Are you ready to explore new horizons at an upcoming conferenceinoneofthemostvibrantcitiesintheSouthwest?
Selecting a city for our Southwestern conferences is a meticulous process that requires extensive planning, organizing, and work As I transitioned into the role of president-elect, I gained a newfound appreciation for the intricaciesinvolvedinthisprocess
HotelsandconventioncenterschargeaFoodandBeverage (F&B) minimum. This amount is not the money that our memberswillspendinthecitywhiletheyareinattendance buttheamountthattheorganizationisexpectedtospendon things such as the honor choir lunches, receptions, allconference dinners, morning coffee, etc The honor choir lunchesaretypicallyaround$35perperson,whilecoffeecould beashighas$90pergallon Wearenotallowedtobring outsidefoodandbeveragesin ThisF&Bisoftenbetween $30,000and$50,000
As we embark on the next two years, I am filled with anticipationfortheexcitingopportunitiesandthepromiseofa truly memorable conference experience that awaits us all! Nestledinavibrant,culturallyrichcity,thiseventpromisesto inspire,connect,andempoweryou.Don’tmissyourchancetobe partofsomethingextraordinary joinus foranunforgettable experience!Beforeturningthepages,seeifyoucanguesswhere we ’regoing-someplacewe’veneverbeenbefore
Best, JonathanOwen,SWACDAPresident
ACDA History
In February 1959, a group of 35 choral conductors from around the United States met in Kansas City, Missouri, during the Music Teachers National Association’s (MTNA) biennial conference. This group created the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and approved its original ten purposes, which still stand largely unmodified today.
The association evolved over its first decade to include divisions modeled after those of the National Association for Music Education (formerly MENC) and state chapters. ACDA was founded to serve the professional needs of all choir directors, and as a result, membership grew steadily from the initial 35 choral directors who attended that meeting to 111 charter members, and later to tens of thousands of members around the world.
From its origin, ACDA has promoted excellence in choral music through its workshops, symposia, choral program exchanges, international efforts, and especially through its conventions. Early conferences were held in conjunction with MENC conventions. Like present-day conferences, they offered reading sessions, interest sessions, panel discussions, and concert sessions.
In 1960, at the first conference held in conjunction with MENC, five choirs performed. By 1971, the Association had matured to the point where it could offer its own independent conference. That conference took place in Kansas City, Missouri, at the Muehlebach Hotel, the same site as the first organizing meeting. The first international choirs performed at the 1973 conference, also held in Kansas City, Missouri, and by 1977, conference attendance had grown to the point where dual-track interest sessions were added. The 1980s saw a refinement of the conference system. Performance halls were used instead of ballrooms beginning in 1981. Honor choirs began singing at ACDA conferences in 1983. Again, by the 1990s, conference attendance had grown to a point where dual and triple tracks became necessary. Dual tracks were offered beginning in 1993, and the first triple-track conference followed in 1999. The most elaborate track system was offered in 2005, where conference attendees followed six tracks. In its history, the conferences have been expanded and refined but always with the commitment to improving the experience of choral music excellence and education.
Taken from ACDA.org
ACDA was still a young organization when the first SWACDA conference was held in 1963 at the ChaseParkPlazaHotelinSt.Louis.Thefirstfourconferenceswereheldin“odd”years:63,65,67,and 69. The first independent National Conference (separate from MENC) was held in 1971, and the regional conferences continued in even years from that point forward. Since 1963, there have been thirty-twoconferencesheldinthirteendifferentcitiesinsixstates
HonorChoirConductors
10-11MixedHonorChoir
RolloDilworth
Rollo Dilworth is currently Vice Dean and Professor of Choral Music Education in the Department of Music Education and Therapy at Temple University’s Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts in Philadelphia, PA. He has served on the faculty since 2009. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate level coursesinchoralmusiceducation,DilworthservesasConductorforthe Temple University Singing Owls Campus/Community Chorus, as Artistic Director for Singing City, and as Conductor for the School DistrictofPhiladelphiaHighSchoolAll-CityChorus
Over 200 of Dilworth’s choral compositions and arrangements have been published, and many are part of the Henry Leck Creating Artistry Choral Series with the Hal Leonard Corporation He is an active clinician and frequent guest conductor of all-state, honors, festival, community,churchandprofessionalchoirs Hehasresearched,lectured, andpresentedextensivelyonvarioustopicsincludingAfricanAmerican choral music, composing/arranging for choirs, social justice, social emotional learning, cultural appropriation, urban music education, communityengagement,anddiversity,equity,andinclusion.
