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2026 ACDA Southwestern Region Conference March 4-7, 2026 Albuquerque, New Mexico

grades 6 –12 at schools in West Virginia, Kentucky, and and buy-in from singers. Ultimately, careful attention to
Texas. She has also worked extensively with collegiate, “power tools” in the rehearsal room enables directors
community, and professional ensembles, including the to humanize singers, uplift their experiences and ideas,
Houston Symphony Chorus, the Symphony of South- and promote a spirit of belonging in their programs.
east Texas Chorus, and the Houston Chamber Choir.
DeSpain frequently leads workshops and masterclass- Margaret Winchell will be a clinician for this session.
es for educators. She is passionate about emphasizing Her photo and bio are on page 35.
expressive artistry and strong technical foundations to
create meaningful musical experiences. Evan Stoor is a proud New Mexico native
who graduated from New Mexico State
Emily Hobson-Gallardo is the direc- University with a BME before beginning
tor of choral activities at the Univer- his career teaching both middle and high
sity of North Georgia. She previously school choir. Stoor received an MM in
served on the faculties of Georgia State choral conducting at Western Michigan University and
University and Oglethorpe Universi- began his first year as a PhD student in music educa-
ty and completed her DMA in choral conducting at tion at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
the University of Houston. In Houston, she worked in 2022. His doctoral dissertation focuses on the mea-
with several acclaimed ensembles, including Mercury surement and application of empathy in the choral
Chamber Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Chorus, rehearsal. Stoor is an active choral conductor, choral
and the Grammy Award-winning Houston Chamber singer, and guest clinician, and he currently conducts
Choir. She previously taught at the University of West the Youth Chorale of the Central Illinois Youth Chorus
Georgia and led secondary choral programs in Geor- organization.
gia public schools. Hobson-Gallardo earned her BME
from Mississippi State University and her MM in cho-
ral conducting from Georgia State University. She has
also performed with professional ensembles such as the Resonating Roots:
Atlanta Symphony Chorus and Chamber Chorus. Women Composers from Latin America

Latin American contemporary women compos-
ers are reshaping the choral and vocal repertoire by
Rehearsal Renovation: blending diverse musical traditions with contemporary
Culture-Building “Power Tools” techniques. Their works draw from regional, folk, and
pre-Hispanic roots, creating compositions that reflect
Choral directors hold substantial power. How they cultural identity and artists’ depth of inspiration. This
leverage that power with their singers has direct impli- session features composers such as Diana Syrse, María
cations for choral culture. This session examines how Granillo, Gisela Crespo, and others whose pieces or
directors can wield power responsibly to shape positive arrangements incorporate indigenous instruments and
choral experiences for singers. Presenters will suggest inspirational material, pedagogical strategies, and tra-
three approaches to sharing power with students in the ditional songs reimagined for SATB and treble choirs.
classroom, recommending strategies for developing Participants will explore new repertoire focuses on cul-
trust with singers through activities that build relation- tural, traditional influence and popular choral music,
al capital. They propose methods for soliciting singers’ programming ideas, and inclusive approaches that ele-
experiences and ideas, effectively positioning the direc- vate diverse voices in academic, professional, and com-
tor and the singers on the same team. They suggest ex- munity contexts.
panding definitions of success to build positive energy

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5 167