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

In t er est S essions
Interest Sessions

Beyond The Wellerman: Bridging the Gap:
Engaging and Accessible Classical Repertoire Fostering Productive and Collaborative Relationships
for the Developing Tenor/Bass Choir Between Teachers and Administration

In this session, the clinicians will discuss the impor- “My administration is out to get me.” “No one
tance of historical repertoire that engages the emerging cares about my program.” “Our admin micromanages
tenor/bass singer and demonstrate pedagogy that ef- my program.” “My principals never heard a concert.”
fectively develops voices through this literature. Teach- “They just don’t get it.” These are phrases we have all
ers will hear engaging examples from the Renaissance, either heard or uttered during our careers, right? Be-
Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras appropriate for cause administrators are out to get us, right? WRONG!
each level of tenor/bass choirs. The clinicians will also (Well, hopefully… ha!) This unique session is meant to
focus on the techniques used to prepare these historical work through the many challenges that we face as they
works and how this repertoire targets developing tone, relate to building/district administration and pinpoint
navigating changing voices, and understanding the effective strategies and solutions to overcoming said
classical sound. This session will illustrate how histori- challenges. After all, both sides need each other. Better
cal repertoire specifically can help get your tenor/bass yet, our students need us…together!
choir headed in the right direction.
Kristin M. Claiborne is in her second year
Will Griswold is a DMA choral conduct- as an assistant administrator and var-
ing student at Southern Mississippi and sity boys basketball coach at Blythewood
recently finished his sixth year teaching High School in South Carolina. Clai-
high school in Texas. Griswold grew his borne is a graduate of the University of
program from five students to 100 and led South Carolina, having earned both her bachelor’s and
ensembles to superior ratings at performance festivals. master’s degrees in music education and educational
His Concert Choir performed at the 2022 Texas MEA administration, respectively. Currently, she is pursuing
Conference. While at USM, Griswold conducted Uni- a doctorate in teacher leadership. Prior to administra-
versity Singers, Tenebrae, Gulf Coast Civic Chorale, tion, Claiborne spent ten years as a choral director
Chamber Singers, and will direct the inaugural season with four choirs and a pop/jazz a cappella group. She
of the Gulf Coast Youth Chorale. serves as a clinician, adjudicator, and lecturer around
the Southern Region while also serving as a university
Derek Meler is a versatile performer, con- supervisor and teacher mentor.
ductor, and educator based in Hattiesburg,
Mississippi. He specializes in collabora-
tion through music, working with choirs
and voice students to promote community The Declaration of Independence:
and peace. Meler has performed with various artists and How to Foster Independent Musicianship
symphonies, including the Nashville Symphony and
Opera Mississippi, and has conducted choirs across the in Large-Group Choral Rehearsals
southern United States. He directs the Stamps-Baxter
School of Music and teaches both in the classroom and Choral rehearsals can be structured to allow sing-
as a private voice teacher. He is pursuing his MM at the ers to develop their personal, independent musician-
University of Southern Mississippi. ship while participating in large group learning situa-

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5 77