Recognized by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music as a conductor “of exceptional promise and achievement,” Amanda Weber is passionate about uniting music, art and community through her work as a conductor, teacher, performer, artist and social activist. Weber currently serves as Director of Worship and the Arts at Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Minneapolis, where she oversees a wealth of arts programming. Weber’s role in this position is as eclectic as her skills – conducting a wide array of repertoire, curating the Westminster Performing Arts Series, serving as lead vocalist in Westminster’s Bluegrass Band, developing an Artist-in-Residence program, and collaborating in worship planning. Her work explores the intersections of art, spirituality, and justice and their impact on community. Her publications related to these topics include a recent article in…
Award-winning teacher, scholar, and conductor Dr. Brandon Johnson is the Founder & Artistic Director of BEYOND, a choral ensemble for professional musicians, and the Director of Choral Activities at Eastern Michigan University. He is broadly recognized for his work with high school & collegiate singers and has conducted ensembles and taught masterclasses across Europe, Asia, and the United States. Choirs under his direction have been invited to perform for multiple state and regional American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and National Association for Music Education (NAFME) conferences. He has performed in the most prestigious concert halls across the country, including Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the renowned Carnegie Hall. He has conducted choral ensembles in every facet of the profession and takes pride in pursuing excellence in…
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…
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…
