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STANDING COMMITTEES
From the INTERIM

ADVOCACY & COLLABORATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CO-CHAIRS, LYNN BRINCKMEYER
lbrinckmeyer@txstate.edu
ROBYN LANA
rrlana@cincinnatichoir.org Our choral culture is undergoing enormous
change. Since the pandemic shut-down began in
COMPOSITION INITIATIVES
earnest in the U.S. in March 2020, we have adapted
CHAIR, DAN FORREST our work in multiple ways, learning to teach online,

producing virtual choir offerings, adapting our space
dan@danforrest.com
to accommodate CDC and other research-based
DIVERSITY INITIATIVES
Hilary Apfelstadt guidelines about physical distancing, wearing masks,
CHAIR, ARREON HARLEY-EMERSON rehearsing in shorter segments, ventilating and sani-
aharley@choirschoolofdelaware.org
tizing spaces. Depending on where you live, the rules vary, so some peo-
ple have been face-to-face for most of the year, whereas others have not.
EDUCATION & COMMUNICATION
Many churches have shifted to virtual worship, or held outdoor gath-
CHAIR, JAMILA MCWHIRTER erings, and their choirs have not been in session for over a year. They
jamila.mcwhirter@mtsu.edu may have continued to connect on Zoom, however, and music worship
leaders have been challenged to find ways to adapt musical off erings to

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
fit new paradigms.

CHAIR, T.J. HARPER At our recent ACDA virtual conference, we saw the results of peo-
harper.tj@gmail.com
ple’s ingenuity and creativity in their performance videos. Not only
REPERTOIRE & RESOURCES was the singing stellar, but the videos were inspiring with breathtaking
scenery, shots of the groups taken in their hometowns, schools, or places
CHAIR, GRETCHEN HARRISON
gharrison.jhms@gmail.com of worship, and sometimes with vignettes of speakers overlapping the
background. I was especially moved by the latter in the GALA choruses’

RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS combined piece that ended their concert. Watching the concerts was in-
CHAIR, JOHN SILANTIEN spiring, uplifting, and encouraging, and the positive comments fl ooding
jsilan@satx.rr.com the chat showed that we were drawn together in a community of choral
rejuvenation.
Not only has the pandemic affected our choral culture, but other

ADVOCACY STATEMENT events in society have also had a profound impact. Racial tensions came
to a head with the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May, giv-
The human spirit is elevated to a broader understanding ing rise to civil unrest, and among other things, considerable soul-search-
of itself and its place in the world through the study of and ing extending to our profession. For centuries, music has been a balm to
participation in choral music. Singing in a choir produces generations; it has been a healing force; it has created community. At the

more active and involved citizens. It affects self-worth
in youth and adults. It builds connectivity throughout same time, by not embracing music by people of color or by women or

communities. Society benefits from the aesthetic beauty from cultures different from our own where each of us is comfortable with

and community of singers created by choral programs the familiar, we have narrowed our experiences. Beginning last spring,
within schools, houses of worship, and community we had many opportunities to attend meetings and webinars, not only
organizations through involved citizenry, connectivity about dealing with the pandemic, but also about broadening our view of
throughout communities, and feelings of personal self- repertoire and how to engage in it with the musicians we affect. As state

worth. The American Choral Directors Association and
its membership resolve to ensure the survival of choral ACDA chapters went online with summer events, they incorporated ses-
programs for this and future generations by: sions on accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion. They off ered work-
shops with fi ne choral musicians exploring music by BIPOC composers,
Actively voicing support for funding at local, state,
and national levels of education and government; for example, and we had several similar interest sessions at the national
collaborating with local and national organizations to virtual conference in March. There are multiple states across the country
ensure the distribution of arts funding data and arts- with committees working on diversity issues, and our national Diversity
related activism opportunities; advocating for full access Initiatives Committee is very active. As I write, their Facebook page has
to choral singing and inclusion of all singers in a choral over 2500 members.
program; and ensuring the distribution of advocacy
statements and data regarding choral programs.
2 CHORAL JOURNAL June/July 2021 Volume 61 Number 11