward female composers ate director of choral organizations at Northwestern
in Eastern Asian musical cultures and argues that the University’s Bienen School of Music. He is a graduate
underrepresentation of female composers and compo- of St. Olaf College (BM), the University of Minnesota
sitions in the Eastern Asian Choral Canon shares as- (MM), and the College-Conservatory of Music at the
tonishing similarities to the gender issue in the Western University of Cincinnati (DMA).
European Classical Music Canon.

Pingyi Song is the director of choral ac-
tivities at Coker University, SC. As an ac- Interactive Concerts and Refreshing Ways
tive conductor and clinician in the U.S.
and China, Song is dedicated to promot- to Engage Audiences
ing cultural exchange between Western
and Eastern Asian Music. Song’s research was pre- This session proposes simple strategies for inform-
sented at the 2023 National ACDA Conference. Song ing, inspiring, and connecting to audiences through in-
holds a Choral Summer School Certificate from Oxford teractive concerts. While program notes and onstage
University, U.K., a DMA degree, and a PBC certificate remarks do help orient listeners, actively engaging au-
in music education from the University of North Caro- diences leads to more soul-stirring listening experiences
lina, Greensboro, and other degrees from West Virginia and builds community in the concert hall. This session
University, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, and will demonstrate how to engage audiences by select-
Guangzhou University, China. ing an effective aesthetic “entry point” into a piece of

52 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5