Page 24 - CJJanuary2026

2026 ACDA Eastern Region Conference February 25-28, 2026 Providence, Rhode Island

Performing Choirs
P er f orming C hoirs

North Penn High School Susquehanna University
Troubadours University Choir

The North Penn High School Troubadours (up-
per voices) are one of three ensembles at North Penn The University Choir has been a cherished com-
selected by audition. They rehearse for about ninety modity of Susquehanna University for over one hun-
minutes each week and sing for a number of events dred years. The mission of the ensemble brings a com-
in the Lansdale area, including the annual Ecumeni- bination of music excellence with the broader goal of
cal Thanksgiving service and Memorial Day ceremony. sharing diverse choral music to a wide range of audi-
They have received superior ratings at recent Music ences. Known for their high level and engaging perfor-
in the Parks events. The Troubadours have performed mances, the University Choir strives to balance excel-
at PA-ACDA (2016), PMEA (2016 and 2023), and lence in choral singing with an ability to acknowledge
NAfME Eastern Division (2017 and 2025). our humanity through the choral art and engage with
an ever-evolving world.
Matthew Klenk is in his sixteenth year
of teaching at North Penn High School. Amy Voorhees is the director of choral
He is responsible for directing all of the activities at Susquehanna University and
NPHS choral ensembles, which include holds the Cyril M. Stretansky Professor-
the 235-voice Mixed Curricular Chorus ship in Choral Music. Voorhees conducts
and the extracurricular groups the Troubadours (up- the University Choir and Chamber Sing-
per-voice choir), Bards (lower-voice choir), and Cham- ers and teaches courses in choral conducting. Under
ber Singers. He is the NPHS building department chair her direction, Susquehanna University Choir appeared
for music and serves as the high school R&R chair at Eastern ACDA in 2022 and was a finalist for the
for ACDA Pennsylvania. He recently was the guest 2023 American Prize in Choral Performance. They
conductor for the Philadelphia Archdiocesan Honor recently performed at the 2025 PMEA Conference. A
Choir. Klenk also serves as director of music ministries graduate of Michigan State University and a Doctoral
at Corpus Christi Church in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. University Distinguished Fellow, she previously taught
He was named Teacher of the Year at North Penn public school and served as the director of choral ac-
High School and Outstanding Teacher in the North tivities at Waukee High School, where the A Cappella
Penn School District. Choir performed at the 2015 ACDA National Con-
ference. Voorhees is in demand as a clinician and has
conducted honor choirs and all-state choirs across the
country.

22 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5