Southwestern The connection
From the President‘s Pen
Past President’s Corner
SWACDABoard(2024-2026)
JonathanOwen,President
JoshuaOppenheim,President-elect
JeffreyMurdock,PastPresident
JeffWall,Treasurer
MargieCamp,ConferenceChair
State of the State - Missouri
R&R Resource
Membership Monthly
Region Presidents
Time Capsule
Children’sandCommunityYouth -NathanWubbena JuniorHigh/MiddleSchool -CristiMiller SeniorHighSchool -SpencerWiley
4-YearCollegeandUniversity -RayvonTJMoore
2-YearCollegeandUniversity-TatianaTaylor
StudentActivity-JenniferSengin CommunityChoirs-AndyWaggoner MusicinWorship-BryanTaylor VocalJazz-BethEnloeFritz ShowChoir-MichaelShimp
WorldMusic&Cultures-EduardoGarcia-Novelli
Tenor/BassChoirs-ReginalWright Soprano/AltoChoirs-TannerOglesby
FromthePresident’sPen
Spring’sPromise:GrowingForwardTogether
As spring unfolds around us, there’s a quiet but unmistakable sense of renewal in the air. Buds begin to open,birdsareatthefeeders,colorreturnstothelandscape,andtheworldfeelsfullofpossibilityagain It’s a season that reminds us not only of change, but of growth In many ways, this mirrors the work we do togetherinSWACDA
With each rehearsal and each performance we foster is a small act of planting seeds of artistry, collaboration, and community. And like any meaningful work, the results don’t always appear overnight. Theytaketime,care,andvision.Butspringremindsusthatgrowthishappening,evenwhenwecan’tyet see its full impact.Whether you are preparing for concerts, closing out a school year, or already dreaming aboutwhatliesahead,thisisamomenttopauseandconsiderwhatyouwanttonurturenext.
Asanorganization,wearedoingthesame.SeedarebeingplantedforthefutureofSWACDA.Theseefforts are not just about the present moment, but about ensuring that what we cultivate today will flourish for years to come. Josh Oppenheim is just starting the planning and dreaming of what his term as president willincludeandaccomplish.
Planning for the future is, in many ways, an act of hope. It asks us to imagine what could be and to take intentionalstepstowardit.InSWACDA,thatmeanscontinuingtoaskimportantquestions: Howcanwebetterserveourmembers? Howcanwecreatemoremeaningfulopportunitiesforcollaboration? Howdoweensurethateveryvoicefeelsvaluedandheard?
So as spring continues to unfold, I encourage you to embrace both the beauty of the present and the promise of what’s ahead. Celebrate the growth you see in your singers. Take pride in the work you ’ ve alreadydone.Anddon’tbeafraidtodreamboldlyaboutwhatcomesnext.
Afterall,everygreatseasonbeginswiththecouragetoplantsomethingnew.
Withgratitudeforallyoudoandallwearebecomingtogether,
JonathanOwen
PastPresident ’sCorner
Stan McGill 2002-2004 - Little Rock
Volunteerism:TheLifebloodofACDA
“Here’stoallvolunteers,thosededicatedpeoplewhobelieveinallworkandnopay.”-RobertOrben “Nobodycandoeverything,buteveryonecandosomething.”-Anon “Nothingliberatesourgreatnesslikethedesiretohelp,thedesiretoserve.”-MarianneWilliamson
My journey volunteering for SWACDA began many years ago when my friend, Glenda Casey, then SWACDA president, asked me to be the program/site chair, and I naively accepted Little did I know that volunteeringwouldbecomeacareerandpersonalhighlightofmylife
Over the past forty years, I have had the privilege to serve the association in many capacities, including President,programandsitechair,sessionpresenter,presider,andTreasurer.Ihaveconductedhonorchoirs, hadmychoirsperformatSWACDAConferences,andevendrivenashuttlebustoandfromconcertvenues. Every experience fueled my desire to contribute more, leaving me eager for the next opportunity. These roleshavehelpedmegrowasaneducator,enhancedmyorganizationalabilities,providedopportunitiesto observe and learn from other directors, and allowed me to build a network with exceptional conductors bothwithinSWACDAandbeyond.Myunderstandingofchoralliteraturehasbroadened,andIhaveforged lifelong friendships and professional connections. Serving required time and effort beyond my personal and professional obligations, but I gained far more than I gave. I am deeply grateful for the enrichment volunteeringhasbroughttomylifeasIsupportedSWACDAanditsmembers.
