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Repertoire & Resources

designing a more accessible and user-friendly student student chapters.
experience for the 2025 National Conference, featur- As conductors, we motivate and inspire our students
ing content tailored to student interests, a schedule that every day—it is a fundamental element of our skill set.
highlights potentially engaging and valuable sessions, But we also have the power to support, uplift, and mo-
and abundant networking opportunities. tivate one another. In conclusion, I offer one charge to
In direct response to survey feedback, Collegiate our members: Be that person! Consider taking perhaps
R&R is also working to provide meaningful and readily five minutes each day to go beyond merely “liking” a
accessible online content by curating a series of short post on social media. If you have a running list of peo-
videos that we hope will be informative and motiva- ple you have been meaning to contact, that is an excel-
tional. These videos will be delivered directly to you lent place to start! A text, email, or even a handwritten
in ACDA’s weekly Wednesday emails and available for note can be tremendously impactful. Whether it is a
future reference on the National ACDA website. message of appreciation to a former mentor, a compli-
The ACDA Collegiate Choirs team is dedicated to ment to a colleague whose performance moved you, a
providing a welcoming and supportive space for choral note of thanks to that person who helped you start your
directors across a wide range of collegiate programs. career, or words of support to somebody just entering
Last year we expanded our team by welcoming Dr. our professional field, your gesture can brighten some-
Brandon Elliott into the newly established position of one’s day and help them know they belong and are
2-Year College Choirs Chair. His addition has brought seen within our vast (and sometimes lonely) collegiate
valuable new perspectives, enhancing our ability to community. As we continue our collective journey, may
connect with students at this critical stage of their edu- we find inspiration and encouragement through the
cational journey and address their unique curricular power of connection that defines our work in collegiate
needs and interests. Additionally, our Student Activi- choral education.
ties team is exploring creative alternative membership
pathways for students enrolled in smaller music pro-
grams that may not have the numbers or resources to 4-Year College & University Choirs
establish their own chapter. Moreover, recognizing the
evolving framework of collegiate degree programs, our Caron Daley
team has better aligned the 2025 National Conference National R&R Co-Chair,
Student Conducting Masterclass eligibility with cur- 4 -Year College & University Choirs
rent program structures and has worked to eliminate daleyc1@duq.edu
potential application barriers.
As our Collegiate R&R team looks to the future,
we also remain steadfast in our commitment to pro- Count Me In:
viding the repertoire and resources for which ACDA Elevating the All-Campus Collegiate Choir
is renowned and trusted. Following this introduction, by Caron Daley
you will read an article by Dr. Caron Daley, which of-
fers strategies and repertoire suggestions for conductors Collegiate-level singers participate in choirs for a
of non-major and open-enrollment collegiate choirs, host of academic and personal reasons. Some are de-
helping all students, regardless of their major or prior gree-seeking and fulfilling course requirements. Others
experience, to participate in meaningful and engaging sing for enjoyment, community connection, profes-
choral experiences. Next, Dr. Brandon Elliott offers sional preparation as conductors and educators, or to
methods for building community within 2-year college create balance within their daily schedules. This article
choral programs. Finally, the article by Dr. Ryan Beek- places a special spotlight on all-campus choirs, defined
en and Dr. Elizabeth Swanson highlights the inspiring as any ensemble that engages students from majors
insights and practices of three nationally recognized across the university.

40 CHORAL JOURNAL November/December 2024 Volume 65 Number 4