I have been involved in ACDA since I was a college student when I served as a student assistant for our state's summer conference. Since then, I have held several different positions and served in a variety of roles, and it is always a pleasure for me to give back to the organization that has afforded me so many opportunities, resources, and friends. Amid the sometimes mundane tasks of our daily professional lives, ACDA helps remind me of what is most important in the work we do and shapes my ever-evolving approach to directing choirs. I look forward to serving the Midwestern Region in this role to assist with our collective search for the best repertoire and other resources for the large number of those in our organization who direct…
It is my pleasure to join the executive team for MWACDA. My growth as a choral director is directly tied to my membership in ACDA. 20+ years on the Nebraska Choral Directors Board in various R&R and executive committee roles allowed me to serve and lead at the state level, working to expand offerings for our members and their students. Taking my students to honor choirs at regional and national ACDA conferences provided them with expanded musical opportunities. While national conferences are great, It has been my experience that the regional conferences are where our members really connect, lead, and shine. It was my privilege to have choirs invited to perform twice as featured choirs and twice as demonstration choirs for the NCACDA conferences. Having served on the planning committee…
Dr. Zack Durlam serves as Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, artistic director of the Master Singers of Milwaukee, and choir director at Grace Lutheran Church in Grafton, Wisconsin. At UWM, Durlam leads multiple choirs and teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting and choral literature. He previously taught at Fresno Pacific University where his Concert Choir performed at the California Music Educators Association Conference and he was awarded the university’s Faculty Distinguished Service Award. Prior to that, Durlam taught high school vocal music for twelve years – including nine at Iowa City West where his Chamber Choir was chosen to perform at the North Central American Choral Directors Association (NCACDA) conference and the music department was one of seven programs in the nation named a Gold Signature…
Dr. Derrick Fox is the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Creative Endeavors and a Professor of Choral Conducting at Michigan State University. Prior to MSU, he was the Director of Choral Activities and Distinguished Professor of Music at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Assistant Professor of Choral Music at Ithaca College. Dr. Fox has taught at the middle school, high school and collegiate levels. His conducting experiences have included singers from upper elementary choirs through collegiate and community choirs. He was awarded the 2021 Bryan R. Johnson Service Award by the Nebraska Music Educators Association and the 2022 University of Nebraska Omaha Award for Distinguished Research/Creative Activity. Dr. Fox has conducted all state and regional choirs across the United States, led international, national and regional choral concerts/residencies and presented…
