Unite in Song! Planning for Chicago 2018

Planning a division ACDA conference is a lengthy process that takes many dedicated people working diligently over a long period of time. There are site visits, endless emails, frequent phone calls, and meetings packed with information. The process also involves dreaming and imagining ways in which to inspire and serve our members, so it’s a good mix of detail and creativity and engages the whole brain.

Planning for North Central Division’s 2018 Chicago conference with Central Division began in the summer of 2015 and has been ongoing ever since. Unite in Song! is our theme, and the dates – February 14–17, 2018 – are confirmed. Hotel contracts have been signed, the budget is prepared, we’ve got a great team of ACDA members on the planning committee, and Mark Munson, Central Division president-elect, and I talk weekly and exchange emails on a near daily basis with various team members.

Planning a division conference is one thing, but combining two ACDA divisions with established traditions has required the conference planning team to take a few steps back, get acquainted, and familiarize ourselves with different ways of doing things before we could begin moving forward together. There has been “give and take” on both sides, and we’ve gotten help and advice from the ACDA staff in Oklahoma City and many people who worked on previous division conferences. It has been a valuable learning experience for which I am grateful.

I’d like to introduce you to the North Central ACDA members who are serving on the 2018 conference planning team. These folks have already given an enormous amount of time and energy laying the foundation for what will be a fantastic conference in Chicago. North Central’s R & R Chairs will all be involved in the selection and presentation of repertoire for the reading sessions in 2018.

Mary Kay Geston, president of North Central Division, is Co-Chair for the 2018 conference. She is artistic managing director of Great River Chorale, St. Cloud, MN, chair of ACDA-MN’s F. Melius Christiansen Endowment Fund committee, and has taught at universities in MN, CO, and SD.

Rhonda Fuelberth, president-elect for North Central Division, is Assistant Program Co-Chair for the 2018 conference. Rhonda is an associate professor of choral music education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she serves as the Chair of Graduate Music Education.

Mark Lehmann is treasurer for North Central Division and has been adjunct professor of voice at Wartburg College (IA) since retiring from Waverly-Shell Rock High School, IA. Mark served ICDA in many capacities including president and is a past recipient of ICDA’s McCowen Award.

David Holdhusen is co-chair for performing ensembles. David is director of choral activities and the Douglas and Susan Tuve Distinguished Professor of Choral Music at the University of South Dakota, Vermillion. He is a past president of South Dakota ACDA.

Alexa Doebele is co-chair for interest sessions. Alexa has taught at Concordia University Wisconsin since 2009 and is an associate professor of music. Previously she taught at universities in Wyoming and Colorado, and secondary music in the Denver public schools.

Stephanie Trump is Coordinator for the 2018 Honor Choirs. Stephanie directs choirs at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School and University of Northwestern in the Twin Cities. She is MMEA choral vice president, coordinator of MN All-State Choirs, and has served ACDA-MN in various capacities.

Susan McAllister is Chair for the 2018 Children’s Honor Choir Chair. Sue is a past president of WCDA, serves on the board of directors for the Green Bay Boy Choir & Girl Choir, taught in Green Bay area public schools, and is an adjunct instructor at St. Norbert College, WI.

Melanie Kjellberg is Chair for the 2018 High School Mixed Honor Choir. Melanie directs choirs at Andover High School, MN. She served as choral vice president for MMEA, has coordinated MN All-State Choirs, and serves on ACDA-MN’s F. Melius Christiansen Endowment Committee.

 

Tim Takach and Jocelyn Hagen are independent composers and serve as North Central Division’s R & R co-chairs for Division Composers. Together with Central Division composers Lee Kesselman and Dominick DiOrio, Tim and Jocelyn will curate two reading sessions of music by composers from the two divisions at the 2018 conference.

Katherine Chan, a DMA candidate at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, is the technical liaison for the 2018 conference. Katherine will set up and manage the electronic program book application.