2024 Interest Session Info

Keynote Sessions

Keynote #1
Conducting Gesture:
Back to the Basics, and how the basics open the door to Artistry and Precision
Deanna Joseph

Keynote #2
Building the Ensemble Part 1: Warm-up exercises, Ensemble Techniques,
and Conversations to Have to Cultivate a Vibrant and Flexible Choral Sound
Daniel Bara

Keynote #3
Score Study and Rehearsal Techniques:
How our knowledge of the score helps inform our rehearsal approach
Deanna Joseph

Keynote #4
Building the Ensemble Part 2: Warm-up exercises, Ensemble Techniques,
and Conversations to Have to Cultivate a Vibrant and Flexible Choral Sound
Daniel Bara

Interest Sessions & Presenters

Monday August 5th:

9:00-9:50 - Interest Session 1
Creating Culture and Strengthening Belonging in Choral Ensembles: Insights from Industry Leaders
Talia Sheehan
Choirs are communities of musical belonging. Thus every choral ensemble has its own unique culture that can be strengthened through the craft of “culture creation.” Artefact Institute co-founder and music educator Talia Sheehan will introduce the fundamental principles of culture creation as situated in the sequence of Common Vision, Common Work, and Common Feast and then go on to share insights from three experts in the choral art: Tim Keeler, Charles Anthony Silvestri, and Benedict Sheehan. Silvestri insights underscore storytelling's role in meaningful choral programs, while Keeler emphasizes audience engagement and ensemble community-building, and Sheehan explores concerts as rituals, using ritual techniques to imbue experiences with meaning. Attendees will gain practical tools to create and strengthen culture and foster belonging within their ensembles and communities.

Talia Sheehan is a Bahamian-born, fourth-generation female church musician, ensemble singer, and music educator. She has performed with Cappella Romana, the GRAMMY®-nominated Saint Tikhon Choir, the GRAMMY®-nominated PaTRAM Institute Singers, and Artefact Ensemble. She is the director of the St. Tikhon’s Music Program, a one-year intensive music leadership residency for Orthodox Christian church musicians. She teaches voice, music theory, and liturgical music, and directs three children’s choirs and a women’s choir. She is also the co-founder and Program Director of Artefact Institute, a collective of “culture creators” who work to build living contexts for the arts and community.

Benefits to Building Your Own Vocal Studio
Lachele Vaughan
In my presentation, here are my pillars of creating a thriving private studio:
· Benefits of teaching private students full-time or part-time
· Recruitment and Retention
· Curriculum and Materials
· Scheduling
· Billing and Collections
· Best Practices

