Editor’s Note: Farewell (for now)
Dear Reader,
In summer 2011, I assumed the editorship of this newsletter, a moment that took place very shortly after Melisma’s move from its traditional paper copy to a solely electronic format. I was admittedly a bit nervous; although I do a lot of editing of theses and other scholarly writings, I had not edited a newsletter before, much less one that was only online. I was extremely lucky to lean heavily on the expertise of Judy Periolat, the division’s all-purpose webmaster/design guru/etc. I was never sure what Judy’s title was; I just knew she could basically do it all! I am also grateful to Aimee Beckmann-Collier, division president at the time, for her faith in my ability to learn and then do the job.
In 2015, President Bob Demaree asked me to coordinate the Serve component of the Serve. Connect. Celebrate. initiative. With that endeavor, Melisma expanded from three to four issues, and highlighted such practical themes as recruiting, fundraising, repertory selection, and the like, in order to be more timely and valuable to you, the choral musicians in this division. I am thankful for John Hughes, who came on as Associate Editor, for his help in heading up Melisma’s enhanced offerings.
This past fall, Melisma underwent yet another change, moving from the ISSUU platform to WordPress, its current form. With the move, Melisma is better integrated into the NC-ACDA website and more flexible in how it provides content. There is a lot of potential in this new guise yet to be realized, and I’m excited to see it unfold.
Through it all, Melisma been blessed with a stalwart editorial board that ensured that it maintained a high standard. Lynn Seidl, Todd O’Connor, and Clark Roush were gracious enough to stick with the newsletter as it transitioned from Bill Ross’s leadership to my own. Heartfelt thanks to them for their years of service, and to Erin Kaufman and John Hughes who joined the team during my tenure.
Starting January 1, I assumed new, added responsibilities at the University of Iowa, making this a good time to take a small step back from some outside commitments. With the newest iteration of Melisma now established, now is an appropriate moment to step down. John Hughes will be in charge of the May 2017 issue.
Melisma has undergone quite a change since 2011. It is my hope that the newsletter will continue to evolve to serve you more effectively. While I am stepping away from North Central responsibilities now, I look forward to serving the division again in the future. In the meantime, I’ll be at our division conferences, enjoying the diverse expertise and artistry that is the hallmark of this region. I’ve enjoyed making many new friends in North Central, and look forward to continuing our relationship as the years go by. Farewell (for now)!
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