Dear Colleague,
I hope this letter finds you savoring the last sweet moments of summer break before the busy new school year begins. As you plan for the upcoming academic year, please put the Idaho ACDA fall conference on your calendar! This year’s conference is October 3-5, 2024, at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Meridian, Idaho. Our beautiful conference site is located at the intersection of North Five Mile and MacMillan. With BSU Homecoming the same weekend as our conference again this year, the board thought it would be of benefit to our membership to meet a bit outside the craziness of downtown Boise. This year, BSU plays Utah State, so plan NOW and book accommodations early. Consider getting a VRBO or Airbnb with several colleagues. (Boise friends, would you consider kicking the family cat off the guest bed for the weekend and inviting a colleague to stay with you? 😉)
Our headliner this year is Dr. Doreen Rao. Doreen Rao is celebrated internationally for her moving concerts and inspirational teaching. Her pioneering career changed the landscape of music education in America. Linking the standards of performance and the goals of education with the values of diversity and social responsibility, Rao’s seminal work teaching children to sing inspired a generation of conductors and teachers to lead young choirs in schools and communities around the world. In a national tribute presented to her by the American Choral Directors Association, the eminent conductor Robert Shaw wrote: “The world of choral music owes her special thanks. She is preparing our future.” Many of you may be familiar with Dr. Rao’s award-winning Choral Music Experience series of music and educational textbooks, which helped set the standards for quality concert repertoire for music education.
Much more information about Dr. Rao and our Idaho ACDA Fall Conference is available on our website, where we are currently accepting applications for performance choirs and breakout sessions. Applications will be accepted through August 9. Please consider how you might share with your colleagues at the Fall 2024 conference! Go to www.idacda.org to learn about all things relating to the fall conference.
Before I close, I wanted to take a moment to remind you of the myriad of resources offered by ACDA. In addition to our wonderful fall conference and ACDA-sponsored elementary and middle school All-State choirs, Idaho ACDA hosts online discussion group to provide rich discussion and mentorship and keep us connected throughout the year. ACDA’s print publications, including the Choral Journal and ChorTeach, and online resources such as Choral Net, the ACDA Career Center, and ACDA on YouTube provide information, inspiration, and job opportunities throughout the year. Regional and national conferences offer additional professional development opportunities. Finally, there is a rich community available to you through collegiality with other ACDA members.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Serena Jenkins Clark, MM
College of Southern Idaho
Distinguished Professor of Music
Director of Choral Activities
President, ID ACDA
[email protected]