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2024 ACDA Southwestern Region Conference February 27 - March 2, 2024 Denver, Colorado

What Took Me so Long? free apprenticeship program at Interlochen, promot-
ing connections within the choral community. With a
In over four decades of directing choirs consisting of DMA and MM in conducting from the University of
singers of all shapes and sizes, everything from elemen- Michigan, Kobayashi is an active contributor to lead-
tary singers, middle school singers, high school sing- ing choral organizations and the National Board of
ers, a whole lot of college singers, symphony chorus NCCO.
singers, and professional singers—I have figured out a
few things. And, as it turns out, these are all supported Cherry Creek High School
in research. Perhaps I can save you a few decades by
sharing what I have learned over the years. Come hear Meistersingers
what it took me far too long to figure out!

Betsy Cook Weber is the Madison En-
dowed Professor of Music and Director
of Choral Studies at the University of
Houston Moores School of Music and
is also active internationally as a conduc-
tor, clinician, adjudicator, and lecturer. Choirs under
Weber’s direction, including the University of Houston
Concert Chorale, have been featured at multiple state
and national conventions including the ACDA Nation-
al Conferences in 2007 and 2017. Weber also served
for eight seasons as director of the Houston Symphony
Chorus, preparing programs for some of the world’s Meistersingers is an inclusive auditioned mixed choir
leading orchestral conductors. In 2013, Weber became from Cherry Creek High School dedicated to finding
the first woman to receive the Texas Choral Directors the fun in being serious about excellence. CCHS is a
Association’s Texas Choirmaster Award. She serves as rigorous public school near Denver, Colorado, recog-
editor of the Betsy Cook Weber Choral Series with Alliance nized as a Grammy Signature School of Excellence.
Music Publishing. The choir stresses the aesthetics of music but also an
understanding of music literacy, theory, and history
through the performance of choral literature. Their

Conducting Masterclasses legacy includes performances at numerous state, re-
gional, and national conventions. Annual performance
tours include the United States, Europe, Iceland, Aus-
Undergraduate tralia, and Asia.

Shohei Kobayashi is a versatile musician Sarah Branton is director of choirs at
with a distinguished career spanning vari- Cherry Creek High School, where choirs
ous musical realms. He is the director of under her direction have performed at
the choral program at Reed College and numerous state and regional conven-
an associate conductor/co-artistic advisor tions, and toured around the world. She
for Resonance Ensemble. He has left a mark as a guest is assistant director and section leader with Kantorei,
conductor, collaborating with prestigious ensembles an adult chorus in Denver. Additionally, she has taught
on a global stage. Shohei’s commitment to nurturing at the summer Sitka Fine Arts Camp in Sitka, Alaska,
emerging conductors led to the creation of a tuition- sings with ad hoc ensembles, and is a string bassist.

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2024 Volume 64 Number 5 91