“Thebestwaytofindyourselfistoloseyourselfintheserviceofothers.”-Gandhi “Therearethreekindsofpeople:Thosewhomakethingshappen,thosewhowatchthingshappen, andthosewhosay,‘whathappened?”-CaseyStengel
As I reflect on the many volunteers who have shaped our association over the decades, I recall those who continually gave of themselves I believe that most would describe their time as an “opportunity” rather than a sacrifice I have had the honor to serve alongside several dedicated individuals There are far too manytolist,butIwouldliketorecognizeafewfortheirlongstandingcommitment:
•JeffSandquist,SWACDAhonorchoirchairandPresident,firstservingin1998
•MatWhitworth,SWACDAsitechairforseveralconferences
•KathyBhat,SWACDAmembershipchair(stillserving!)
•KenGriggs,SWACDAsitechair(stillserving!)
•MargieCamp,SWACDATreasurer,President,andprogramchair(stillserving!)
PastPresident ’sCorner
Stan McGill Continued
TothecurrentSWACDAleadershipboardandthemanymembersservingashonorchoircoordinators,R& R chairs, reading and interest session chairs, registration helpers, site chairs, student volunteers, division oKicers, hospitality chair, state presidents, equipment chairs, presiders, and presenters THANK YOU! Without your efforts, SWACDA would not be able to function as it does. I believe many would agree that volunteeringhasenrichedtheirlives,andtogether,wehavemadeapositiveimpactoncountlessothersas wellasourselves.
“Thosewhocan,do.Thosewhocandomore,volunteer.”-Anon
“Volunteeringisattheverycoreofbeinghuman.Noonehasmadeitthroughlifewithoutsomeone else’shelp.”-HeatherFrenchHenry
With the 2026 SWACDA-Albuquerque Conference now complete, President Joshua Oppenheim will seek volunteers to help lead the association over the next two years I encourage you to consider this opportunitytoenhanceyourcareerwhilemakingadifferencewithinourorganization Bydedicatingyour time,youcanmultiplytheimpactofyourlife
“Theheartofavolunteerisnevermeasuredinsize,butbythedepthofthecommitmenttomakea differenceinthelivesofothers.”-DeAnnHollis
Best, StanMcGill
SWACDAPresident2002-2004
StateoftheState ChristyElsea MissouriPresident
WhenfirstaskedtoreportonthestateofMissouri’sChoralDirector’sAssociation,myinitialresponsewas, “Great!” I am often like the character Joy from the animated film, Inside Out “Always look on the bright side” is my mantra.There are so many fantastic things going on in Missouri’s choral field. However, after searchingmymindforexactlywhatisgreat,Ifoundmyselfhavingsomesecondthoughts.
Mycolleagueshaveincredibleensemblesfromweeonestostellaradultchoirs Musicisflowingfreelyfrom allpartsofthestate.Myconcern?Thefuture.Therearefewerstrongmusicianschoosingchoraldirectionas aprofession.OurstudentnumbersforMCDAhavediminishedconsiderablyinthelastfewyears.Moreof my colleagues are working post-retirement due to a shortage of young choral directors Colleges and universitiesinourstatehavesmallergraduatingclassesinthechoralfield,aswell
Whatarewetodo?
Ourboardhaswiselytakenthefollowingstepstohelpencourageyoungchoralprofessionals Wehaveyet toseeifthesestepsmakearealdifference,butourhopesarehigh.
1.MCDAmemberssponsormembershipofcollegiateprofessionals.Ourstudentmembershipisamere$15. This is an easy ask of our members The issue we see is that even with free membership, some of our youngerchoralcolleagueshesitatetojoinMCDA,citingtimeandover-commitmentasanissue.
2 OuramazingPresident-Elect,BlakeRichter,hastakentimetovisitwithuniversitystudentstoencourage themtojoinourgreatorganization
3. Derrick Bready, our youth and student activities chair, has taken the time to contact his collegiate colleaguestoencouragemembershipinMCDA
TheseareallwonderfulstepstohelpencouragemembershipinMCDA,butthereal concernisthatthechoralprofessionisnotattractingyoungpeople.Theworkisso rewarding,butoftensochallenging
Missouri Continued
My Mother and Father were both choral directors. My daughter has also entered the field as a young teacher.IwouldbelyingifItoldyouthatIheartilyencouragedhertodoso.Infact,Iaskedhertoconsider otherfieldsthatareadjacenttovocalmusiceducation,justasmyMotherhadaskedofme
Whyaren’tweencouragingouryoungmusicianstocarryonthisbeautifulprofession?Whatcanwedoto help our future? I really hate faculty meetings where questions are asked but no solutions are presented, butIfindmyselfinthepositionofdoingexactlythat
Missouri’sChoralDirectorsarethriving.VocalmusicisaliveandwelltodayintheShowMestate.Let’stake thetimetoconsiderourfutureandinvestinourlife’swork.Choirhaschangedourlivesforthebetter.The risk was so worthwhile Encourage younger people to follow in your footsteps Choir is integral to our society.
