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2024 ACDA Southern Region Conference February 21-24, 2024 Louisville, Kentucky

and is honored to continue the tradition of choral ex- undergraduate conducting. In 2020, the ECU Cham-
cellence with students in her community. Her choruses ber Singers won second place in The American Prize
consistently receive the highest ratings at music perfor- in Choral Performance in the college/university divi-
mance assessments and competition festivals. A former sion. Franklin remains active as a guest conductor and
district chairperson of the Florida Vocal Association, clinician with invitations across the United States and
Leahy holds a BME from the University of Miami and abroad. In addition to his duties at ECU, he is a Gram-
an MME from the University of Colorado at Boulder. my-nominated choral singer. Franklin holds degrees
from Baylor University, Westminster Choir College,
and the University of North Texas.

East Carolina University
Chamber Singers

The ECU Chamber Singers is one of the premier
choral ensembles in the United States. The ensemble
maintains a vigorous performance and travel schedule
and focuses predominantly on unaccompanied cho-
ral literature for advanced chamber choir. The group
of 36-40 auditioned singers, primarily voice majors
within the School of Music, has developed a national
and international following due to a commitment to
programming and performing quality choral music
at the highest level. They have performed at various
conferences, including National ACDA (2019), NCCO
(2023), Southern ACDA (2020 and 2024), and North
Carolina ACDA (2021).

James Franklin is the director of choral
activities at East Carolina University,
where he conducts the internationally
renowned ECU Chamber Singers, con-
ducts the University Chorale, directs the
graduate program in choral conducting, and teaches

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5 69