Mrs. Lachele Nicole Vaughan started her musical career taking piano lessons and singing in her church choirs. She began to study music more seriously in high school by taking guitar, music theory, band, chorus to later become the first Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All-State singer of Hatboro-Horsham High School by her junior year. By her senior year, she travelled to New York to sing in the PMEA All-Eastern chorus festival.
    In 1995, Mrs. Vaughan began studying music education at Penn State University. While at Happy Valley, Mrs. Vaughan sang in numerous choirs, played in the campus band, and became the first student conductor of the Nittany Valley Children’s Choir under the direction of Mrs. LuAnn Shafer. She also was the soprano soloist of a local church in State College. Mrs. Vaughan graduated with a B.S. in Music Education with a vocal emphasis and felt honored to be chosen as the soloist at her graduation December of 1999.
   For leisure, Mrs. Vaughan competed in the Miss America organization pageants. She eventually won the title of Miss Greater Juniata Valley in 1999 and moved forward to compete in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant. Her platform was Building Self-Esteem through the Arts which is still a focus near and dear to her heart.
   January of 2000, Mrs. Vaughan started her teaching career at Milton Hershey School. She taught PreK-5th grade general music, private vocal lessons, and directed the MHS gospel choir. In conjunction with teaching, Mrs. Vaughan found time to complete her M.Ed. at Penn State. Also while teaching, Mrs. Vaughan performed in local theaters. One of her favorite productions was playing Dorothy in The Wiz starring Sherman Hemsley (from the hit TV show The Jeffersons). She also has enjoyed singing with the Essence of Joy Alumni Choir, under the direction of Dr. Anthony Leach. On one of the EOJA tours, Mrs. Vaughan made her Eastern European debut on the stage of Smetana Hall in Prague singing “Summertime” from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.
   In 2005, Mrs. Vaughan started teaching in Lower Merion School District. She was the vocal music teacher, music director of shows, and a track coach for about 10 years. Welsh Valley Middle School is where she fell in love, dated, and married the love of her life, Kenny Vaughan. Fun fact: their middle school students set them up! They got married on 7/7/07 at 7:00PM and were quickly blessed with two amazing children, Ken III (16) and Leila Nicole (14).
   Mrs. Vaughan has her own private music studio where she teaches beginner piano and voice lessons to 25 students ranging from ages 6-17. Her students endearingly call her “Ms. Lachele” and frequently have students land leading roles in their musicals and make their schools’ select ensembles. Mrs. Vaughan has hosted PMEA song fests and has been a guest conductor for PMEA county choirs. Her most recent guest conducting appearance was for the 2022 PMEA Centre County Middle School County Choir Festival hosted by her good friend, Eric Brinser.
   Now coaching potential and current private music teachers, Mrs. Vaughan enjoys sharing her experiences of being a private music teacher for over 20 years. She shares the advantages of being a private music teacher, how to retain and recruit students, curriculum and instruction, and best practices.
   Mrs. Vaughan currently teaches middle school general music and chorus at Holland Middle School in Council Rock School District. She also directs the musicals at her school and has served on various committees within her school district. While not teaching, Mrs. Vaughan enjoys going on dates with her husband, Kenny (educator for over 25 years), spending time with family and friends, cuddling with her dog, Mira, cheering her son on as he plays lacrosse, and listening to her daughter play the flute and dance en pointe.

The Struggle is Real: Helping Yourself Help Others
Nate Zullinger
In the modern age teachers and conductors are called on to provide an unprecedented level of support to their students and singers. Loneliness, depression, and anxiety are only a few of the issues eating away at all ages. So how can we help others if we don’t first help ourselves? And how do we cultivate a personal mindset that allows us to cope without becoming totally overwhelmed? Many choral leaders have come to the breaking point in recent years, and it is not uncommon to hear “I just can’t do this anymore.” This session offers a brief overview of the challenges facing society today in mental health and explores techniques and resources for self-preservation even as we repeatedly come to the assistance of others. Specific topics include creating reasonable expectations, identifying symptoms of burn-out, isolating factors that cause stress, and adopting personal techniques to help preserve our creativity, sensitivity, and well-being over the long haul.

Nathan Zullinger is an Assistant Professor at Haverford College, where he conducts the Chorale, the Chamber Singers, supervises private vocal study, and teaches courses in the Department of Music. Through the Bi-College Partnership, he also teaches students from Bryn Mawr College. He was presented with the Innovation in Teaching award by Haverford College in 2021 and served as a student-selected Faculty Marshal for the Classes of 2022 and 2023. In 2020, Dr. Zullinger formed the professional chamber choir Viva Voce to undertake periodic performances and recordings of unique repertoire. The ensemble won the Ernest Bacon Prize for American Choral Music Performance for their debut recording in 2021. His choral editions and arrangements are published by Morningstar, Galaxy, and Augsburg Fortress. Dr. Zullinger was actively involved in the creation of the Singing City Songbook and served as its first editor. He has previously taught at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the University of Rhode Island, and the public schools of Summit, New Jersey. He currently serves ACDA-PA as the College-University Repertoire and Resources Chair and is the President-Elect Designate.

11:00-11:50 - Interest Session 2
Mindful Rehearsals: Building Habitual Musicianship
Caleb Hopkins
Using mindfulness exercises in rehearsals can help singers in the short and long terms. Both immediate effects, including increased focus and vocal freedom, as well as sustained musical skills can be built with efficiency using the basic techniques covered in this session.

Caleb Hopkins is an educator, conductor, and baritone with diverse experiences in education and performance. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. As a singer, Hopkins has appeared with top professional choirs across the United States and maintains an active schedule as soloist. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Furman University and advanced degrees in conducting from the University of Georgia and the Eastman School of Music.