Dilworth serves on the national boards of Chorus America, the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO), andthePresserFoundation;heisanactivelifememberoftheAmericanChoralDirectorsAssociation(ACDA).He alsoholdsmembershipswithseveralotherorganizations,includingtheNationalAssociationforMusicEducation (NAfME), the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM) and the American Society of Composers, Authors,andPublishers(ASCAP).
Christine Helferich Guter is a jazz vocalist and studio singer in the Los Angelesarea. She has a multitude of studio credits and has sung on dozens of Hollywood soundtracks including Disney’s “Wish,” Hocus Pocus 2, Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, Mulan, Star Wars Rogue One, Sing!, Ready PlayerOne,StarTrekBeyond,TheJungleBook,JurassicWorld,DespicableMe2, MeninBlack3,andSpiderman3.Shehassungorrecordedwithlegendssuchas Bobby McFerrin, Joe Williams, Maynard Ferguson, Barry Manilow, Danny Elfman,ClareFischer2+2Ensemble,DonShelton,andmore
An extraordinary educator, Christine is active internationally as a lecturer, adjudicator,andclinician,andhasconductednumerousAll-StateJazzandHonor Choirs. Christine is a member of the California Alliance for Jazz (CAJ), the Jazz Education Network (JEN), the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). She has served on the boardofACDAWesternDivisionandtheCaliforniaChoralDirectorsAssociation asVocalJazzChair.SheisproudtobeontheboardforJazz Education Abroad and is the jazz voice instructor for the Thailand Jazz Workshop She also worksasateachingartistontheImagineeringCampusatDisneyland
In 2018, Christine received the prestigious “Jazz Education Achievement Award” from DownBeat Magazine, for herworkasajazzeducator.SheiscurrentlytheDirectorofVocalJazzattheBobColeConservatoryofMusicat California State University Long Beach where she teaches private jazz voice lessons, vocal styles classes, class jazzpiano,jazztheory,anddirectstheuniversity’saward-winningvocaljazzensemble,PacificStandardTime.
Recipient of the President’s Award from the California Music Educators Associationhonoring"extraordinaryaccomplishmentsinmusiceducation," Dr. Jonathan Talberg serves as Director of Choral Activities at California State University Long Beach’s Bob Cole Conservatory, where he is conductor of the international award-winning Bob Cole Conservatory Chamber Choir and the CSULB University Choir. He is also the first Endowed Professor in the CSULB College of the Arts, holding the Frank Pooler Endowed Chair Recent career highlightsincludeleadingtheChamberChoirtofirstplaceattheAustrianSpittal International Choir Festival and winning the "Choir of the World" competition in Wales.Additionally,heandthechoirhaveperformedwithgroupsasdiverseasthe Kronos Quartet, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Pacific Symphony, and the RollingStones.
Apassionateadvocateforchoralmusiceducation,Dr Talbergisregularlyengagedtoconducthonorchoirsacross the US, including numerous all-state choruses, and National Association for Music Education conference choirs His choirs from Long Beach State have performed in venues throughout Europe and Asia, including the Sistine Chapel,St.Peter’sBasilica,andtheGreatHallofthePeopleinChina.
Apast-presidentoftheCaliforniaChoralDirectorsAssociation,heservesasaneditoratPavaneMusicPublishing, where a choral series dedicated to outstanding quality, collegiate-level music is published under his name He taughthighschoolchoralmusicanddramaforfiveyearsbeforemovingintohighereducation
Of the many hats he wears each day, the one he is most proud of is mentor to the next generation of choral musicians. Alumni of the Bob Cole Conservatory Choral Studies program are teaching at elementary, middle and high schools, churches, community colleges and four-year universities throughout the country. Scores of alumni areprofessionalsingers inopera,musicaltheater,choirs,churchmusic,jazzandpop.
BobColeConservatorychoralstudiesgraduatesarecurrentlyearning orhavefinished theirdoctoratesatsome ofthefinestinstitutionsinthecountry,includingtheUniversityofMichigan,theCollege-ConservatoryofMusic at the University of Cincinnati, Indiana University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Iowa, the UniversityofHouston,theUniversityofSouthernCaliforniaandUCLA
Dr TalbergreceivedhisBMinChoralConductingfromChapmanUniversity,wherehereceivedtheOutstanding Alumnus in the Arts award in 2014 He earned his MM and DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and completed a post-doctoral fellowship with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops, and the May Festival Chorus. His conducting teachers include Roger Wagner,WilliamHall,EarlRivers,JohnLemanandElmerThomas.
