Posted 11-04-09
Student Assistance Program Created for 2010 Eastern Division Conference in Philadelphia

The ACDA-PA Student Assistant Program is designed to support conference participation and service, and to provide financial support for college students interested in attending the February 9-13, 2010 ACDA Eastern Division Conference in Philadelphia, PA. 

Recipients will be required to register for the conference independently. ACDA-PA will reimburse each scholarship recipient $45 to be awarded at the conference.  Recipients will also be required to work at the ACDA-PA booth in the exhibits hall for a total of two hours.  Up to 40 scholarships will be awarded.

Deadline for applications is December 8, 2009.
Scholarship recipients will be notified by January 15, 2010.

ELIGIBILITY: Any full-time undergraduate or graduate students in Pennsylvania.  Students that receive Kegerreis Scholarships and/or Student Worker assistance from ACDA ED, are not eligible for this program.  Students may apply, but if they are selected for these other programs, they must forfeit their application to this program. 

TIMELINE: Completed applications must be postmarked by December 8, 2009. Selection of recipients will be made by a committee made up of board members of ACDA PA, appointed by the President. It is our goal to involve as many students in the program as possible.

CRITERIA: Applicants will be selected based on their recommendations and accomplishments in the choral area.

For more information or to ask questions please contact:
Peter de Mets, Scholarship Committee Chair
529 Lafayette Street
Newtown PA 18940
pdm@peterdemetsmusic.com
(215) 479-1729

Click here to download the application

Posted 08-10-09
Award Recipients Honored at Annual Banquet
August 3, 2009 - State College, PA 

Two members of the American Choral Directors Association of Pennsylvania were honored with awards presented at the organization's annual summer conference banquet, which was held at the Nittany Lion Inn on the University Park campus of Penn State University.  Receiving the 2009 Elaine Brown Award for Choral Excellence was Dr. William Payn, Director of Choral Studies and Professor of Music at Bucknell University.  ACDA-PA Past President O. David Dietz presented the award and shared some of Dr. Payn's history with the banquet attendees:

(From Payne's website)
WILLIAM PAYN has achieved prominence as a conductor and composer. As Director of Choral Studies at Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, he has led his choirs to international recognition for their creative interpretation of significant choral literature of the past five centuries. His choirs have performed all over the world, including concert tours in England, Wales, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, West Germany, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica. Closer to home, they have recently sung in Florida, California, and Arizona. The Rooke Chapel Choir will travel to Spain in May 2002 for a ten-day concert tour. Both his Rooke Chapel Choir and University Concert Chorale have sung at conventions of the American Choral Directors Association. Bucknell's popular annual Candlelight Service of Carols, featuring Payn's Chapel Choir and Rooke Chapel Ringers, has been taped and repeatedly televised nationally by PBS since 1988 and was nominated for an Emmy in 1996. Five compact discs featuring his Rooke Chapel Choir have been recorded on Lovely Music and Albany labels. With the recent completion of several commissioned works, Payn has 30 compositions which are published, including a new work, Heart Melodies, distributed by Paradigm Press and scheduled to be performed by the Phoenix Symphony on February 14, 2002. His works are performed virtually every week in the United States and abroad.

Payn received his Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College and his Doctor of Musical Arts in organ and harpsichord literature from West Virginia University. As a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Payn has served as Pennsylvania state president. Information about him appears in two reference publications: Contemporary American Composers: A Biographical Dictionary, and Who's Who in American Music: Classical. In 1987, he was presented with the Harriman Award for contributions to the intellectual life of Bucknell University, and in 1994 he received the Bucknell University Cook Award, given annually to a member of the faculty to promote creative travel. In May 1996, his undergraduate alma mater presented him with the Westminster Choir College Distinguished Alumni Merit Award. In June 2001, Bucknell University awarded Payn the "Class of '56 Lectureship" for inspirational teaching. He is currently Music Director and Conductor of the Susquehanna Valley Chorale and Orchestra.

The recipient of the 2009 Outstanding Young Conductor Award was Dr. D. Jason Bishop, Director of Choral Activities at Penn State Erie and Founder/Artistic Director of the Young People's Chorus of Erie.  ACDA-PA Vice President Eileen Hower spoke on behalf of Bishop, who was unable to attend due to obligations with YPC Erie. 

