Page 46 - October.indd

National Election

President-Elect Candidates

Winner to take office July 1, 2023

Brian Galante is Chair of the Depart- Pearl Shangkuan is a highly sought-af-
ment of Music and Director of Choral ter conductor, lecturer, and clinician

Studies at Pacific Lutheran Universi- who has led performances and work-
ty in Tacoma, WA. During his time at shops across six continents. Director
PLU, Galante has conducted Choir of of Choral Activities and Professor of
the West, Chorale, University Singers Music at Calvin University in Grand
(SA), and Knights Chorus (TB), and taught undergrad- Rapids, Michigan, she is also the chorus director of the
uate courses in vocal pedagogy, choral repertoire, and Grand Rapids Symphony, a Grammy-nominated pro-
rehearsal. fessional orchestra. Recently appointed as the editor of
Galante received the DMA degree in Choral Con- Hinshaw Music, Shangkuan also has a signature choral
ducting from the University of North Texas, and MM series with earthsongs, and is the music editor of the
and BME degrees from Louisiana State University. Pre- Calvin Institute of Christian Worship choral series pub-
vious choral appointments include Visiting Associate lished by GIA.
Director of Choral Studies at LSU; Doctoral Teaching In 2014, she was an invited guest lecturer at the
Fellow at UNT; Director of Choral Music at Highland World Symposium for Choral Music held in Seoul,
Park High School (Dallas, TX); and Director of Choirs South Korea. Dr. Shangkuan has served on the jury
at Episcopal High School (Baton Rouge, LA). of several international choral competitions in Europe
Choirs under Galante’s direction have off ered per- and Asia and has led conducting masterclasses for the
formances for the 2010 Washington Music Educators ACDA national conference, Chorus America confer-
Association Conference; the 2011 Northwest MENC ences, the University of Michigan and the University of
Conference; and 2012 and 2022 NW Region ACDA Illinois Choral Conducting Symposium, among many
Conferences. He has conducted honor choirs at all lev- institutions and organizations in the United States. She
els, and led workshops on conducting pedagogy, voice has conducted numerous all-state choirs, ACDA region
science, and repertoire. Galante’s compositions are pub- honor choirs, and choral festivals nationally and inter-
lished by Galante Music, Walton, and Colla Voce, and nationally, and has headlined several ACDA state and
have been performed by choirs worldwide. His works other professional conferences. Upcoming engagements
have recorded for commercial release by Delos, Centaur include conducting the SSAA honor choir at the ACDA
Records, and MSR Classic. He is the recipient of multi- National Conference, returning to conduct at Carnegie
ple ASCAP Plus awards and a regular composer-in-res- Hall, an international choral festival in Italy and other
idence for the Taylor Festival Choir (Charleston, SC). ACDA conference and festival engagements.
Galante has previously served ACDA as president of She serves on the Board of Directors of Chorus
Louisiana ACDA (2001-2003), on the National Tech- America and has served as president of the ACDA
nology Committee (2007-2011), Honor Choir Perfor- Central Region and Michigan ACDA. She has commis-
mance Site Chair (Oklahoma City, 2009), Northwest- sioned and premiered numerous choral works, and her
ern Region Conference Program Chair (Seattle, 2010; choirs have performed at ACDA national, region, and
Portland, 2018), Transportation Coordinator (Chicago, state conferences. In 2020, she received a Calvin Uni-
2011), Associate Conference Chair (Dallas, 2013), and versity Award for Excellence in Teaching and previously
Northwestern Region President (2018-2020). He is also received the Grand Rapids YWCA Arts Tribute Award.
a member of the American Society for Composers, Au- In 2013, Michigan ACDA honored her with the May-
thors, and Publishers (ASCAP), the National Collegiate nard Klein Choral Award for “artistic excellence and
Choral Organization (NCCO), and the Washington lifetime leadership in choral music.”
Music Educators Association.

44 CHORAL JOURNAL October 2022 Volume 63 Number 3