Page 61 - CJJanuary2026

2026 ACDA Midwestern Region Conference February 25-28, 2026 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

rector, and arts administrator with grace and passion. singers will be shared, as well as select audio and video
As a choral educator, Adamson assumes the role of a footage of the prison choirs. In addition to discussing
visionary choral director whose leadership has trans- specific carceral contexts, this session will connect more
formed vocal ensembles into beacons of musical ex- broadly to anyone interested in the intersections of jus-
cellence. Adamson serves as the artistic director and tice and choral singing. The presenters will share how
conductor of STANCE: Seattle Trans and Nonbinary their work in prisons has impacted the work they do
Choral Ensemble. Adamson earned a DMA in vocal with choirs on the outside. Participants will leave with
performance and choral conducting from the Uni- educational resources, suggested repertoire (including
versity of Washington. She also earned an MM and songs by incarcerated composers), ideas and “how-tos”
a master’s of performance from the Guildhall School for collaborating within prisons, and inspiration from a
of Music & Drama. Her other education includes the population that is most often forgotten in our “reflec-
Advanced Artist Diploma and MM from Shenando- tions of us.”
ah Conservatory and undergraduate degrees in music,
theatre arts, accounting, and management from Frank- Amanda Weber is passionate about unit-
lin Pierce University. ing music, art, and community through
her work as an artist and collaborator.
Anjali Chudasama is a singer, educator, Weber is the founder and artistic director
and conductor focused on developing in- of Voices of Hope, an organization that
dividual identities and connecting with builds choral singing communities in correctional facil-
the community through music. Chudasa- ities in the state of Minnesota. Founded in 2015, Voices
ma is the director of choirs at Shoreline of Hope has been featured through numerous publica-
Community College, where she serves students in class- tions including the Choral Journal (2021), a chapter in
room-based, ensemble, and private studio contexts. the Oxford Handbook of Community Singing (2023), a 2016
She earned an MM in choral conducting at the Uni- TEDx Minneapolis Salon, and Weber’s doctoral dis-
versity of Washington, where she worked with students sertation, which was awarded ACDA’s Julius Herford
in the Treble Choir and Chamber Singers, and in the Dissertation Prize in 2018. In addition to her work as a
music history and music education departments. She
is thrilled to work the vibrant Seattle community and
enjoys participating as a conductor and singer in the
community and professional ensembles such as Har-
monia Chorus and Orchestra, the Choir of the Sound, Francisco J. Núñez
and the Evergreen Ensemble, as well as serving as an Founder/Artistic Director
interim director of the Chamber Singers at Seattle SUMMER STUDIO & LAB
July 22-25, 2026 | New York City
University.

Collective Wisdom:
Reflections from Midwestern Prison Choirs

Summer Studio Summer Lab
CHORAL CONDUCTING WORKSHOP CHORAL INTENSIVE
This session will be led by five prison choir practi- FOR TEACHERS FOR SINGERS, AGES 8-18
tioners who will each share snapshots of their unique with Choirs in Residence Young People’s Chorus of New York City
settings, exploring the many forms musicking in prison and Veus - Cor Infantil Amics de la Unió
may take and the challenges experienced along the way.
Reflections from currently and formerly incarcerated Visit ypcnational.org to learn more!

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5 59