R&R Resource
Cristi Miller
JH/MS R&R Chair
SoaringHighinAlbuquerque:AChoralAdventure
I was able to check something off my bucket list at this year ’ s Southwestern American Choral Directors AssociationconferenceinAlbuquerque Itookahotairballoonride!Theviewfromabovewasbreathtaking, but the high I received went far beyond the altitude. That same exhilaration carried through the entire conference, where I was inspired, challenged, and energized by outstanding sessions, magical musicmaking,andmeaningfulconnectionswithfelloweducators.
Attendingthisconferenceasamiddleschool/juniorhighR&RchairwasanexperienceIwillneverforget.I amalwayslookingforwaystogrowasaneducatorandbetterservemystudents.Thisconferencedelivered on every level, professionally, musically, and personally One particularly impactful session was Roger Emerson’s“VoicesinTransition”Whileitfocusedonsingersnavigatingvocalchanges,Emerson’sapproach addressed all middle school singers who struggle when lines feel out of range. He challenged us to think creatively,offeringpracticalstrategiestohelpeverystudentfindconfidenceandsuccess.
Equally inspiring was Rollo Dilworth’s workshop, “Enhancing Audience Engagement Through Aural/Oral Tradition.”We created incredible music simply by listening and repeating. This method not only teaches stylebutalsodeepensunderstandingofthemusicalmessage.Theresultwaspuremagic.
SusanBrumfieldsharedKodály-inspiredteachinginthechoralclassroom.WatchingSusanteachisalways motivating. She makes it look effortless. And in fact, it is easy when using her method. Her approach remindedmethatwiththerightstrategies,everystudentcanachievemusicalsuccesswhileenjoyingthe process
OthersessionsthatenergizedmyteachingincludedFight,Flight,andForteledbyClelyn Chapin,Apollo5,HowCanWeHelp?LearningandConnectionwithVoces8Foundation,and There’sNoPlaceLikeToneledbyHeatherOrr.Eachofferedfreshideasandpracticalstrategies Iwasexcitedtobringbacktomystudents.
R&R Resource
Continued
Thesessionsthemselveswereengagingandrelevant,blendingpracticaltoolswiththoughtfuldiscussions aboutthefutureofchoralmusiceducation.Ileftwithnewinspiration,readytocreatemeaningfulmusical experiencesformystudents
AllofthisandIhaven’teventouchedonthehonorchoirperformances Thesepresentationswerenothing shortofoutstanding Eachensemblebroughtnotonlytechnicalexcellencebutartistryandexpressionthat resonateddeeply Theseweren’tjustconcerts Theywereexperiencesthatstirredemotionandremindedus whywedowhatwedo.
Equally meaningful were the opportunities to connect with colleagues. Whether during sessions, in passing conversations, or over shared meals, the exchange of ideas and encouragement was invaluable. These connections reminded me that while teaching can sometimes feel isolating, we are never alone in thiswork.
I know many times we don’t think we can afford these kinds of ventures. But from everything I learned, you can’t afford not to go. Find a way. Find the time. I want to thank the leadership for bringing such wonderfulworkshopstothemembership.
Jonathan Owen, Margie Camp, and many others worked tirelessly to make this conference possible.Their dedicationensuresthatwecontinuetogrow,learn,andconnectasacommunityofchoraleducators
AsIreturnedhome,Icarriedwithmenotonlynewideasbutarenewedsenseofpurpose Conferenceslike thisreminduswhywechosethisprofessionandwhyitcontinuestomattersodeeply
I am grateful for the opportunity to have attended and to be part of such an incredible community. I look forwardtocontinuingthework,inspiredandenergizedbyallthatAlbuquerquehadtooffer.
R&R Resource
Tatiana Taylor 2-year College Chair
CommunityCollegeChoirIsNotaSmallerUniversityChoirandOtherThingsILearnedLate
Istrolledintomyfirstcommunitycollegerehearsalfreshoutofgraduateschoolexpectingasmallerversion of the university ensembles I knew. What I found instead quietly changed everything I thought I understoodaboutwhatachoircouldbe.ThesearefivelessonsIwishIhadlearnedsooner,andwhichnow guidemyteachingeveryday.
