2024 Conference - Southwestern American Choral Director’s Association

2024 SWACDA Conference

Denver, Colorado

Jeffrey Allen Murdock, President

SWACDA 2024: Performing Choirs

Stephen F. Austin State University A Cappella Choir, Michael Murphy
Wichita State University Concert Chorale, Ryan Beeken
Springfield Chamber Chorus, Christopher Brammer
Elus Vocal Ensemble, Taylor Martin
The Woodlands High School Chamber Choir, Patrick Newcomb
A.C. Jones High School Varsity Mixed Choir, Cesar Galaviz
Nixa High School Chamber Singers, Daniel Gutierrez
Timber Creek High School Chamber Choir, Adrian Kirtley
Liberty North High School Chamber Choir, Brian Hartman
Grand Prairie Academy Treble Singers, Joel Duarte
Allen High School Varsity Treble Choir, Kathryn Zetterstrom
MacArthur High School A Cappella Treble, Lauren Davis
Wylie East High School Varsity Tenor-Bass Choir, Nathan Dame
Fort Settlement Middle School Varsity Treble Choir, Kristen Jordon
Young Junior High School (Young Men), Christi Jones
Colorado Children’s Chorale (Tour Choir), Emily Crile

SWACDA 2024: Invited Choirs

Kantorei – Joel Rinsema, director
University of West Indies, Mona University Singers – Franklin E. Halliburton, director
University of Denver Lamont Chorale & The Evans Choir – Catherine Sailer, director
University of Colorado at Denver Lark A Cappella Lark – Ensemble – Erin Hauger, director

SWACDA 2024: Demonstration Choirs

Arvada West High School Vocal Showcase – Taylor Rodgers, director
Cherry Creek High School Meistersingers – Sarah Branton, director
Har-Ber High School Choir – Clint Pianalto & Michael Baker Brown, directors
University of Colorado at Boulder University Choir – Elizabeth Swanson, director

SWACDA 2024: Emersion Day Sessions

Things They Didn’t Teach You in College!
Leila Heil, presenter

Teaching Workshop
Leila Heil, O’Neil Jones, presenters

Why Can’t I Just Teach the Music?
O’Neil Jones, presenter

Repertoire For Any Sized Worship Choir
Jonathan Palant, presenter

Rise, Shine and Give Him the Glory: Gospel Music Workshop
Robert T. Gibson, presenter

Limitless: A Time for Us
Jonathan Palant and Robert T. Gibson, moderators

So What It Is You Say You Do Here? Defending the Role of the Modern Secondary Teacher
Pamela Dawson, William Twymn-George and Jim Henry, presenters

Developing Professionals… Artistically!
Pamela Dawson, William Twymn-George and Jim Henry, presenters

Harmonizing Diversity: Best Practices in Choral Music Education
William Twyman-George, presenter

Sound 101 With Tony Huerta
Tony Huerta, presenter

Using Pop Music to Build Better Singers
Christopher Diaz, Rob Dietz and J.D. Frizzell, presenters

More Than This: A Talk On Expanding Our Horizons Through A Cappella
Christopher Diaz, presenter

Jazz Timbre, Style and Tuning
Jim Graves, presenter

Improvisation
Jim Graves, presenter

Bridging Choral Generations: Embracing Perspectives From Multiple Career Stages
Francis Cathlina and Galen Darrough, presenters

I’m Retired, Now What?
Eph Ehly, presenter

How Do You Spell Retirement? R-E-B-I-R-T-H! That’s How
Margie Camp, Jonathan Owen and Mark Lawley, presenters

Enhancing Choral Excellence Through Roundtable Discussions
Yoojin Muhn, Joshua Oppenheim and Catherine Sailer, presenters

Nurturing Growth Through Mentorship
Yoojin Muhn, Joshua Oppenheim and Catherine Sailer, presenters

