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

layers of colonialism, appropriation, and misrepresen- Evolving Landscapes:
tation in Native music programming. We will also ex- Choral Music Education in Underserved Areas
amine how to build authentic relationships with Native
communities, ensuring that your programming goes Higher education is facing more and more challeng-
beyond tokenism. Attendees will leave with practical es as the world continues to change. Additionally, many
strategies for respecting Native music, creating space of us teach in areas where students are often under-
for Native voices, and ensuring that your programming served. Each student is different when it comes to their
benefits Native peoples through academic research and preparation for studying music in college. Our panel
community-based projects, including Nā Haku Mele, discussion seeks to ask some tough questions: How do
a yearly call for scores for new works in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. we meet the needs of our students? How do we “meet
them where they are” while also preparing them ade-
Thomas Goedecke (PhD, music com- quately for the future of music education? Our goal is
position), based on Maui, Hawaiʻi, is to start a conversation so we can share ideas about how
most known for his work intersecting to better prepare our students for today’s world.
sound worlds from Western and Pacific
non-Western voices. He specifically finds Erin Colwitz is professor of music and
joy in working with indigenous languages of the Pacific director of choral activities at North-
and combining them with traditionally western ensem- ern Michigan University (NMU), where
bles, advocating for the proliferation and celebration of she conducts the Arts Chorale and the
Polynesian, Asia-Pacific, and American indigenous art. University Choir. Under her leadership,
Goedecke is currently a tenure-track instructor at the NMU choirs have toured Italy, Finland, Austria, and
University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, where he directs Poland, as well as throughout the United States. Her
the College Chorus and Hawaiian Chorus and teaches choirs were chosen to sing at both Michigan and Al-
in the Institute of Hawaiian Music and music studies abama educators’ conferences. Colwitz is a frequent
programs. As a composer, conductor, and educator, he guest conductor, lecturer, contest adjudicator, and cho-
is dedicated to preserving and promoting these cultural ral clinician throughout the United States. As a clini-
traditions. cian and lecturer, Colwitz presents at conferences at
the state, regional, national, and international levels,
Alyssa Beltran (Pyramid Lake Paiute) including at the Athens Institute of Research and in
is a Native music educator, scholar, and Bangkok and Chiangmai, Thailand. She earned her
Powwow dancer based in Santa Cruz, MM and DMA from the University of Southern Cal-
California. She currently serves as the ifornia.
director of choral activities at Pacific
Collegiate Charter School, teaching choir and intro to Gabriela Hristova is an associate profes-
performing arts to students in grades seven to twelve. sor of music at the University of Mich-
Beltran also serves as the vocal director for the school’s igan-Flint. She conducts the Universi-
spring musical, working alongside the department’s ty Chorale and Chamber Singers, and
theater, instrumental music, and dance educators. She teaches courses in conducting, choral lit-
is pursuing a master’s in secondary education at San erature, and music performance. Hristova directs the
José State University, where she earned her BME and Summer Vocal Academy of Music for middle and high
minor in Native American studies. Her teaching expe- school students at the University of Michigan-Flint,
rience spans concert and jazz choirs, concert and jazz which is recognized for its high level of music instruc-
bands, strings, performing arts, and general music. tion. She previously taught as a visiting professor of
Beltran is committed to fostering inclusive musical en- conducting and director of choirs at the Oberlin Con-
vironments full of meaningful collaborations. servatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio, and conducted

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5 61