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2026 ACDA Southern Region Conference March 4-7, 2026 Memphis, Tennessee

no, music history, and music as social behavior. Under choir director at Oñate High School in Las Cruces,
her direction, the tenor-bass Hampden-Sydney College New Mexico, significantly expanding the program’s
Chorus has toured major cities, including New York, enrollment. Fellman holds a BM in vocal music educa-
San Juan, New Orleans, Boston, Quebec City, and tion from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota,
Montreal. She is the past assistant director at the Insti- where he sang in The Concordia Choir under the di-
tute of Composer Diversity. A past presenter at nation- rection of Dr. René Clausen.
al ACDA and NCCO and a Choral Journal contributor,
she researches programming trends and best practices
for creating belonging in singing groups. Creator of the Being the Best…
Expanding Choral Practice Database, von Rueden cu-
rates a collection of resources on practices and music or Being Your Best Self?
outside the Western European tradition. She is founder/
director of The Piedmont Singers of Central Virginia, a The life of a professional musician is inherently con-
professional octet in central VA. nected to evaluation and competition. How do these,
along with cultural phenomena like stereotypes or so-
cial media, affect our self-perception and growth? How
can we be discerning in our evaluation of ourselves and
Adding Strings, Subtracting Stress others in ways that result in positive, valuable contribu-

tions to the choral art? Unrealistic expectations, profes-
This practical session offers an introductory pathway sional disappointment, and self-doubt may inhibit our
for choral conductors aiming to refine their gestural progress toward becoming our best selves. Instead, we
faculties and develop the shared language needed for can cultivate a positive self-image based on the imple-
meaningful collaboration with string musicians. Engag- mentation of our values. This session will offer honest
ing with a curated selection of choral-orchestral works conversation and guidance about self-image and defin-
by historically marginalized composers from Europe ing professional success. The goal is to help conductors
and Latin America as both lens and laboratory, the ses- navigate their careers with wellness, integrity, and cour-
sion will explore techniques that deepen artistic expres- age.
sion and illuminate historically informed performance
practices. Viewed through the prism of inclusivity and Alicia W. Walker is professor of music and
intentional artistry, this session underscores the critical director of choral studies at the Univer-
role of purpose-driven score study in fostering thought- sity of South Carolina, where she directs
ful musical interpretation. the Concert Choir and Garnet Chorale
(SSAA) and supervises the graduate con-
Ryan R. Fellman is an American conduc- ducting program. Walker has taught continuing edu-
tor based out of the greater Atlanta area cation workshops for choral directors in South Africa,
who serves as interim director of choral and she is frequently invited to conduct and teach in the
activities at Kennesaw State University. UK and in Taiwan. She has conducted at major venues,
There he conducts the KSU Chamber including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New
Singers, University Chorale, Men’s Ensemble, Com- York, Southwark and Canterbury Cathedrals in En-
munity and Alumni Chorus, and teaches courses in gland, and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Her choirs have
conducting. Fellman is a graduate from Michigan State been selected to perform for NCCO (2021, 2023); SC-
University, where he served as assistant conductor to MEA (2016, 2018, 2022); and South Carolina ACDA
several prominent university ensembles. Prior to his time (2018, 2022, 2024). Walker’s pedagogy and professional
at MSU, Fellman earned an MM in choral conducting interactions are marked by a commitment to excellence,
from Ithaca College. From 2013 to 2019 he served as collaboration, and inclusion.

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5 117