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NATIONAL OFFICERS From the
President
PRESIDENT
EDITH COPLEY
ecopley@acda.org

VICE PRESIDENT Fifteen years ago, while attending an ACDA
PEARL SHANGKUAN Western Region interest session, I sat next to Dr.
pshangkuan@acda.org Charlene Archibeque. Charlene just turned nine-
ty last summer and is an emerita professor from
PRESIDENT-ELECT
JESSICA NÁPOLES San José State University and an icon in the cho-
jnapoles@acda.org Edith Copley ral world. Charlene, who at that time had already
retired from teaching, took out a little black book
SECRETARY/TREASURER from her purse and began taking copious notes. When I asked about
ROBERT NATTER the little book, she said she takes it to every workshop and conference
rnatter@gettysburg.edu to jot down new techniques, repertoire ideas, books, quotes, etc. Even
though her day-to-day classroom teaching was behind her, Charlene
PAST PRESIDENT
DAVID FRYLING was still looking ahead, eager to expand her knowledge. She was and
dfryling@acda.org is a continual learner who knew that no matter how much experience
you’ve acquired over the years, you can always learn something new.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR I encourage you to be a continual learner and register for one of
ROBYN HILGER the upcoming ACDA region conferences. If you attend, I know you
executivedirector@acda.org will return home with new tools, new colleagues to call upon for help,
new repertoire ideas, and a sense of renewed energy and commitment
NATIONAL R&R CHAIR
GRETCHEN HARRISON to share the choral art. Very special thanks to our six region presidents
nationalrr@acda.org and their committees who have worked diligently to plan the 2026
conferences. This issue of the Choral Journal highlights an incredible
EASTERN REGION PRESIDENT lineup of inspiring headliners, outstanding invited choirs, informative
AMANDA HANZLIK interest sessions, exceptional ensembles of all ages chosen through the
amanda.hanzlik@acdaeast.org audition process, and honor choirs led by nationally recognized guest

MIDWESTERN REGION PRESIDENT conductors in all six regional locations.
DERRICK FOX Performances and interest sessions are the main events at a confer-
foxderri@msu.edu ence, but one of the reasons I enjoy attending a region conference is
quality time to connect. Regionals are smaller than the national event,
NORTHWESTERN REGION PRESIDENT so it’s easier to talk with old friends and make new ones. What truly
WILLIAM CAMPBELL enhances the conference musical experiences are these conversations
billcampbell@nwacda.org with colleagues about their successful ventures, their day-to-day chal-
lenges, and repertoire loved by their singers and audiences alike.
SOUTHERN REGION PRESIDENT
JEFFERY AMES Connection is what music is all about, so let’s take it a step further
jefferyacdasouthern@gmail.com and reach out to a choral musician in your area who’s not an ACDA
member and encourage them to join our organization and attend a
SOUTHWESTERN REGION PRESIDENT regional conference! My first ACDA conference was a life-changing
JONATHAN D. OWEN experience, so I hope you’ll consider giving a colleague that wonderful
Jonathano@swacda.org experience too.

WESTERN REGION PRESIDENT
JULIE DANA
jdana@acdawestern.org

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATE REPRESENTATIVE
OLIVER SCOFIELD
KI Concerts
oliver@kiconcerts.com
4 CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5