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December 2015 ChoraLink
Happy Holidays! I'm excited to see so many of you in Boston in a just over a month and a half. If you haven't registered already, don't forget that we're entering the last days of Early Bird registration. More info below--be sure not to miss this opportunity!
 December brought an amazing array of blog posts from our choral community leaders, all in anticipation of the Boston Conference. We've linked to each of them below. I hope you'll take a closer look to see what you might have missed! And remember to like our Facebook Page so that you can keep up-to-date on our blog posts, "conference choirs spotlights," and other important announcements. My best to each of you for a happy and healthy New Year. As always, I'm listening, and I'm here to serve.
ACDA Eastern Division President
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Early-Bird Conference Registration closes January 10th!
 In just under two weeks all registration rates will rise to the standard conference rate of $299. But you still have time to claim the benefits of Early-Bird Registration:
- Reduced Conference Rates
- $275 Active/Life
- $225 Retired
- $175 Student
- All "Together We Sing" reading packets included (Reading packets will ONLY be available to Early Bird Registrants!!!)
- Access to coach bus transportation for the Roomful of Teeth/Boston Children's Chorus concert
- Early access to the conference app
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We're looking for a few good volunteers...
Are you a student looking to offset the cost of attending the Boston Conference? Are you interested in meeting conference presenters, invited choir conductors, and choral leaders? Apply to be a Student Volunteer and you can do both! Students will receive part or all of their conference registration fees waived in exchange for volunteering to work during the ACDA Eastern Division Conference. We'll see you in Boston!
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December's Blog Posts
The Importance of Adolescent Voice
I became an educator to help young people find their singing voices and advance their personal musicianship. What I did not realize, at the time, was how engaged I would become with how adolescents develop through choral experiences.
The Sound of Contribution
 The first time I had a true aesthetic experience, I was 17. Within the first 30 seconds of the choir opening their mouths, my life was changed. That sound.It was bright, vibrant, fully committed, and filled with life. The singers' faces and bodies completely engaged, their eyes in unison on the conductor. I wept. Read the rest...
ARE YOU A PROCESS OR A PRODUCT STYLE CHORAL EDUCATOR?
 After presenting an interest session with the Mansfield University Concert Choir demonstrating vocal techniques at the 2006 ACDA Eastern Division Conference in New York City, Frank Albinder commented: "I didn't know that you were such a process person." The comment inspired my thinking. Read the rest...
FROM CONFERENCE TO MOZAMBIQUE
 ACDA conferences, both regional and national, often tend to serve as mileposts as we head along our career path: "Do you remember the national conference when we heard.... Did you hear the interest session at the regional when we first learned about...." The 2012 Eastern Regional conference in Providence, though, was less a milepost for me than a giant direction sign: "STOP! Turn here!" Read the rest...
THE JOURNEY OF SINGING AT AN ACDA CONFERENCE: A REFLECTION OF GRATITUDE  Roxbury's first appearance at an ACDA convention was Friday February 13th, 2004 at the Old South Church. We feel privileged to sing at the Old South Church again, this time on Friday February 12th, 2016. There is something very sentimental about this for the Roxbury kids, alumni, staff and myself regarding this "moment in time." Read the rest...
GET GUYS SINGING: THOUGHTS FROM THE CHOIR
 Several years ago, my co-director and I decided to split the 7th and 8th grade choirs by gender at Marsteller Middle School in Bristow, VA. Little did we know the dramatic effect that would have on our male enrollment. In just two years we reached a 1 to 1 ratio of boys to girls and at our largest, had over 900 students in choir. Read the rest...
MUSICA: A GREAT RESOURCE FOR ACDA MEMBERS
 If you are searching for choral repertoire, and the fact is, we are indeed searching for choral repertoire all the time, your membership in the American Choral Directors Association offers you the entire Musica choral database to track down repertoire throughout the world. Why would you use Musica rather than a Google search? Read the rest...
FROM THE VOCAL STUDIO TO THE CHORAL CLASSROOM: INCORPORATING KEY CONCEPTS OF VOCALISM WITHIN THE CHORAL REHEARSAL
 The benefits of having students in your ensembles participate in voice lessons can be invaluable. The reality is that access to these lessons is not always available or affordable. This participatory session will introduce vocal techniques, literature ideas and rehearsal tips that will strengthen your singers' musicality and promote healthy vocalism throughout your rehearsals. Read the rest...
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