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From the NATIONAL OFFICERS

President PRESIDENT

DAVID FRYLING
dfryling@acda.org
Somewhere at the beginning of every choir col- VICE PRESIDENT
laboration, I share my Three “Rules” for Becoming EDITH COPLEY
an Ensemble: ecopley@acda.org

1. Listen PRESIDENT-ELECT
2. Subdivide PEARL SHANGKUAN
David Fryling 3. Lead Simply pearl.shangkuan@calvin.edu

SECRETARY/TREASURER
These “rules” are a way to begin a conversation, an attempt to empower
each singer to fully contribute to the experience of making music, together. TOM MERRILL
merrilltg@gmail.com
By listening, we focus on going beyond simply hearing and attempt to pay
deep attention to the sounds shared by our neighbors. By subdividing, we PAST PRESIDENT
invest necessary time to fully embody the atoms of rhythm and meter that ANDRÉ THOMAS
allow us to stretch and mold time as one. And by leading simply, we practice athomas@acda.org
doing our jobs straightforwardly—contributing the right notes at the right
time at the right dynamic in a thoughtful and musically convincing way— EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
rather than spending our time together in an imaginary competition. ROBYN HILGER
executivedirector@acda.org
And while I believe these “rules” actually do enumerate the most impor-
tant technical skills necessary for a group of musicians to transform into an NATIONAL R&R CHAIR
ensemble, they also serve to remind us all how to best exist as a conductor GRETCHEN HARRISON
and teacher. nationalrr@acda.org
You are a member of ACDA because you are serious about preparing EASTERN REGION PRESIDENT
yourself and others to inspire and positively influence people through music. CHRISTOPHER KIVER
And I would argue there is nothing more important in this journey than to cak27@psu.edu
make sure you are:
MIDWESTERN REGION PRESIDENT
1) Listening—that is, paying real attention—to your singers’ thoughts, needs, DAVID PUDERBAUGH
and ideas; david-puderbaugh@uiowa.edu
NORTHWESTERN REGION PRESIDENT
2) Subdividing every moment—or doing your very best to remain present in STEVE ZIELKE
order to hold authentic space for your singers, students, and instrumental- president@nwacda.org
ists; and
SOUTHERN REGION PRESIDENT
3) Leading Simply, every day, through your actions, your choices, and the STANLEY ROBERTS
way you interact with your various and valued collaborators. roberts_sl@mercer.edu
SOUTHWESTERN REGION PRESIDENT
Our ability to pursue the path of artist/educator is an indescribable privi- JEFFREY A. MURDOCK
lege. It can also be deeply challenging even in the best of times. But if we jeffreym@uark.edu
strive to remember to listen to each other, “subdivide” our moments togeth-
er, and lead simply in all our interactions, this path is paved with breathtak- WESTERN REGION PRESIDENT
ing and life-affirming rewards. MICHAEL SHORT
president@acdawestern.org

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATE REPRESENTATIVE
OLIVER SCOFIELD
KI Concerts
oliver@kiconcerts.com

CHORAL JOURNAL October 2023 Volume 64 Number 3 3