(Re)Discovering The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices
Matt Caine
In 1987, the album Le Mystére des Voix Bulgares, Volume 1, a compilation album of choral arrangements of Bulgarian folksongs featuring The Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir was released in the United States to critical acclaim. NPR considers it the 78th greatest album ever made by women, having inspired countless artists from Robert Plant to Bobby McFerrin. In spite of its wide range of appeal, conductors and choruses in the United States are largely unfamiliar with the vast wealth of Bulgarian choral repertoire (including folk music, art music, and sacred music). Session participants will be introduced to the wealth of Bulgarian choral music, give them the opportunity to sightread some of this unique choral repertoire, and provide any conductors interested in performing this repertoire with free editions and resources to help their choruses discover the mystery of Bulgarian choral music.

Dr. Matt Caine is Director of Traditional Music at St. John's Methodist Church, Aiken, SC, where he oversees a robust music program and conducts multiple choirs, instrumental ensembles, and a professional chamber orchestra. Matt made his European debut conducting Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem with the Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra and Morski Zvutsi Chorus in Varna, Bulgaria, in 2006. His most recent conducting engagement was as guest conductor of the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus and Orchestra in a performance of Haydn's Missa in angustiis and Conte's Invocation and Dance.

Both a Fulbright Scholar and a Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellow in Bulgarian Language and Culture of the US Department of Education, Matt's published research in Bulgarian music is frequently cited by scholars in both Bulgaria and the United States. Matt has created performing editions of and has conducted the U.S. première of over 30 pieces of Bulgarian choral music

Getting Out of Your Own Way: Simplifying and Clarify Conducting Gesture
David Edmonds
The physical conducting gesture is often the last thing we think about as teacher-conductors. With so many other administrative and teaching tasks taking priority, we tend to leave very little time to plan out this aspect of our performance. This can lead to a haphazard ‘ad hoc’ style of conducting which often can get in the way, more than it can enhance, our choirs’ performances. To combat this tendency, we need a gestural system that is simple, clear, and reliable. A system that encourages us to conduct less not more. Join Dr. David Edmonds (University of New Mexico) in this participatory conducting session Getting Out of Your Own Way for a reevaluation of your own conducting gestures to simplify and clarify what you show your choirs.

David Edmonds, D.M.A, is Director of Choral Studies at the University of New Mexico where he directs the UNM Concert Choir and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting and choral repertoire. He serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of Dolce Canto, a community-based choir in Missoula, Montana, and is also serving as Interim Artistic Director of the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus for their 2023-2024 season. Edmonds recently served for six years as ACDA National Repertoire & Resources Chair for Student Activities. He holds advanced degrees in conducting from the University of North Texas (D.M.A., ’12) and Westminster Choir College (M.M., ’10) after teaching high school choral music for six years in Iowa and Texas. His compositions are published by Alliance, Colla Voce, and MorningStar Music Publishers. Dr. Edmonds lives in New Mexico with his incredible wife and their two (often) well-behaved daughters.

3:10-4:00 - Interest Session 3
Eyes That Hear: Building the Habit of Audiation
David Edmonds
If you have ever said to your choir “you must HEAR the pitch before you SING the pitch” then this session is for you! Audiation is a mysterious mental process that is challenging to teach. Despite this, most of us realize the importance for our singers to “hear” the pitch before they sing it. Those of us that do try to address this skill in class, however, usually simply have to hope that our students are actually audiating, as there is often no sure way to reliably check their progress. But there are ways we build a habit of audiation in singers. "Eyes That Hear" explores simple and effective drills such as “exercises of omission”, “non-melodic” melodies, and other specialized materials–that you can make yourself–and that can help your singers “hear” with their eyes, making them stronger and more confident music readers.