Gary Packwood is a distinguished figure recognized for his inspirational and motivational contributions as a conductor, pedagogue, author, and lecturer. His influence has reached audiences across North and South America, Europe,andAsia,showcasinghisglobalimpactintherealmofmusiceducation
Dr.Packwood'sextensiveteachingcareerspansover30years,markedbynotable engagementsconductingall-stateandhonorchoirsin40,aswellasleadinglarge festival choirs across the United States. Other noteworthy conducting appearances include 4 performances at Carnegie Hall (2 juried and 2 invited); American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Regional Conference Conductor forNorthwest,Eastern,Midwestern,andSouthwestern;TheWhiteHouse;6with the Federal Universities of Campina Grande, Piaui, and Uberlandia; serving as “Headliner” for ACDA conferences in Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana,SouthDakota,Alabama,Kentucky, Arkansas,andSouthCarolina;and residenciesatBerryCollege,SoutheasternLouisianaUniversity,SultanIdris,
Education University (Perak, Malaysia), Aswana Conservatory of Music (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), East Tennessee State University, Rowan University, Northern Colorado University, University of West Florida, and FederalUniversitiesinCampinaGrandeandPiaui(Brazil).Hisleadershipasthedirectorofchoralstudieshasleft anindeliblemarkonschoolsinAlabama,Louisiana,Florida,andMississippi,andhismentorshiphastouchedthe lives of hundreds of his own students and “non-students” alike, who contact him almost daily for music, career, andlifeadvice
In addition to his prowess as a conductor and educator, Dr. Packwood is an active composer with a notable presenceinthechoralmusicscene.Hiscompositionsandseriescanbefoundwithreputablepublisherssuchas GentryPublications,SantaBarbaraMusic,AllianceMusic,andMusicSpoke.Hisdedicationtoadvancingthefield is further evident in his written contributions, including articles in the Choral Journal, Teaching Music, the 2nd Edition of the AmeriGrove Dictionary, and book chapters in GIA's Conducting Men's Choirs and Hal Leonard's ChoralReflections:InsightsfromAmericanChoralConductor-Teachers.
AlifetimememberoftheACDA(AmericanChoralDirectorsAssociation),Dr Packwoodhasservedinleadership roles, including the presidency of the Southern Region of the ACDA This attests to his commitment to the professionaldevelopmentandadvancementofchoralmusiconaregionalandnationallevel.
Originally from Baton Rouge, Gary Packwood commenced his teaching career with general music for K-5th gradesbeforeachievingsuccessasahighschoolchoraldirectorinthePalmBeachSchoolDistrict(FL).Whilenot retired, Dr. Packwood recently returned to his hometown, where he continues to lead an active career as a conductor, clinician, composer, author, and educational consultant. His enduring impact on the world of choral musicresonatesthroughhismultifacetedcontributionsandunwaveringcommitmenttomusicalexcellence.
7th-9thGradeSoprano/AltoHonorChoir
ElizabethNúñez
Elizabeth Núñez is a conductor, clinician and speaker, soloist, and Creative Director of the award-winning Young People’s Chorus of New York City. Since joining YPC in 2004, she has played a significant role in fostering key YPC programs as well as providing vision for new initiatives. As a conductor she has led YPC choruses in highly acclaimed andwidely-viewedperformancesinNewYorkCity,onnationaltelevision, and abroad. In addition to her work at YPC, Elizabeth leads performances and workshops for regional and national conferences. She has conducted numerous All-State Honor Choirs, the 2016 OAKE National Children’s Honor Choir, and led YPC as a featured choir at the 2020 ACDA Eastern RegionalConference.ElizabethistheFoundingArtisticDirectorofthe
Intergenerational SoHarmoniums Women’s Choir In 2014, she also created WIT: Women Inspiring Tomorrow,athrivingmentoringprogramthatbringsYPC’shighschoolgirlstogetherwithitsalumnaeand accomplished women across varying professions She is one of the inaugural members of the acclaimed CHIEF women ’ s membership networking which supports and connects women executive leaders ElizabethreceivedaMasterofMusicEducationfromtheUniversityofOklahomaandaBachelorofMusic EducationfromLeeUniversity,whereshewasawardedthe2017SchoolofMusic’sDistinguishedAlumnus Award for her commitment to “changing the lives of America’s youth” She is a professional singer who continuestoperformasasoloist SheisamemberoftheChorusAmericaBoardofDirectors
Dr. Elizabeth Hogan knows no greater joy than helping her students reachtheirfullestpotentialashumansandasmusicians.She's done so inavarietyofsettingswithineducationandnon-profitsectorswithstudents fromage5to85.
