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

selections, the presenter will share stories about these Jeffrey Chan is a Hong Kong-born con-
composers’ lives, which offer rich connections for stu- ductor, scholar, and educator whose work
dents and classroom discussion. This session invites con- has spanned Europe, North America, and
ductor-teachers to explore music that combines rigorous Asia. He is currently pursuing a DMA in
vocal writing with compelling history—ideal for build- choral conducting at McGill University,
ing vocal technique, musical independence, and cultural studying with Jean-Sébastien Vallée as a recipient of
understanding in treble ensembles. the Graduate Excellence Fellowship. At McGill, he also
teaches conducting and directs the University Chorus.
Meredith Bowen is an assistant professor His research focuses on the French Requiem tradition
of choral music at Michigan State Uni- and Asian choral music.
versity, where she teaches graduate choral
literature, graduate and undergraduate
conducting, and conducts the auditioned Game On!
treble ensemble, Mosaic. Bowen works to expand the
canon and amplify marginalized voices through publish- Rehearsal Games to Cultivate
ing historical editions and performing music by women. Agency and Independence
Her commitment to inclusive programming and peda-
gogy inspires student engagement and artistic growth. In an ideal rehearsal atmosphere, the conductor and
She enjoys an active guest conducting schedule, edits choir equally share responsibility and investment. This
and restores historical choral music, and sings in mira- session features imaginative and adaptable activities to
bai. Boosey & Hawkes and MusicSpoke publish her mu- increase motivation and focus within choral rehears-
sic editions by historical women. Bowen holds a BME als. Influenced by research in learning psychology and
from West Chester University, and an MM and DMA game-based learning, these responsibility-centered
in choral conducting from Michigan State University. games specifically target accountability, memorization
and retention strategies, and informal assessment of
concept comprehension. This approach transforms
traditional musical content into unconventional modal-
From Tones to Tunes: ities that are familiar and enticing to our students: bin-
Performance Practice of Cantonese Choral Music go boards, memory relay races, riddles, etc. Attendees
will learn how to customize these activities and game
Cantonese is one of the most widely spoken lan- templates to suit their own programs. Packaging the ac-
guages in the world, yet choral music in this language tivities as games mitigates classroom anxiety, improves
remains significantly underrepresented. This session in- engagement, and enables students to meet rigorous
vites participants to explore the richness of Cantonese standards of comprehension and performance.
choral music, offering tools for conductors and singers
to confidently approach the language. Attendees will Kimberly Dunn Adams will be a clinician for this ses-
gain insight into Cantonese phonetics, tones, and Ro- sion. Her photo and bio are on page 14.
manization while developing practical strategies for
teaching and singing in a tonal language. A curated cat- Margaret Winchell is the director of cho-
alogue of contemporary Cantonese choral works will be ral activities and assistant professor of
shared, providing accessible entry points for culturally music at Southern Methodist University’s
inclusive programming. The session culminates in a col- Meadows School of the Arts, where she
lective reading of a short piece, allowing participants to conducts Chamber Singers and Concor-
apply learned techniques in real time. No prior Canton- dia and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses
ese knowledge required. in choral conducting and literature. Winchell has com-

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5 35