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

Interest Sessions
In t er est S essions

Bring a Friend to Choir Day: (and maybe only) rehearsal, how to communicate with
Reframe, Recruit, and Reflect an orchestra for a more efficient rehearsal, and review-
ing instrument specific terms and techniques that the
As choral directors, we are often tasked with bal- orchestra is used to hearing. This session will include
ancing the current needs of our programs with pres- a survey from both the Alabama Symphony Orchestra
sure for growth in numbers. Beginning with an identi- and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra with feed-
fication and reframing of the ways in which we assess back for choral conductors on how we can better com-
the growth of our choral programs, this session will municate with orchestra players.
provide a recruitment event model to implement at
your school or organization. This session is suitable Daniel deShazo is the director of music
for elementary, middle, high, collegiate, church, and and worship at Riverchase United Meth-
community choral programs and is adaptable to meet odist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.
you where you are in your program’s journey. This There he conducts the sixty-voice sanc-
session will prepare you with tools and resources to tuary choir and oversees handbells and
address your desire for significant growth in numbers children’s music as well as conducts the instrumental
while enhancing the quality of your program in a way ensemble. He has previously served Alabama ACDA
that is sustainable for you as the director. as R&R chair for music in worship and is currently on
the executive board as lifelong learner chair. He has
Victoria Alvarez is completing her sev- a BME from Loyola University New Orleans and a
enth year at Grovetown Middle School, master’s in choral conducting from the University of
located outside of Augusta, Georgia. She Alabama.
holds a BME and MM in choral con-
ducting from Mercer University. She also
holds an education specialist in advanced educational
studies with an emphasis in P-12 music from Augus- Get into the Groove:
ta University. Alvarez creates a learning environment Diverse Beats, Unified Voices
with shared responsibility; because she is actively en-
gaged in learning every day, she expects the same of This interactive session explores rhythm as a key to
her students. She serves as the Georgia MEA District unlocking stylistic fluency and cultural depth in cho-
10 choral chair and was Grovetown Middle School’s ral music. This session offers practical strategies to
2024–2025 Teacher of the Year. improve rhythmic reading and performance across
Western and non-Western traditions. Attendees will
engage with diverse rhythmic patterns—both written
and taught by rote—and learn how genre-specific beat
The Choral (…and Orchestral?) Conductor emphasis can shape authentic, expressive performanc-
es. From gospel to African, Latin to pop, participants
Choirs and orchestras are the perfect pair! Have will discover tools to help choirs internalize groove
you wanted to add instrumental or orchestral accom- and connect more deeply with the music. This session
paniment to your choral pieces? Are you intimidated highlights rhythm as a bridge between cultures and a
by stepping in front of a professional orchestra? This pathway to more expressive, stylistically informed per-
session will focus on demystifying working with an or- formance.
chestra. Discussion will be on preparation for the first

118 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5