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ACDA NATIONAL
Alphabetical Listing of Interest Sessions
2025 2025 ACDA National Conference March 18-22, 2025 Dallas, Texas
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March 18-22 Dallas, TX Interest Sessions (Open to Both Tracks) )

International Conductors Exchange Program: Learning by Trial and Many Errors:
Music of the Philippines Early Career Teaching
Thursday 9:00 am - 9:50 am Wednesday 3:30 pm - 4:20 pm
Fairmont Dallas Hotel First United Methodist Church
Venetian Room Atrium

This session, led by Filipino delegates from the In- The earliest years of our teaching careers are often
ternational Conductors Exchange Program (ICEP), the most difficult. As young teachers, we may have great
offers a vibrant exploration of the grassroots-driven ideas but can struggle to put all of them into successful
Philippine choral scene. Showcasing a rich repertoire practice. This session will address common early career
across various ensemble types—including male, treble, teaching misconceptions and pitfalls through the lens
children’s, and SATB—this session highlights the in- of personal experience. Discussion will center around
tricate rhythms, lyrical melodies, and layered textures unexpected issues, real-life problems and difficulties in
that define Philippine choral music. These selections the classroom, and solutions and strategies for growth.
reflect the Philippines’ unique, community-centered Attendees will also be provided with resource and rep-
approach to music making and its deep-rooted cul- ertoire examples. By addressing the realities of the first
tural expressions. Designed to introduce conductors years of teaching, this session aims to set a motivating
to Filipino music that can enrich diverse choral pro- foundation for a lifetime of choral teaching.
grams globally, this presentation encourages cultural
exchange and broadens perspectives within the inter- Alyssa Schott is a music educator, con-
national choral community. ductor, and vocalist originally from Or-
land Park, Illinois. She is a graduate of
Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng is the presi- The Ohio State University with a BME
dent of the Philippine Choral Directors specializing in vocal music. At Hilliard
Association, chair of the Conducting & Bradley High School in Hilliard, Ohio, she is respon-
Choral Ensemble Department of the sible for teaching the treble voices of the high school
University of the Philippines College of choir program and co-directing the Jaguar A Cap-
Music, and artistic director of the Las Piñas Interna- pella Program (ICHSA Champion Shades of Blue A
tional Bamboo Organ Festival. She won the ACDA Cappella and WAVE A Cappella). Schott additionally
National Graduate Conducting Competition and the serves as the South-Central Region Chair for OCDA
A1 Piano Category of the Philippines’ National Music and is an active member of OMEA, where she has pre-
Competitions for Young Artists. She is the Philippine viously presented at the state conference.
representative to the Asia Pacific Choral Council and
was appointed as conductor of the Asia Pacific Youth
Choir for its 2018 season. In 2023 she served as one
of the artistic directors for the World Symposium for
Choral Music, an event organized by the International
Federation for Choral Music.

54 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2025 Volume 65 Number 5