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so I looked to those experts to be the professional voice. voice. If only one person is speaking up in your com-
However, I do believe that collaborations and partner- munity, it could truly be the most important thing in
ships greatly increase visibility, and it helps to have more the world, or it could be someone whining to people
people in the community knowing what goes on in our they don’t know, like the local school board or admin-
music programs. For those teachers who feel invisible to istration. But if you’ve got partnerships going, people
administration or parents or professional music groups, start to take notice. You’ve naturally doubled your par-
a partnership might advance your cause. ticipants and you have raised the volume of your voice
I once took an Adopt-a-Choir tour with my ensem- in your school, community, and beyond. This allows
ble to various community colleges in Florida, where we individual teachers to broaden their influence, profes-
then invited high schools to join all of us—each choir sional leadership, mentorship, and expand horizons for
sang individually and then we combined for three AAC their students. Through our actions, we’re really able
pieces. I wanted to ensure that community colleges felt to advocate more meaningfully. Advocacy naturally
connected to a four-year school (many students transfer comes out of the collaborative process.
to in-state public universities), while also giving them Advocacy is not a single person or even a group of
an opportunity to provide services for high schools in people using their words to say, “we need this,” or “why
their area (on-site hosting of the partnership event). aren’t you supporting us here?” Through the collabora-
It’s important to think about advocacy through the tive aspects of the partnerships we make, we are dem-
lens of partnerships because it naturally amplifies your onstrating to communities what advocacy looks like.

arizona state university

Associate Professor Nathan D’Shon Myers conducts the ASU Gospel Choir.

Arizona State University’s School of Music, Dance and Theatre in the Herberger
Institute for Design and the Arts is home to an internationally recognized faculty,
outstanding performance facilities and innovative curricula in education, therapy,
composition and performance. Join us now to start your creative journey, embrace your
musical passions and launch a successful career.

Learn more!

musicdancetheatre.asu.edu

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CHORAL JOURNAL October 2024 Volume 65 Number 3 51