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. 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…
David Puderbaugh is Assistant Director of Choral Activities at the University of Iowa, where he conducts University Choir, teaches graduate choral literature and undergraduate choral conducting, and advises D.M.A. theses. He is also Associate Director of the School of Music, overseeing the graduate program. A native Iowan, Dr. Puderbaugh holds a music education degree from Drake University and graduate degrees in choral conducting from the University of Missouri and the University of Iowa. His teachers include Timothy Stalter, David Rayl, and Aimee Beckmann-Collier. Dr. Puderbaugh also is Music Director of Chamber Singers of Iowa City, an ensemble that focuses on major choral works such as Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s The Seasons, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil, as well as a Carnegie Hall performance of Haydn’s Missa Cellensis. Beyond the…
Kai Ton Chau is a Program Manager at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, leading curriculum development in cultural competency. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Calvin University and associate editor of the Reformed Worship journal. He holds a doctorate in worship from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies and master’s degrees in music (choral) and business (MBA). Kai Ton has a professional background in accounting, finance, and taxation. His research interest is in developing a pastoral mindset for worship leaders.