David Edmonds, D.M.A, is Director of Choral Studies at the University of New Mexico where he directs the UNM Concert Choir and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting and choral repertoire. He serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of Dolce Canto, a community-based choir in Missoula, Montana, and is also serving as Interim Artistic Director of the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus for their 2023-2024 season. Edmonds recently served for six years as ACDA National Repertoire & Resources Chair for Student Activities. He holds advanced degrees in conducting from the University of North Texas (D.M.A., ’12) and Westminster Choir College (M.M., ’10) after teaching high school choral music for six years in Iowa and Texas. His compositions are published by Alliance, Colla Voce, and MorningStar Music Publishers. Dr. Edmonds lives in New Mexico with his incredible wife and their two (often) well-behaved daughters.

Strengthening the Bond: Programming as the Link between Musicianship and Community
Mitchell Sensenig-Wilshire and Dru Deitch
In this session, we will delve into the interconnectedness of programming, musicianship, and community engagement. We will begin with interactive exercises, including group circle singing and a tried-and-tested "team building" activities from our choir experiences. These activities help to foster unity within the ensemble. Following these activities, we'll explore strategies for cultivating community bonds both among singers and within the broader community. Topics will include the significance of inter-generational singing and the enduring relationships nurtured through music. Furthermore, we'll examine how programming serves as the conduit connecting community and musicianship, navigating the delicate balance between selecting meaningful, challenging pieces, and showcasing the ensemble's strengths. We'll equip participants with a repertoire toolkit, featuring pieces that hone various skills while delivering impactful messages resonant with both singers and audiences.

Dru Deitch is Conductor of the Susquehanna Youth Chorale. Mrs. Deitch earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Messiah University, and the Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Colorado State University. She is the choral director and general music teacher at Camp Hill Jr./Sr. High School, and an active guest conductor.

Mitchell Sensenig-Wilshire conducts the Susquehanna Young Women’s Chorale. He studied voice and piano at Mansfield University, and is active as a singer, conductor, and collaborative pianist in Central Pennsylvania.

Tone Hacks – Choral Rehearsal Techniques to Achieve Healthy, Versatile Choral Timbres
Kimberly Dunn Adams
Different compositions often require drastically different vocal timbres and techniques, and teaching a variety of tonal styles in a healthful and efficient way can be a daunting task. This presentation will use audience participation to show quick, effective, and healthy ways to alter your choir’s tone. The rehearsal techniques presented are sourced directly from vocal pedagogy textbooks, private studio tricks, and choral rehearsals.

Dr. Kimberly Dunn Adams is the Director of Choral Activities at West Chester University where she directs choirs and teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in conducting and literature. She previously served as the Director of Choral Activities at Western Michigan University for thirteen years; prior to that, she was the Director of Choral Ensembles at Mount Holyoke College.

Adams has presented at the World Choral Symposium, Nordic Choral Conference, National Collegiate Choral Organization conference, American Choral Directors Association Region Conference, Michigan Music Conference, NM Music Educators Association State Conference, KS Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop, and the Michigan School Vocal Music Association Summer Workshop. Additionally, she frequently serves as a speaker and clinician for collegiate ACDA chapters, K-12 school in-service days, and high school choirs. Dr. Adams has worked with choirs throughout the United States and internationally, and she is frequently engaged to conduct All-State, honor, and festival choirs. Adams holds degrees from Oberlin College & Conservatory, Yale School of Music and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Tuesday, August 6th:

3:00-4:15 - Interest Session 4
Don’t Stop Now: Choral Literacy Skills for the Teacher
Laura Petravage
This session explores ways for the K-12 teacher to improve their personal musical literacy. Participants will evaluate their own skill development and learn ways to practice and improve their rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic literacy and performance skills, using repertoire-specific examples from their own classroom or ensemble.

Dr. Laura M. Petravage is a choral conductor and K-12 educator in the South Central Pennsylvania area. She is the Head Music Teacher for the Carlisle Area School District, where she teaches middle school general music and chorus for Carlisle Area School District. Dr. Petravage has previously taught for Central Dauphin (PA) and Derry Township (PA) School Districts and Millersville University (PA), Messiah University (PA), George Mason University (VA), and American University (DC).

Dr. Petravage completed her doctorate in choral conducting at George Mason University, and has degrees from the Eastman School of Music (MM Choral Conducting), American University (BA Music and French), and Millersville University (BSE Music Education). She is a Kodály certified instructor through Texas State University and has presented on at state, regional, and national conventions for PMEA, NAfME, VMEA, and OAKE.

