Page 4 - CJJan25

STANDING COMMITTEES From the
Executive Director

ADVOCACY & COLLABORATION
EMILY WILLIAMS BURCH, CHAIR

EmilyWilliamsBurch@gmail.com
In Loving Memory: Kathlyn Reynolds
September 21, 1929–November 5, 2024
COMPOSITION INITIATIVES

ROBERT BODE, CHAIR I am fortunate to have many mentors who sup-

bode.58@osu.edu
ported my musical and professional development,
DIVERSITY INITIATIVES but there is one whose influence was the catalyst for
Robyn Hilger my entire music-filled life: Kathlyn Reynolds. Imme-
ARREON HARLEY-EMERSON, CHAIR
arreon@equitysings.com diately after accepting this position the position of
Executive Director of ACDA, I made three phone calls. The first was
EDUCATION & COMMUNICATION to my husband. The second was to my mother. The third was to my el-
JOHN MCDONALD , CHAIR ementary music and choir teacher, Kathlyn Reynolds, who passed away
jtmcdonald@mckendree.edu on November 5, 2024.
She was my absolute
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES favorite teacher, and
JOSHUA HABERMANN, CHAIR she is the teacher who
joshhabermann@gmail.com told me that music was
something I could do.
REPERTOIRE & RESOURCES In one of my very early
GRETCHEN HARRISON, CHAIR music education cours-
nationalrr@acda.org es, I remember discuss-
ing how, if I could just
RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
be like Mrs. Reynolds,
JESSICA NAPOLES, CHAIR then I would know that

Jessica.Napoles@unt.edu
I had done something
to truly reach students. On September 20, 2005, I found myself standing
on a stage as our State Superintendent of Public Instruction was an-
nouncing who would serve as the next Oklahoma State Teacher of the
ADVOCACY STATEMENT Year. I was in awe of the teachers on that stage. Then to my complete
surprise, my name was announced, and I could not speak. Yes, I was
The human spirit is elevated to a broader understanding shocked and nervous. But the real reason I could not speak was that
of itself and its place in the world through the study of and
participation in choral music. Singing in a choir produces sitting in the front row, the first person I saw after I was ushered to the
more active and involved citizens. It affects self-worth podium was Kathlyn Reynolds. I had not seen or spoken to her since
in youth and adults. It builds connectivity throughout 1989. She was at the event because she was a former State Teacher of
communities. Society benefits from the aesthetic beauty the Year. Since that day, we never lost contact. I will never adequately be
and community of singers created by choral programs able to express my gratitude for the gift of music that Kathlyn Reynolds
within schools, houses of worship, and community gave to me. In her passing, I find peace in remembering why I chose this
organizations through involved citizenry, connectivity
throughout communities, and feelings of personal self- path and why our profession matters every day.
worth. The American Choral Directors Association and I want to encourage each of you to reach out to a person who has
its membership resolve to ensure the survival of choral made a significant impact on your musical life. I promise you will not
programs for this and future generations by: regret sharing your gratitude with someone today. For the last eighteen
Actively voicing support for funding at local, state, years, I have been able to share my gratitude with my favorite teacher. I
and national levels of education and government; miss her already.
collaborating with local and national organizations to
ensure the distribution of arts funding data and arts- This column contains portions reprinted from November/December 2021.
related activism opportunities; advocating for full access
to choral singing and inclusion of all singers in a choral
program; and ensuring the distribution of advocacy
statements and data regarding choral programs. 2 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2025 Volume 65 Number 5