ACDA-PA presents the 32nd annual Summer Conference for Choral Musicians
August 2-4, 2026 | Lebanon Valley College
We are thrilled to announce the headliners for the ACDA-PA Summer Conference, August 2-4, 2026 at Lebanon Valley College. Dr. Derrick Fox, Professor Music at Michigan State University, will be joining us to provide three keynote sessions and the undergraduate conducting masterclass. Additionally, we will host Servire, a 12-person professional choir that will provide a performance, serve as the clinicians for the Choir for All and service project, and provide a keynote session. This is a conference one you won’t want to miss. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months!
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 professional development workshops across the United States and internationally. His professional workshops focus on assessment in the choral classroom, building classroom community, rehearsal strategies, choral conducting techniques and shape note singing in the African American community. Dr. Fox has held teaching residencies at the Latvian Academy of Music and Syracuse University and led performance tours through Lithuania and Estonia. Dr. Fox conducted the 2019 National ACDA Middle School/Junior High Mixed Honor Choir and traveled to South Africa as a 2019 ACDA International Conductor Exchange Fellow where he led choral workshops and rehearsals in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Potchefstroom. As a baritone soloist, Dr. Fox has collaborated with various organizations; among them are the Arkansas Symphony, Lansing Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Columbia Chorale, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha Symphonic Chorus, University of Missouri, Michigan State University, Webster University and the Espaço Cultural (Brasilia, Brazil). He can be heard singing selections from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess on the compact disc In This Hid Clearing, available on the Naxos Classical Music label. As an author, Dr. Fox has written articles for many organizations and was a contributing author in the Hal Leonard/McGraw Hill choral textbook Voices in Concert. His compositions and arrangements are published by Hal Leonard and Brilee Music. His book, Yes You Can: A Band Director’s Guide to Teaching Choirs is published by Carl Fischer. He launched The Derrick Fox Choral Series with Music Spoke to publish works by and about marginalized and minoritized people. He also partnered with the Country Music Association Foundation to create the Unified Voices for Music Education Initiative which provides learning activities for instrumental and elementary music educators. He is the writer and host of the radio show Reflections of Us, a show focused on amplifying diverse voice in the classical music. Dr. Fox serves on the advisory board for Sounding Spirit, a research lab and publishing initiative of Emory University’s Center for Digital Scholarship, which promotes collaborative engagement with the songbooks that sound America’s musical landscape. |
Servire is a premier professional vocal ensemble renowned for its exceptional artistry and commitment to community engagement. Comprised of highly sought-after vocalists from across the United States, Servire brings together a diverse group of performers, educators, church musicians, composers, vocal scientists, and early music specialists. These talented artists come together in communities across the Southeast, delivering performances that showcase their collective expertise and passion for choral music.
The ensemble's members are selected not only for their extraordinary musical abilities but also for their deep commitment to using music as a force for positive change. Servire’s dynamic concert programs, which have been featured in concert series and conferences throughout the Southeast, bring transformative experiences to audiences through high-level performances and powerful storytelling. In addition to its concert appearances, Servire is dedicated to localized philanthropy through its Sing and Serve Residencies. These residencies partner with local charities and community organizations to support initiatives that foster stronger connections and lasting impact. The ensemble engages communities with benefit concerts, educational outreach, and hands-on service opportunities, raising awareness for local philanthropic needs and inspiring action. With each project, Servire aims to create meaningful relationships between communities, organizations, and individuals, using the power of choral music to bridge divides and inspire positive change. Through its ongoing mission, Servire travels across the country, building connections, spreading joy, and leaving a lasting legacy in every community it serves. |