YourEnsembleIsBuiltonAccess,notAuditionPrestige
Community college choirs succeed through inclusion. Students arrive with an extraordinary range of musical backgrounds: some read fluently, some learn entirely by ear, and many are returning to singing after years away from music. I quickly realized that excellence in this setting could not be defined by selectivity,butbygrowth.
Forcommunitycollegestudents,excellenceoftenmeansgainingconfidence,rebuildingskills,preparingfor transfer, or rediscovering a musical identity. That realization forced me to rethink the function of a rehearsal. I had to intentionally scaffold musicianship rather than assume it. Folk songs reinforced tonal patters. Sight-singing appeared in every rehearsal, not as an add-on but as a foundation. Audiation exercisesandtargetedhomeworkhelpedsingersbuildindependenceoutsideofrehearsal.
Mostimportantly,Ilearnedtomeetsingerswheretheywere.Sometimesthatmeantadjustingpacingsono one was left behind; other times it meant building in extra coaching or multiple pathways to learning music.Accessdidnotlowerexpectations;itchangedhowIhelpedstudentsreachthem.
CultureCanMatterMoreThanRepertoire
Rightoutofgraduateschool,Ihadalist(yes,andactuallist)ofeverypieceIwantedtoprogramduringmy first five years of teaching. I envisioned carefully crafted concerts filled with repertoire I admired as a student.WhatIdidnotanticipatewashowlittlerepertoirematteredifstudentsdidnotfeelconnectedto theensembleitself.
I quickly learned that retention was not determined by programming alone, but by whether students felt they belonged. Singers returned day after day because of friendships they formed, the trust built in rehearsal,andthesensethattheirpresencematteredtothegroup.Repertoireinspiredstudents,butculture sustained them. The most important realization was simple: students stayed in choir because they felt necessary.
Continued
R&R Resource 2-year College
AttendanceIsaPedagogicalReality,NotaMoralFailure
Attendance matters. Consistency matters. But at the community college level, life often competes with rehearsal in unavoidable ways. Many students balance jobs, family responsibilities, long commutes, and financial pressures alongside their education. Absences were not signs of disengagement; they were reflections of complex lives. I learned that flexibility wasn’t a compromise of my standards; it had to become part of my pedagogy. Rather than expecting perfect attendance, I began planning rehearsals with fluctuationinmind.
Providing recordings of all vocal parts through our learning platform allowed students to stay connected outsiderehearsal.Peerleadershiphelpedmaintaincontinuitywhensectionswereincomplete,andmodular rehearsalplanningensuredprogressevenwhenensemblebalanceshiftedfromweektoweek Adaptingto these realities did not lower expectations; it created pathways for students to meet them despite the challengestheyfaced
TeachSkillsExplicitly:NeverAssumePriorTraining
Community college choir is often a musical restart for students. Many singers arrive eager but unsure, carrying gaps in training alongside a genuine desire to learn. I quickly realized that skills I once assumed (reading notation, understanding rehearsal language, or practicing independently) needed to be taught explicitly.
Sight-readingbecameadailypractice,carefullyscaffoldedratherthanrushed.Rehearsalsbegantofunction as both ensemble work and voice technique class, with musical literacy woven intentionally into the process. Concepts were introduced gradually and revisited often, allowing students to build confidence alongsidecompetence.
Evensmalladditionshelped.ArecurringLMSfeature,“WhatWasonDr.T’sPlaylist,”connectedlisteningto learningandencouragedmusicalcuriosityoutsiderehearsal.Mostimportantly,Ilearnedtotrustrepetition. Progress did not come from moving faster, but from creating enough opportunities for understanding to takeroot
R&R Resource 2-year College
YourImpactExtendsBeyondMusicMajors
Over time, I realized my role was not only to train future musicians, but to cultivate lifelong singers. Community college choirs welcome returning adults, first-generation college students, and individuals rediscovering music after years away. For many, choir becomes a place of stability, confidence, and belong withinanotherwiseuncertainseasonoflife.
Successwasnolongermeasuredsolelybyperformanceoutcomes,butbystudentswhocontinuedsinging, transferredwithconfidence,orsimplyrediscoveredtheirmusicalidentity.Theensemblebecamemorethan aclass;itbecameacommunitythataffirmedstudentsasmusicians.
As community college directors, we are not simply teaching repertoire or preparing concerts; we are creating access, fostering belonging; and sustaining musical lives. In doing so, we are not just teaching choir Wearebuildingamusicalhome
It has been an honor to serve alongside these incredible people!!!