Breaking Out of the Mold: Creating a Vocabulary of Conducting Gestures That Work For You
Nathan Reiff
It's all too easy to settle into a default conducting gesture, but often these motions don't convey the information we wish to share with our singers—or worse, they give the wrong message entirely. This session will explore ways that conductors of any experience level can create a basic toolbox of conducting gestures that are effective and precise and that work for them, even if that means extending beyond what many of us rely upon out of habit. Topics to be explored in this interactive session will include when to NOT use a pattern, the power of minimizing a conducting gesture, the many ways to breathe as a conductor, developing awareness of our conducting habits, and strategies for evaluating the effectiveness of your gestural choices.

Dr. Nathan Reiff is director of choirs and lecturer in music at Swarthmore College, having previously held teaching positions at Harvard University and Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He has taught conducting at the undergraduate and graduate levels and maintains a private conducting studio. His work with JourneySongs, a Boston-area hospice choir, and Cambridge Common Voices, a neurodiverse ensemble, has led him to investigate what it means to be an effective, communicative conductor. Reiff holds conducting degrees from the University of Michigan and Yale University.

Program Planning with Pepper
Kelsey Hendler and Jennifer Moorhatch
Meet the people behind the pages of your J.W. Pepper Catalog. Choral editors Jennifer Moorhatch and Kelsey Hendler talk about the services that Pepper provides to choral directors, teach tips and tricks for navigating our website, and demonstrate how to use our resources most effectively. An open and engaging session, attendees can ask questions and interact with the Pepper website on their own device. You won’t want to miss this incredibly practical and helpful session. We are choral directors, and we are here to help you!

A former high school choir director and general music teacher, Kelsey Hendler currently works as a school choral and classroom music editor for J.W. Pepper & Son, Inc. and as a soprano section leader and soloist for Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, NJ. Kelsey earned her bachelor’s degree of Music Education from Penn State University, and her Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University. She serves on the ACDA-PA board as Membership Chair and Secretary and was a recipient of the ACDA-PA Outstanding Young Conductor Award.

Jennifer Moorhatch is the School Choral Editor at J.W. Pepper & Son, Inc. Prior to becoming an editor, Jennifer taught choral, general and instrumental music in various private schools in Pennsylvania for 19 years. In addition to traditional choirs, she also taught several specialty ensembles, such as an a cappella choir, madrigals, chamber music, and handbells, taking her groups on several international tours as well as local appearances. Serving as the head of a local conservatory, she also worked as the musical director and accompanist for numerous music theater productions, while building a large private studio for students of voice and piano. She continues to perform as a soloist and accompanist, and currently works on the staff of the Pennsylvania Girlchoir. Jennifer is active in worship music as well, in both traditional and contemporary formats.

The Adolescent Voice Change
Frank Van Atta
This session will explore the adolescent voice change and provide essential insights for those conducting choirs comprised of singers of any age. Our discussion will focus on understanding the physiological changes occurring during both estrogen- and testosterone-driven puberty which has varying impacts on vocal range, timbre, and control. Practical strategies will be offered for selecting appropriate repertoire, fostering a supportive and encouraging environment, and voicing students by honoring their vocal development while also empowering them to contribute to the ensemble. Through these comprehensive strategies, educators will be best equipped to support their students, promoting healthy vocal habits and maintaining enthusiasm for choral singing during this critical developmental stage.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Frank Van Atta serves as the Director of Choirs at Germantown Academy and Co-Artistic Director of Commonwealth Youthchoirs, comprised of Find Your Instrument!, the Pennsylvania Girlchoir, and the Keystone State Boychoir. Van Atta earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Organ Performance, Voice, and Choral Music Education from the Indiana University and a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from Temple University. Ensembles under his direction have sung across five continents and have collaborated with ensembles such as the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Crossing, the Mendelssohn Choir of Philadelphia, and many others. Frank has taught singers of all ages and experience levels from around the world. He has presented at conferences for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) in the areas of singer engagement, inclusive repertoire, and developing musical literacy.