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2026 ACDA Northwestern Region Conference March 4-7, 2026 Tacoma, Washington

maturity and professionalism. She is the mother of two conferences, and has published in the Choral Journal
lively little boys. with Dr. Olivia Salzman-Coon.

Melissa Brunkan, Women’s Choral So-

Vocal and Mental Wellness: ciety conductor as of fall 2021, brings
twenty-five years of experience as an
Cultivating Long-Term Well-being active clinician, conductor, and vocal
pedagogue. Currently associate professor
This session focuses on vocal and mental wellness of vocal/choral music education at the University of
for choral music educators led by presenters familiar Oregon, she conducts the University Singers choir and
with vocal fatigue and burnout/vicarious trauma. At- teaches courses on conducting, vocal pedagogy, choral
tendees will gain practical resources, coping strategies, teaching methods, and teaching in higher education.
and guidance on when to seek professional help. There Brunkan has taught a wide range of singers in choirs
will be hands-on activities to identify stressors (burn- and private voice work, teaching students from pre-K
out, vicarious trauma, vocal fatigue) and find support through adult.
resources within attendees’ schools or communities,
including contact information/directories for medical
professionals and voice-care resources. We invite you We’re Voice Teachers Too!
to come with questions and specific challenges to work-
shop together. Science-Informed Choral Pedagogy

Olivia Salzman-Coon holds a PhD in This is an interactive session designed to share and
music education from the University of reinforce current science-informed vocal pedagogy es-
Oregon, an MME from the University sential to choral ensembles. Often, the vocal pedago-
of Wisconsin-Madison, and a BME from gy presented in choirs is outdated, rooted in a West-
the University of Oregon. Salzman- ern classical master-apprentice model that may not be
Coon has taught general music, band, and choir from supported by modern vocology, or not applicable when
pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade in Oregon. She has performing music outside of the Western canon. Be-
presented at multiple OMEA conferences and at the cause of this, there are many misnomers used by choir
national NAfME and Northwest ACDA Region con- directors that may be unhelpful, inaccurate, or even
ferences, and has published in the Choral Journal with detrimental to the ensemble’s progress or the singers’
Dr. Kendra Taylor. vocal development across all styles. To examine the sci-
ence behind these misconceptions, volunteers will have
Kendra Taylor is director of choral educa- the opportunity to lead a warm up of their choosing in
tion at Western Oregon University. Tay- order to explore a more effective means of achieving
lor holds a PhD in music education from their desired outcome in any genre or style through the
the University of Oregon, a master’s in application of science-informed practices.
teaching, and a BM from Southern Ore-
gon University. Before working as a graduate teaching Stevie J. Hirner will be the clinician for this session. Her
assistant at the UO, she taught concert choir (2018– photo and bio are on page 77.
2020) and choral methods (2020–2021) at Southern
Oregon University. She has taught bands, choirs, and
orchestras at the elementary and high school levels. She
has presented at multiple OMEA conferences and at
the National NAfME and Northwest ACDA Region

CHORAL JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 66 Number 5 93