Recruiting and Retaining 101
Larry Dunn, presenter

The Boy’s Changing Voice
Larry Dunn, presenter

The Female Adolescent Voice
Larry Dunn, presenter

Meet & Greet & Door Prizes!!
Nick Farr and Rachel Cornett, presenters

Unconference
Nick Farr and Rachel Cornett, presenters

Kids’ Songs True and New
Nick Farr and Rachel Cornett, presenters

SWACDA 2024: Interest Sessions

Choral Music and Storytelling: Building Engagement Through Program Flow
Raul Dominguez & Matthew Myers

General Plenary Session
Betsy Cook Weber

A Place for All: Diverse Perspectives in Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantatas
C. Michael Porter

Limitless Ladies: Take the Limits Off – Women in Choral Music Education
Frances Fonza & Panel

Best Practices in Program Administration for New Choral Directors
Joshua Cheney

Many Gifts: Educating Community and Church Choirs Through Rehearsals
Matthew Caine & Jennifer Adam

Grades are Dumb. Growth Mindset in the Choral Classroom
Clint Pianalto & Michael Baker Brown

Middle School Choral Students – How Do You Motivate Them?
Lynn Brinckmeyer

“Brain Smart” Rehearsals
Stephen Rew

Flexible Fach: Gender-Affirming Vocal Pedagogy through Science-Informed Practices
Stevie Hirner

Anton Bruckner Unknown
Florian Maierl

You Are the Voice Teacher: Teaching Technique and Authenticity of Vocal Production in Choral Singing
Amy Johnston Blosser & C. Andrew Blosser

The Choral Music of Jamaica
O’Neil Jones

Contemporary A Cappella Plenary Session
Rob Dietz

Limitless Connections
Tom Carter

Gospel Plenary Session
Trey McLaughlin

The 4×4 approach: Creative Programming for Secondary Choral Ensembles
McKenna Stenson & Kyra Stahr

Maestro and Muse: A Balancing Act
Clelyn Chapin

Rediscovering Joy: Limitless Possibilities Begin with You
Ryan Board & Jaclyn Normandie

A Tesla Upgrade for Your Choir: Creating a “Self-Driving” Ensemble
Gary Seighman

Developing Black-Belt Choral Musicians: Transferable Lessons and Methods from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Jeffery Wall

First-Generation and First-Time Music Students: Tips for a Successful Transition
Joseph DeSota

Limitless Learning Opportunities for Lifelong Singers
Sheri Cook-Cunningham

Rehearsal by Design
Jordan Cox

Forget Sight Reading, My Kids Can’t Match Pitch! What’ll I Do?
Brian Hartman & Sam Anderson

Think, Listen, Sing! A Skills-Based Approach to Sight-Singing
Michele Henry & Keitha Lucas Hamann

Real Ensemble Culture Building (Ice Breakers Not Included)
Kari Adams

If I Don’t Scat Sing, How Can I Teach It? Strategies to Help Choir Directors Who are New to the Jazz Idiom Demystify Vocal Improvisation
Justin Binek

The Limitless Tour of Global Choral Music
John Petzet & Frank Eychaner

Creating a Culture of Inclusion: Welcoming Singers with Disabilities
Andrew Voth

Gaming the System: Play-Based Approaches to Teaching Music Literacy
Saleel Menon

Documentary – Choral Singing in America
Matt Workman

Creating the Optimal Sound: Voice Matching for the Large Vocal Jazz Ensemble
John Stafford II

Look at ME!! Strategies to Enhance Artistry in Your Conducting Gesture
Phillip Stockton

Supporting Teachers: Success Strategies for America’s Title I Musicians
Katy Green

Like and Subscribe: Fostering Well-Being Through the Choral Rehearsal
David Howard

Cultural Bridges: Developing International Exchanges
Panel: Jen Sengin, Jeffrey Allen Murdock, Ryan Sullivan, Erin Plisco, John McDonald, Meg Stohlmann, Joshua Haberman