Elizabeth is a community builder by nature; her 8-year-old self kept lists of her friends and found joy in making connections well before social media! Now, she puts those natural interest to use in creating spaces for folks to meet,shareideasandrefinetheircraft,whetherinthemusicstudio,insacred spaces or in the classroom In 2021, Elizabeth founded Elevated Harmonics Studio,aspacewheresheoffersmusiclessons, professional development,
and educator coaching, and explores the nexus of her passion for living well, making music and supporting educators SheistheArtisticDirectorofBelCantoWomen’sChorusinSt Louis,MO,andsingsinmirabai,a professional women ’ s ensemble. Elizabeth serves as the Director of Gathering Kids at the Gathering United MethodistChurch,amulti-sitecongregationinSt.Louis.
Dr. Hogan previously served as Assistant Professor of Music Education at Southeast Missouri State University,guidingpeoplethroughtheprocessoflearningtobemusiceducatorswhoseteachingwasrooted in philosophy and sparked by creativity. She has led various choral ensembles at Washington University in St.Louis,WebsterUniversityandtheUniversityofMissouri.Herworkinthenon-profitsphere,astheformer Executive Director of the St Louis Christmas Carols Association and Deputy Director of the St Louis Children’sChoirs,honedherskillinpartnership,communitydevelopmentandgrantsmanagement
Dr.HoganholdsaPh.D.inLearning,TeachingandCurriculumfromtheUniversityofMissouriandaMaster ofMusicinChoralConductingfromMichiganStateUniversity.Shecompletedher200hrCYTYogaTeacher TrainingthroughYogaPipelineandEmpoweredSpacesinearly2022.TheonlyjobElizabethlovesmorethan teaching and making music is being mom to Ellie and Ava (two little firecrackers who keep life interesting, purposefulandjoy-filled).
A native of St. Petersburg, Elena Sharkova holds a graduate degree in conducting from the famed Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory. She began her career as a professional ensemble singer and traveled extensively before moving to the U.S in 1993 since then has gained an international reputation as a versatile conductor and clinician, music educator,lecturer,andworkshopleader.
Ms.Sharkovaisinher26thyearasthechorusmasterforSymphonySan Joseandhaspreparedoverfiftymajorworksfordistinguishedconductors such as George Cleve, Carlos Vieu, Jane Glover, Gregory Vajda, Tatsuya Shimono, William Boughton, and others Each season she leads the orchestra, chorus and soloists in a program of major works and conducts theannualChristmasattheCaliforniafamilyconcerts.
Elena has been Artistic Director of the award-winning Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley since 2004 Under her leadership the organization has grown from 80 to 250 singers, performed at the 2019 ACDA National Convention, won two gold medals at international competitions (2016 and 2019), toured eighteen countries, made three solo appearances in Carnegie Hall, and released its first professionally recordedCDMusicDowninMySoul.
Elena’s recent conducting engagements have been with the Britain’s foremost professional choir the BBC Singers in Glasgow and London, Miami-based GRAMMY-nominated Seraphic Fire (2024, 2018, 2016) GRAMMY Award-winning men ’ s choir Chanticleer, Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble, and the GRAMMYnominated Houston Chamber Choir. She is in demand as a jury member at international choral competitions (10thInterkultur World Choir Games, 15thInternational Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf, 26th Montreux Choral Competition, among others), and has been a guest conductor and clinician at over thirty national, all-state, regional and festival choirs around the world from the US to Japan,Qatar,andAustralia
Ms. Sharkova has conducted on stages of Carnegie Hall, Davies Symphony Hall (San Francisco), Chicago Orchestra Hall, the Kennedy Center (Washington, DC), the Mormon Tabernacle, and in world cultural landmarks such as the Vatican, Notre Dame de Paris, Dublin’s Christ Church Cathedral and Sherborne Abbey,amongothers.
TheSUN.Whenpeoplethinkofthe“southwest”,oneofthefirstthingsistothinkaboutthe sunshine Albuquerque averages 310 days of sun each year and the weather during our conferenceshouldbebeautiful.
TheMOUNTAINS.WhentheSpaniardsarrivedatthecurrentlocationofAlbuquerque,they were met with the sun hitting the nearby mountain range. They named the mountains “Sandia”,whichistheSpanishworkforwatermelon.
The RIVER. Originating in south-central Colorado, the Rio Grande (which is the 5th longest river in the U.S.), runs through the city and then creates the border between Texas and Mexico.
NEWHORIZONS
.Ourthemefor2026is"NewHorizons,"representingourmovetoanew cityandstatefortheSouthwesternconference.We’llexperienceNewHorizonsbothliterally in the vibrant landscape and figuratively through our innovative conference topics and performances.Joinusinexploringfreshperspectivesinmusic,culture,andconnections!
