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You can’t do too much, but you can do too many. my colleagues with years of experience knew so much
—George Lynn actually made me a better teacher, because I have al-
ways understood the student who hasn’t experienced

How did you keep yourself fresh and enthusiastic “it” yet. I have enjoyed so many exhilarating times in
during your career? my life as a singer and conductor that it’s difficult to list
the most significant ones, but certainly conducting the
Brahms German Requiem in the Sydney Opera House
Maintain a positive attitude in spite of any and all was among them.
circumstances. Stop teaching and start sharing. Choose
the subject/music that excites you. Exercise. Maintain
a healthy relationship with family, colleagues, friends, Kenneth Fulton was alumni professor
and neighbors. Look for the extra in the ordinary. Con- of choral studies at LSU for twenty-sev-
sider every waking moment an adventure in living. en years, where he conducted the LSU
A Cappella Choir and produced over
one hundred graduates of advanced
Rodney Eichenberger is professor degrees in choral conducting. He was
emeritus at the Florida State Universi- named one of LSU’s distinguished professors and re-
ty. He joined ACDA in the early sixties ceived the Sanders Alumni Professorship. Fulton con-
and served as the local chair of the last ducted honor festival choruses, master classes, and con-
ACDA convention in conjunction with ductor/teacher workshops in forty-seven states. He is a
MENC in 1968. He served as Northwest past president of the Southern ACDA Region, Texas
Region president from 1969 to 1973. He led graduate ACDA, and Louisiana ACDA.
conducting programs at the University of Washington,
the University of Southern California, and the Florida What do you think are the most striking changes
State University. His conducting DVDs are widely used (positive or negative) in choral music today?
in university conducting classes.

The diversity of what we produce—so many more
What do you think are the most striking changes groups and music of all kinds that touch so many.
(positive or negative) in choral music today? Again, our collective interest in each other across cul-

tures and peoples.
When I first immersed myself in the world of choral
music there were some outstanding choirs in the Unit-
ed States; now there they are all around us and at all What choral trends, if any, do you wish were different
levels. One of the most significant developments is that and why?
musicianship of conductors and singers has multiplied
sevenfold.
We are living in an age where “new” music is read-
What, if anything, would you change about your ily available and accessible through the internet and
professional life? the traditional sources. There are so many new and
wonderful composers writing music that is challenging,
clever, poignant—all of those qualities that appeal to
Never could I have dreamed when I joined the our musical, intellectual, and aesthetic curiosities. And
high school choir in the second semester of my junior we can’t wait to do them all! I get it, and I’ve been there
year that I might have the professional career I have myself. But I am concerned about “balance” in the lon-
enjoyed. I believe the fact that I knew so little when gest and richest repertoire base of all the musical arts

CHORAL JOURNAL June/July 2025 Volume 65 Number 9 61