(From the YPC Erie Website)
Dr. Jason Bishop is Director of Choral Activities at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College, in Erie, PA, where he also serves as conductor of the Erie Philharmonic Chorus. In 2008, Dr. Bishop changed the choral landscape of northwestern Pennsylvania by founding the first comprehensive youth chorus program in the region, the Young People’s Chorus of Erie, of which he serves as Artistic Director. As the first affiliate of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, the Young People’s Chorus of Erie shares the YPC mission, providing opportunities for children ages 7 to 18 to participate in a comprehensive choral program that celebrates diversity, multiculturalism, and equal opportunities for children from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Dr. Bishop earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied with Dr. Dennis Shrock, and the Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Boston University, where he studied with Dr. Ann Howard Jones. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Classical Languages from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, where he studied conducting with the late Tony Lee Garner, graduated Phi Beta Kappa with distinction, was voted into the Rhodes College Hall of Fame, and received the Rhodes College Kinney Leadership Award for outstanding service to his community. In 1998, at just 21 years old, he was asked to serve as the first-ever student conductor of the Rhodes College Singers, leading the group on a two-week performance tour of Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms throughout the southeastern United States.

Before joining the faculty of Penn State Erie in 2007, Dr. Bishop served as Director of Choral Activities at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA from 1999-2003; as Assistant to the President of the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA from 2001-2003; as Music Director of the Broadmoor Chamber Singers in Natick, MA from 2001-2003; as Director of Music and Founder & Artistic Director of the Concert Series at St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church in Norman, OK from 2004-2007; and as Instructor of Choral Conducting and Conductor of the University Chorale & Opera Chorus at the University of Oklahoma from 2005-2006.

Praised for both his passion and his efficiency on the podium, Dr. Bishop is in frequent demand as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, with several performances of major choral-orchestral repertoire to his credit. He has also had the opportunity to sing as both baritone and countertenor in several chamber recitals and a number of professional choral ensembles, including the Santa Fe Desert Chorale of New Mexico, a professional vocal ensemble widely acclaimed for its exceptional choral performances. He has adjudicated numerous choral festivals, including the Oklahoma Arts Institute and the West Tennessee High School Festival. Dr. Bishop currently holds the position of Northwest Region Chair on the Board of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, and also serves as Editor of the Pennsylvania state choral journal, Polyphony. Recently, he created the first-ever Pennsylvania Student-Director Honor Choir, bringing together over 100 high school and college students, public school teachers, and college music professors from around the state of Pennsylvania to rehearse and perform together in the same ensemble.

In the summer of 2008, Dr. Bishop traveled as a guest conductor with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City on its performance tour to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

