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Creating a Master Plan their own choral communities.
What is it that choral folks need? I was still search- With the plan in place, we submitted the application,
ing for that innovative “thing” that would benefit every and many nervous months later, the acceptance arrived
colleague who attended the session. As choirs began to via email. The sheer joy and feelings of accomplishment
return to in-person rehearsals, many directors person- were real and intense. Our choir and school communi-
ally shared with me that their ensembles had learning ty were elated. Our students felt celebrated and excit-
gaps and/or were smaller. To me, this was a sound ped- ed. But, once the initial excitement from being accepted
agogical reason to look for accessible music. In addition, subsided, reality set in. We needed a financial plan, as
many conductors and singers alike are looking for more the trip to Cincinnati was going to be expensive. Ad-
composer/arranger diversity in the music they perform. ditional finances were required for meals, lodging, and
With those ideas in mind and much soul-searching, I set transportation, and much more to get us there. There
my sights on a choral reading session using my school were so many days that I doubted myself. Many days I
choir as the demonstration ensemble. Rather than a left school thinking, “What have you done to yourself?
reading session in the traditional format, however, I What made you think you could be impactful?” Those
sought something original and innovative. This brought were the feelings that questioned whether I belonged.
me to the idea of a hybrid reading session with three I ignored them and kept forging ahead. In my mind I
main goals for each attendee. knew that what we presented in our session would serve
a greater purpose.
1) Provide choral colleagues with accessible, voice-spe-
cific repertoire for SAB/SATB ensembles that not only
provides foundational teaching examples but also pro- Considering Financial Responsibilities
vides the singers with a successful and beautiful perfor- After setting aside those concerns and insecurities, I
mance. immediately began searching for hotels and working to
secure the best price for transportation. I knew that a
2) Provide choral colleagues with accessible repertoire few parents could afford the cost outright, but for many
that is composed and arranged specifically by persons it would be a larger but tenable burden they would strug-
of color. gle to carry. I also knew that other students just would
not have the financial means to support this opportunity.
3) Provide choral colleagues with a live demonstration of This meant we needed to employ some form of fund-
students performing the music while showing a commu- raising.
nity of trust built between teacher and students through I knew that I needed to find lodging at the least ex-
student testimonials and real-time responses reflecting pensive hotel. I began to do my research and found an
their connection to the music during the session. affordable hotel in Kentucky that was a ten-minute bus
ride across the bridge from the Cincinnati Convention
So, the plan was formed. In our Insight Session, par- Center. Success! After booking our rooms, I looked to
ticipants would engage in this hybrid session that was secure the charter bus. Once all the logistics had been
part-reading session, part-concert session, with honest handled for my school system and approved, it was now
and direct conversation with the students. Choir mem- time to start gathering the funds to pay for everything.
bers would share with the audience how they connected Through public giving, we raised all of the funds re-
with the selected repertoire to find a place of belonging quired to make this trip a reality. It was difficult to be-
in our school choir by linking their thoughts and feelings lieve we did that within a six-week time frame. What an
to the music performed. Hearing students express what enormous gift and privilege. Through the generosity of
belonging meant to them in relation to being in a choir so many people, no student in our choral program had
could provide a pathway for ACDA participants who to pay for transportation or lodging. Now we could direct
wanted to remodel or rebuild the sense of belonging in our focus to preparing musically for our Insight Session.

CHORAL JOURNAL March/April 2025 Volume 65 Number 7 59