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Repertoire & Resources

respective evening rehearsals or a shared NCDA board actively engaged in the activities before us?
meeting, we have also grown to know one another out-
side of our professional roles. We discuss family mat-
ters; we know each other’s spouses and children and ACDA Is This Network
have a general sense of the things that are going on As choral conductors, we all find ourselves focused
in each other’s lives. This depth of relationship with on the betterment of the singers and audiences in
peer colleagues has become an oasis for me in a sea our charge, and we accept that responsibility happily.
of tasks and deadlines. Even if the connection point is I encourage you to either build or deepen your rela-
simply shared memes or baseball trivia, a daily touch- tionships with other choral conductors with whom you
point with these friends provides levity and freshness are philosophically and/or otherwise aligned, and to
to the otherwise narrowly focused work of the day and make regular contact with that person or those peo-
deepens the relationships, which allows for more seri- ple. ACDA provides an incredible foundation for those
ous conversations as the need for them arises. kinds of connections.
I am also fortunate to have to colleagues in the Fine The relationships we build with fellow choral con-
and Performing Arts Department at Creighton Univer- ductors foster a supportive environment where peer re-
sity with whom I connect daily. The first is a colleague view, constructive criticism, and encouragement are the
in the music area, our band director, and the other is norms. Directors can celebrate one another’s successes,
the head of our dance program. While we do not share encourage one another in down times, and share in the
discipline-specific challenges, we are all performing art- ebbs and flows of life as a choral professional. These
ists and performing arts educators with shared profes- connections also provide advocates and allies. Strong
sional values and expectations. Every profession brings colleagues can serve as job references and can open
its unique set of challenges, but finding solutions is eas- doors to new and exciting professional opportunities.
ier with trusted confidants to help navigate the path. A The choral directing profession is at its best when it
quick visit to one of their offices or a lunch “meeting” is collaborative, and when directors see each other not
to discuss departmental business always leads to other as competitors but as colleagues. The importance of
conversation, be it about family, future artistic projects, community, networking, and relationships lies in their
or other tangentially related topics. Similar to my cho- capacity to enrich both the music and the musicians.
ral connections, these university colleagues and I know Meaningful relationships with peer colleagues provide
about each other’s families and the general goings on a platform for continuous learning, mutual support,
in each other’s lives. These friendships make coming to and collective joy in the art of choral music. All of this
work easier and more enjoyable, and I suspect results in is available to us through our membership in ACDA
better job performance for us all as well. at the state, regional, and national levels. I encourage
To expand out one layer, service on the state choral you to reach out to someone today, whether that’s a
director board has afforded me opportunities to get to colleague in your school or district, or perhaps a con-
know many of the active members around the state as nection from a past conference event. If no one comes
we share time together in meetings and at conferences. to mind, reach out to your local ACDA state or region
These relationships have led to a network of shared chapter president or R&R chair to see how you can get
music libraries, have opened the door for guest con- involved and connect with others in your area. Remem-
ducting opportunities, and in many cases have built up ber, we are better together!
to collaborative opportunities in shared performances
with guest artists. We can consult each other for reper- Matt Hill is the director of choral activities at Creigh-
toire ideas, rehearsal techniques, guest-artist referrals, ton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and the founding
successful fundraising approaches, touring guidance, artistic and executive director of Sing Omaha. He is
and any other musical or non-musical element of our executive director of the Nebraska Choral Directors
work. Who better to consult than those who are also Association. matt@singomaha.org

52 CHORAL JOURNAL May 2025 Volume 65 Number 8