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toire & R
Repertoire & Resources
Reper
esources

We support one another, celebrate triumphs, and learn
Collegiate Choirs Coordinator from each other’s victories and setbacks. ACDA be-
comes our community, our sounding board, and our
Jenny Bent source of inspiration, offering a platform for network-
Collegiate Choirs Coordinator ing and mentorship.
bentje@sonoma.edu
In my first year as Collegiate Choirs Coordinator,
our Repertoire and Resources area has focused on en-
hancing and strengthening connections with our pro-
The Choral Network Nexus: fessional community by striving to better understand
Building Connections and Support and address the needs of our diverse membership. In
in Higher Education September 2023, our team launched a survey to gain
by Jenny Bent insight into the current landscape of collegiate choral
education. Your feedback provided information about
As a young professional stepping into the classroom who ACDA is engaging within our collegiate commu-
for the first time, I vividly recall the whirlwind of emo- nity, the platforms and resources most frequently ac-
tions—excitement, nervousness, and a deep desire to cessed, and key areas of interest. The results of this
succeed. However, I was also confronted with an un- survey directly shaped our initiatives and priorities for
expected feeling of loneliness. Suddenly, without the the year. (View survey results at: https://choralnet.org/
safety net of my mentors and fellow students, I grap- archives/acda-news/collegiate-choirs-survey-results)
pled with a sense of isolation, an experience I would The survey results highlight ACDA’s pressing need
later learn often accompanies our profession. In the to connect with students, especially in the wake of the
collegiate choral field, many of us find ourselves as the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the pivotal role
only person, or one of a few, within our institutions student chapters play in bridging this gap, our Colle-
doing what we do. giate Student Activities team, under the leadership of
Over the years, I have come to see that the Ameri- Dr. Ryan Beeken and Dr. Elizabeth Swanson, has been
can Choral Directors Association serves as so much diligently working to simplify the process of establish-
more than a source to find repertoire and resources. ing new student chapters and to improve communica-
It is a bridge that connects choral professionals across tion between existing chapters and the broader ACDA
institutions. The challenges we face as choral direc- support network. To facilitate these initiatives, ACDA
tors are often universal, and ACDA creates opportuni- is developing a comprehensive manual with practical
ties for us to share our experiences and grow together. guidance for student chapters. Additionally, we are

CHORAL JOURNAL November/December 2024 Volume 65 Number 4 39