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2026 ACDA Western Region Conference March 4-7, 2026 San Jose, California

Building Literacy Through Play panist, purchasing scores, or planning a tour, financial
pressure is constant. In this session, Irene Messoloras
Few elements speak to the deficiency of the Amer- offers real-world strategies drawn from her work in cho-
ican education system like our country’s diminishing ral advancement. Topics include grassroots campaigns,
rates of literacy, which is affecting rates of music liter- donor tiers, grant writing, and cultivating lasting sup-
acy as well. Working under the influence of Drs. Gor- port. Learn how to build community partnerships, en-
don and Krueger, this session serves to provide educa- gage students in stewardship, and shift from scarcity to
tors with strategies to promote music literacy through sustainability. Leave empowered with the tools to turn
play-based approaches. Focusing heavily on rhythmic, dreams into real opportunities for every voice in your
melodic, and tonal acquisition, attendees will learn ac- choir.
tivities to be employed with lower elementary to adult
learners. Educators will learn how to use these games Irene Messoloras maintains an active ca-
as assessment tools and provide students with a more reer as a conductor, clinician, and adjudi-
expansive vocabulary to understand their literacy skills. cator, leading ensembles in powerful and
Attendees will walk away with a comprehensive under- dynamic performances across the Unit-
standing of the spiral of teaching music literacy, the ed States, Europe, and Asia. Messoloras
value of audiation, dictation, and improvisation in the serves as director of choral activities at the University
learning process, and how to implement these strate- of California, Irvine, and conducts the London-based
gies in their classrooms through play. professional choir Meridian. Under her baton, pro-
fessional, university, and community choirs have per-
Amanda Goldberg is a music educator formed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages.
passionate about the use of singing to Her ensembles have been featured at ACDA National
develop the whole person. She holds a Conferences in 2021 and 2023, with major appearanc-
BME from St. Olaf College and is cur- es at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Beijing Con-
rently completing her MM in choral con- cert Hall, as well as national commercial campaigns
ducting at Michigan State University. She has worked and professional music video productions. Her ensem-
on the artistic staff at the Girl Choir of South Florida ble’s work is represented by Signum Records and can
and as a middle school teacher in Palm Beach County, be heard on all major streaming platforms.
FL, where she piloted a program for restorative practic-
es in the classroom. Presently, Goldberg is the assistant
director of Sistrum: Lansing Women’s Chorus and the Composing for Your Choir:
music director of First Presbyterian Church of Holt.
Her passions include treble music and ensembles, cara- Writing with Singers in Mind
melized onions, and the film Titanic.
This session explores effective strategies for com-
posing and arranging music tailored to the unique
strengths of your ensemble. Led by choral compos-
Closing the Financial Gap ers and arrangers MaryAnne Muglia Smith and Kate
in Your Choral Program Crellin, the session will cover techniques for assessing
vocal abilities, balancing accessibility with challenge,
Imagine a choral program where funding sup- and crafting engaging textures that enhance ensemble
ports—not limits—your vision, access, and impact. As cohesion. Attendees will gain insights into the commis-
conductors, we aim to provide meaningful, inclusive sioning process, hear examples of successful custom
experiences for all students, but budget challenges of- compositions, and explore ways to adapt existing works
ten stand in the way. Whether it’s paying for an accom- for specific groups. Interactive demonstrations will il-

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5 187