ACDA Eastern Division E-News August 2009  Dear Colleagues:   Happy New Year!   Take one last gulp of summertime air and travel one more time to the mountains or the beach.  The "September New Year" is fast approaching and with it comes that energizing rush of repertoire selection, program development, rehearsals and performances.  Good luck!  Go forth!   This E-News issue is divided into two parts. The first section outlines events and announcements regarding state chapters and general Eastern Division news.  The second section includes information regarding the Eastern Division conference in Philadelphia, February 9-13, 2010.   ACDA VOICES UNITED (DC/MARYLAND, DELAWARE, AND VIRGINIA) - August 6-9 Two Eastern Division chapters will joining with their Southern Division neighbor to hold their annual three-day conference on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Headliners include Joe Miller, Lynn Gackle, and David Brunner.  The conference features a children's honor choir and an SATB festival choir culminating in a choral/orchestral performance.  Reading sessions, workshops, and tons of great singing are in store!  Please access www.acdamddc.org for registration information.   NEW YORK CONFERENCE - August 9-11 The exciting three-day conference of the New York ACDA chapter, held in conjunction with the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA),  will occur at the Crowne Plaza in Albany, NY. It features an ACDA Director's Chorus and ASTA Director's String Orchestra rehearsing and performing the Vivaldi Gloria conducted by Kevin Fenton, a Children's Honor Choir conducted by Nick Page, and a multitude of reading and interest sessions. New on the slate of offerings this year is a Middle School Honor Choir conducted by Lon Beery.  More information and registration forms are available at www.nyssma.org.   NJ PRESIDENT-ELECT ANNOUNCED Congratulations to our colleagues in New Jersey who participated in the first-ever ACDA online election!  This marks the beginning of what is hoped to be an ongoing collaboration between ACDA and Votenet to bring online voting to the membership.  From this time forward, ALL elections will occur online. Trish Joyce was elected to serve as New Jersey's new president-elect.   EASTERN DIVISION PRESIDENT-ELECT CANDIDATES Information regarding our two candidates for Division President-Elect, Robert Duff and Stuart Younse, is posted on the Division website. As space is limited in print publications, please be sure to read their extended biographies and vision statements at http://acdaeast.org/election/candidates.html and become acquainted with these outstanding candidates. The ONLINE election will take place in early winter, and the results will be announced in Philadelphia during the Eastern Division conference.  The winner of the election will become President-Elect on July 1, 2010 and will move to the Presidency on July 1, 2012.   NEW ACDA ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/CHAPTER LIAISON TO START AUGUST 17 The American Choral Directors Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Craig Gregory to the position of Assistant Director/Chapter Liaison for ACDA. Dr. Gregory will work directly with Executive Director Tim Sharp on national matters and also serve as liaison to the state and division chapters. Originally from Texas, Craig taught choral music for eight years before beginning his career in arts administration, first with the Turtle Creek Chorale and then with the Tallahassee Community Chorus.  His full biography can be found at www.acda.org.  Also watch for our own Division interview with Craig in the September issue of Troubadour!   IT'S MEMBERSHIP TIME! We all know the value of ACDA membership. We all know the wonderful events we've attended, the great people we've met, the professional knowledge we gain from the publications and workshops, the wealth of reference materials that are now available on the national website, the sense of pride we feel being part of such a large and glorious choral community.  The time is NOW to bring new colleagues and singers into the organization so that they too can be enriched by what is offered.  Invite EVERYONE to join ACDA today!  Active, retired and student memberships are available as well as affiliate memberships for your choir members.  Membership applications are located at www.acda.org. INTEREST SESSIONS AND RESEARCH SESSIONS CHOSEN FOR DIVISION CONFERENCE Congratulations to all presenters chosen for participation in "We the People!" Interest Session Chair Dan Abraham, Research Session Chair Jim John, and their committees labored over nearly 125 outstanding proposals to choose the slate of approximately 50 sessions that will be offered. The complete list of interest sessions and research sessions (including Research Gallery presenters) can be found at www.acdaeast.org. Move your cursor over the blue menu item to bring up the submenu of all the conference offerings.   NEW ACDA-ED PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS  The Eastern Division is pleased to announce a newly-forged partnership with AGO for the division conference.  Specifically, the partnership includes "We the People - United in Praise," a day of workshops and concerts designed for conductors in worship settings. Activities include presentations by Tim Sharp and Donald Dumpson, a concert by the Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, a reading session, and rehearsal observation of the United in Praise Festival Chorus conducted by Craig Courtney. The day will conclude with an interfaith service featuring three invited choirs and the festival chorus.  AGO members are invited to submit applications for the festival chorus and to attend the conference at the ACDA member registration price.  For more information regarding "We the People-United in Praise" AND the Festival Chorus application, visit www.acdaeast.org. LEGENDARY HELEN KEMP TO PRESENT The Eastern Division's own Helen Kemp has recently accepted an invitation to attend and present sessions at "We the People."  Known as one of the most influential pioneers of the Children's Choir movement and a co-founder of The Chorister's Guild, Helen will be speaking on Friday afternoon (tentative) in the strand of sessions designed for Children's Choir conductors. You will not want to miss interacting with this living legend, still inspirational and full of energy at age 90! BOOKMARK WWW.ACDAEAST.ORG More More MORE MORE information regarding "We the People" will be available in the months ahead.  Bookmark the website and continue to check it often to stay on top of the most up-to-date information!  Pictures and biographies of all conductors, choirs, and session presenters are slated to be added soon - online registration information will be posted in late September! HOTEL RESERVATION INFORMATION For reservations at either the Marriott Downtown Philadelphia or the Marriott Courtyard Downtown at the ACDA conference rate, please access the Marriott online guest room reservation system linked at www.acdaeast.org. There you will find locations and descriptions of both hotels as well as pricing. If you experience difficulties with the reservation system or if you feel uncomfortable making reservation online, please call 1-800-266-9432 to place your reservation.  (It is NOT possible to reserve your hotel room at the ACDA conference rate by accessing the general Marriott websites or by calling the general reservation phone numbers.)  Make your hotel reservations as early as possible! Take advantage of this easy reservation option today!   JOIN OUR "WE THE PEOPLE" FACEBOOK GROUP! The Eastern Division Conference has a group on Facebook!  Invite all your Facebook friends to join us! The name of the group is "Eastern Division ACDA Conference, Philadelphia 2010." "WE THE PEOPLE" - UPCOMING CONFERENCE DEADLINES United in Praise Festival Chorus applications - deadline October 1, 2009 Men in the Middle Workshop Choir applications - deadline October 1, 2009 Philadelphia Bach Institute Master Class conductor applications - deadline October 1, 2009 Philadelphia Bach Institute auditor registration - deadline November 15, 2009   Please click the blue menu button at www.acdaeast.org for all conference details!   Cordially, Lynn