Message from the President
Robert Drafall
September, 2010
Greetings to ACDA-PA Members!
This month, I would like to share with you something from Tim Sharp, Executive Director of ACDA. This was a blog posted on ChoralNet, and I think as we all head back to the podium, this is essential reading!
I would encourage each of you to go to ChoralNet, select “Communities” at the top, and join the Pennsylvania-ACDA Community. There are terrific articles of interest posted every day. You can join as many communities as you wish, and you can subscribe to receive information daily via email, if you so choose!
ACDA and ChoralNet joined forces in July, and the more time on spend on this site, the more I realize what a valuable “marriage” this is for choral directors everywhere!
All the best to you as you prepare your concert seasons! If you haven’t already done so, please remember to vote for the ACDA-PA President Elect Designate! You can vote on the ACDA-PA website. Our two outstanding candidates, Jason Bishop and Peter DeMets, have posted Biographies and Vision Statements in order for you to make an informed choice! The polls will close on September 1, so take a moment now to make your voice heard!
ACDA – It’s the membership, not the leadership!
Robert Drafall,
President – ACDA of Pennsylvania
Truths* about Choral Leadership
Date: August 17, 2010
by Tim Sharp
Truth #1 As Conductor, You Make the Difference. Before you lead you have to believe you can have a positive impact on others. When you believe you can make a difference, you position yourself to hear the call to lead.
Truth #2 Integrity is the Podium on which you Stand. If people don’t believe in you, they won’t willingly follow you. You must do what you say you are going to do. This means being so clear about your beliefs that you can live them every day.
Truth #3 It is the Why that Motivates the Work. You need to know why you do what you do, because you can only fully commit to the organization or cause when there is a good fit between what you value and what the organization values. This is true too, for the people you lead.
Truth #4 Your Focus on the End Goal is what makes you a Leader. You have to be forward looking. Just look at your choir--they are looking at the present--YOU are looking at the future. This is the quality that most differentiates leaders from individual contributors. You need to spend time reflecting on the future. It is the vision that resonates with others, inspiring and energizing.
Truth #5 You are Not doing this Alone. Leadership is a team sport, and you need to engage others in the cause. You need to enable others to be even better than they already are. Make that the goal of every rehearsal, and make better mean something better than only correct pitches and rhythms.
Truth #6 The Glue for your work is Trust. To enlist others, you need trust. Build mutual trust; you must trust others too.
Truth #7 Problems Define you as a Leader. Great achievements don’t happen when you keep things the same. Change invariably involves challenge, and challenge tests you. It introduces you to yourself. It brings you face-to-face with your level of commitment, your grittiness, and your values. It reveals your mindset about change.
Truth #8 There is a Reason that you as conductor are the one standing in front, and easy to identify by the audience. You have to go first as a leader. That’s what it takes to get others to follow your lead.
Truth #9 The Maestro is also the Allievo. Learning is the master skill of leadership. Leaders are constant improvement fanatics. The teacher (maestro) is also the never-ending student (allievo).
Truth #10 Conducting is your passion. Leaders love what they’re doing and those they lead. Leaders make others feel great about themselves and are gracious in showing their appreciation to others.
*Adapted from the research of Kouzes and Posner as outlined in their book The Truth About Leaderhip.
August 2010 Message
“ACDA – It’s the Membership,
not the Leadership”
Greetings!
As I reflect on another tremendously successful Summer Conference for Choral Musicians, it is time to turn my attention to the future of ACDA-PA. In June, I attended the National Leadership Meeting for state and division presidents, held in Chicago. It was a marvelous opportunity for the leadership of ACDA to put their heads together and to discuss how we can make ACDA a better organization. One of the outcomes of our discussion, was the quote at the top of the page. It is my sincere hope that as a member of ACDA-PA, you will share your ideas on how we can make a positive impact on your music making!
I have listed some initiatives that I would like to focus on during the last year of my presidency. If any of these ideas kindle a spark with you, I’d really appreciate knowing that. A couple of these ideas have already been put into motion, and I’m very excited about them!
ACDA-PA Composition Competition – this is already a reality! Thanks to the wonderful work of the organizational committee, the materials for this are available on line, and the winning composition will be premiered in 2011. Special thanks to Peter deMets, Rollo Dilworth and Joe Ohrt for sharing their expertise in putting this project on course!
50th Anniversary Celebration - ACDA-PA became an organization in 1961. We will be celebrating our first half-century during the upcoming year. It will be a focus of the 17th Annual Conference for Choral Musicians. D. Douglas Miller, ACDA-PA Historian, is already hard at working making contact with all living past presidents, and literally writing the history of our organization!
Fall ACDA-PA Conference – the objective of this event is to augment what we do so well in the summer with a conference that focuses on live performances of choirs!
At this early stage, I envision this being a Friday evening/Saturday event with a very modest registration fee. My hope is that this event will travel around the state, with a fall, 2011 launch somewhere in the Southeast Region. Stay tuned!
Pennsylvania Music Forum – the goal of this initiative is to find ways that we can enhance the quality of professional development for musicians in the Commonwealth. I will seek to establish a dialogue with the following organizations:
MENC/PMEA
Chorus America
National Collegiate Choral Organization
American Guild of Organists
Choristers Guild
National Music Teachers Association
New Leader Development Workshops – the purpose here is to encourage, inform and train future leadership of ACDA-PA. I believe that this is a good project for the Vice-President to oversee. If you’re interested, please let me know!!!
Hands Across Borders - the goal here is to co-sponsor workshops & concerts with ACDA organizations in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and perhaps the Eastern Division! We have many of the same needs – and this initiative could help us all do it more effectively! Conversations have already begun!!
Mentorship Program – I would like to re-energize the current program by utilizing R & S Chairs to serve as mentors for conductors new to their jobs. Former winners of the ACDA-PA Outstanding Young Conductor can be tapped as a resource as well. The current Mentorship Program was established by Dr. Peggy Dettweiler during her presidency. There is definitely a need for this across the Commonwealth!
I think that all of these projects are exciting, and I strongly encourage you to “put in your two cents” as we move these initiatives forward! Please contact me with suggestions and questions at rwd11@scasd.org
Finally, I’d like to offer my hearty congratulations to the following individuals on their recent successes!
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Dr. Christopher Kiver for planning an extraordinary summer conference!
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Dr. Joe Ohrt and Craig Cannon for hosting the Men’s and Women’s Student-Director Honor Choir
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Christie McKinney for hosting the Middle School/Junior High Honor Choir and for being the recipient of the 2010 ACDA-PA Young Conductor Award
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Dr. Peggy Dettweiler for being selected as the recipient of the 2010 Elaine Brown Award for Choral Excellence
In closing, we are all facing difficult times! However, we should be thankful for the powerful gift of choral music in our lives. Make a difference in your life and the lives of others; let your voice be heard….ACDA – It’s the Membership, not the Leadership!
I look forward to hearing from you!
