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

a presenter, clinician, and guest conductor. Originally SA ensembles; and how shifting the narrative can trans-
from Alaska, he is a product of the Anchorage School form the identity and experience of SA singers in our
District and the University of Alaska Anchorage. After choral programs.
teaching middle school in ASD, he completed a mas-
ter’s degree at Wichita State University, and served as a Elizabeth (Libby) Hearn is an assistant
clinician and adjudicator for middle and high schools in professor of choral music education at the
Kansas. His interests include culturally informed pro- University of Mississippi, where she con-
cesses, conductor leadership styles, and Korean BBQ. ducts Women’s Glee and University Cho-
rus. She also teaches graduate and under-
Kyra Stahr is a visionary conductor, ed- graduate courses in choral music education, conducting,
ucator, and vocalist passionate about the and qualitative research. Additionally, Hearn serves the
transformative power of choral music. MidSouth Music Organization as conductor of the Mis-
She serves as an assistant teaching profes- sissippi River Chorale. Before joining the faculty at Ole
sor at Syracuse University and is a DMA Miss, Hearn received a PhD in music education from
candidate in choral conducting at the University of the University of Alabama. In addition to teaching and
Miami. She is a conducting fellow with Spire Chamber conducting, she has presented her research in published
Ensemble and assistant conductor of Seraphic Fire. At journals and at international, national, regional, and
Syracuse, Stahr conducts the premier treble ensemble, state conferences. She is currently the president of Mis-
Crouse Chorale, and teaches conducting, rehearsing, sissippi ACDA.
and voice courses. Known for motivating ensembles
with authenticity, courage, and determination, Stahr is Alicia Vorel serves as assistant professor
an active guest conductor, clinician, and presenter. She in music education in the Department of
has shared her work at conferences including National Music in the College of Arts and Sciences
ACDA, TMEA, and the World Symposium on Cho- at Southern Illinois University Edwards-
ral Music. She holds an MM from the University of ville, where she teaches undergraduate
Southern California and a BM in vocal performance and graduate music education majors. A Georgia native,
and music education from Miami University. Stahr co- she earned a BME at Mercer University, an MME from
founded the podcast conduct(her), amplifying women’s Texas Tech University, and PhD from the University of
voices in choral music. Mississippi. Vorel is an experienced public school edu-
cator focusing primarily on elementary general music
and children’s choirs teaching. She is Orff Level 1 and 2
certified. Her research interests include SA choirs, mu-
Making Treble: sic teacher education, assessment, teacher effectiveness,
Empowering SA Choirs in a Mixed Choir World acquisition of teaching skills, and turn-of-the-twenti-
eth-century singing schools.
Despite their prevalence in secondary and collegiate
settings, soprano-alto (SA) choirs are often underval-
ued in the choral field, viewed as stepping stones rather
than artistic destinations. This session challenges the
traditional choral hierarchy by making a research-in-
formed case for the empowerment of soprano-alto
singers and the elevation of SA choirs. Through demo-
graphic insights, repertoire exploration, vocal pedago-
gy, and programmatic strategies, we will examine how
to create and advocate for equitable opportunities for

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5 121