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STANDING COMMITTEES
From the
Executive Director

ADVOCACY & COLLABORATION
ALEX GARTNER, CHAIR
agartner@pensacolasings.org

The Value of Membership
COMPOSITION INITIATIVES

KATIE HOUTS, CHAIR At its best, choral music is about connection and
belonging. When voices come together, we create
katie.houts@gmail.com
something bigger and more beautiful than any one
DIVERSITY INITIATIVES of us could on our own. That same spirit of connec-
ARREON HARLEY-EMERSON, CHAIR Robyn Hilger tion is what makes being part of our association so
arreon@equitysings.com valuable. None of us has to walk this journey alone;
we have a whole community of people who understand the joys and chal-
EDUCATION & COMMUNICATION lenges of this work.
JOHN MCDONALD , CHAIR Membership is more than a card or a title; it’s an invitation to resources,
JohnMcDonald@wustl.edu opportunities, and relationships that help us grow. Our journals (the Choral
Journal and the International Journal of Research in Choral Singing) put inspi-
INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES ration right at your fingertips: practical rehearsal tips, repertoire ideas,
JOSHUA HABERMANN, CHAIR grounded research, and thoughtful reflections from colleagues who know
joshhabermann@gmail.com exactly what you’re facing. Our repertoire and resource libraries are like
a trusted friend when you’re searching for the right piece or a fresh ap-
REPERTOIRE & RESOURCES proach. (Note: Don’t miss the newest 2025 Virtual Reading Sessions available at
GRETCHEN HARRISON, CHAIR www.acda.org)
nationalrr@acda.org
And then there are the conferences. If you’ve ever been to one, you
know the energy of sitting in a performance that leaves you speechless, or
RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS the spark of an idea from a session that you can’t wait to try back home.
ELIZABETH CASSIDY PARKER, CHAIR Add to that the honor choirs—life-changing experiences for our develop-

eparker@temple.edu
ing singers (and future colleagues!) and a reminder to all of us why this
work matters so deeply. Information for the 2026 Region Conferences is
available at https://acda.org/region-conferences, and the 2027 National
Conference will be held in Minneapolis, MN, in 2027! You can always
ADVOCACY STATEMENT check the event listing in the weekly e-newsletters for many local events

The human spirit is elevated to a broader understanding as well.
of itself and its place in the world through the study of and But perhaps the greatest gift of membership is the people. The col-
participation in choral music. Singing in a choir produces leagues you meet often become lifelong friends, the ones you call when
more active and involved citizens. It affects self-worth you need advice, the ones who cheer you on, and the ones who simply “get
in youth and adults. It builds connectivity throughout it” when you share a story from rehearsal. Those connections remind us
communities. Society benefits from the aesthetic beauty we’re not alone, even on the hardest days. If you’re a member, I encourage
and community of singers created by choral programs
within schools, houses of worship, and community you to dive in—read the journals, use the repertoire lists, sign up for the
organizations through involved citizenry, connectivity next conference, and please reach out to someone new. If you’re not yet a
throughout communities, and feelings of personal self- member, now is a wonderful time to join us. We will welcome you with the
worth. The American Choral Directors Association and spirit of enthusiasm and collegiality.
its membership resolve to ensure the survival of choral Our association thrives because of YOU, the membership. We are cre-
programs for this and future generations by:
ating something extraordinary together, not just for ourselves, but for the
Actively voicing support for funding at local, state, future of choral music.
and national levels of education and government;
collaborating with local and national organizations to
ensure the distribution of arts funding data and arts-
related activism opportunities; advocating for full access
to choral singing and inclusion of all singers in a choral
program; and ensuring the distribution of advocacy
statements and data regarding choral programs.
2 CHORAL JOURNAL October 2025 Volume 66 Number 3