arkansas, colorado, kansas missouri, new mexico oklahoma, texas
From the President’s Pen
R&R Repertoire
It Takes a Village
Membership Monthly
Be Our Guest
Time Capsule
SWACDABoard(2024-2026)
JonathanOwen,President
JoshuaOppenheim,President-elect
JeffreyMurdock,PastPresident
JeffWall,Treasurer
MargieCamp,ConferenceChair
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
As I step into my second year as President of the Southwestern American Choral Directors Association(SWACDA),Idosowithrenewedenergy,deepgratitude,andanevenstrongersenseof purpose. It has been a privilege to serve such a vibrant and dedicated community of choral educators, conductors, and musicians. Over the past year, I’ve been inspired by the passion and innovationI’veseenacrossourregion andIammoreexcitedthaneveraboutwhat’sahead
One of the highlights on the horizon is our upcoming SWACDA Conference in beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico Set against the backdrop of the Sandia Mountains and steeped in the region’s rich artistic and cultural heritage, Albuquerque offers the perfect setting for us to come together, share ideas, and celebrate the power of choral music. This year ’ s conference promises an incrediblelineupofperformances,interestsessions,andopportunitiestoconnectwithoneanother inmeaningfulways.
I’m especially looking forward to meeting new people whether you ’ re a first-time attendee or a long-standing member of SWACDA. These connections are the heart of what we do. Every conversation, collaboration, and shared musical moment strengthens our community and reminds uswhywedothiswork.
As we continue to navigate a changing musical landscape, it’s clear that our strength lies in unity, curiosity, and a shared commitment to excellence in choral artistry. I’m honored to be on this journeywithyou,andIcan’twaittoseewhatwecreatetogetherintheyearahead
Best,
Jonathan Owen SWACDAPresident
2-Year College
Tatiana Taylor
R&R Repertoire
As choral conductors, we often finish one season already thinking about the next round of repertoire. Recently, someone asked me about pieces centered on the themeofnature,andthesetitlesimmediatelycametomind.Perhapsoneofthem willsparkanideaforyouaswell.
Ifyouhaveastrongsopranosoloist,thispieceisanexcellentadditiontoyourprogramSettoapoemby Mary Elizabeth Coleridge, it presents some challenges but offers a valuable opportunity to develop expressivesingingandrefineyourchoraltoneMysingersreallyenjoyedsingingthispiece
KathleenBhathasbeenamemberofACDAfornearly40yearsandaneducatorfor36years.She teaches choir,musicappreciation, musicproduction, dramaclasses,anddirectsthemusicalsatOrchardFarmHigh School in St. Charles, Missouri. In addition to teaching, Kathy serves in leadership roles in several professional organizations: Secretary/Membership Chair for Missouri ACDA Chapter (since 1994); Membership Chair for the Southwestern American Choral Directors Association (since 2018); Conference ProgramBookEditorforMissouriMusicEducatorsAssociation(since2002);andco-editoroftheMissouri School Music Magazine (since 2024). Kathy resides in St. Charles, Missouri and has two adult children, Thomas(composer/accompanist)andMichael(finishingamaster’sinbusiness). Kathyretiredfrompublic schooleducation inMay.
Brian Parrish Audio Engineer
Brian Parrish serves as Director of Choirs at Clayton High School and Director of Music Ministries at Trinity Lutheran Church in Chesterfield, MO. Brian is an active clinician and guest conductor for festivals and honor choirs. His dynamic and engaging style ensures a valuable and memorable experience for his students and audiences Brian served as the director of Choirs at ParkwayWest High School from 20122022 He also conducted the Young Men’s Chorus at The St Louis Children’s Choirs, taught Chorus and Conducting at Maryville University, and served as the Director of Music Ministries at New Hope PresbyterianChurchinSt Charles BrianreceivedaBachelorofMusicEducationfromMillikinUniversity and graduated from University of Missouri with a Master of Music in Choral Conducting Brian is a NationalBoardcertifiedteacher,andwasaquarterfinalistforthe2021GRAMMYMusicEducatorAward.
Jennifer Sengin The BIG SING
Emcee and Coordinator
Jennifer Sengin is the Raymond R. Neevel/Missouri Professor of Choral Music and Director of Choral StudiesattheUniversityofMissouri-KansasCitywheresheleadsthegraduatechoralconductingprogram andconductstheflagshipensemble,ConservatorySingers,andtheChoralUnion.Inadditiontoensembles, Dr. Sengin teaches graduate choral conducting and choral literature. An active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and presenter, Dr. Sengin has conducted honor choirs throughout the country. Future engagementsincludeguestconductingatCarnegieHallandall-stateandhonorchoirsinFlorida,NewYork, California, Mississippi, and Missouri Dr Sengin has presented sessions and served as a panelist at international, national, regional, and state conferences She sings in the award-winning professional ensemble,mirabai
Haveyoueveraskedyourselfthequestion,“Can’twealljustgetalong?”Icertainlyhavebutthetruthisin any organization or ensemble, disagreements, struggles, and conflict will arise just by the sheer fact that groupsarecomposedofindividuals Thequestionthenisnotwhetherconflictwillhappen,thequestionis howcanwebestgoaboutfindingapositiveresolutionsolutiontoconflictwhenitdoesoccur Ratherthan letting anger or frustration fester, it is important that both parties feel comfortable and safe sharing their sideswithoneanother.Insomecases,itmaybeadvisabletohaveaneutralthirdpartyserveasafacilitator andmediator.
Communicate clearly – Take a few deep, slow breaths first to decompress and calm yourself before beginning the conversation. Share what is troubling you, how you feel, and why you feel this way. Focus on the behavior and actions of the person you have a conflict with rather than making it personal.Avoidnamecallingandlabeling.Youcanusestatementssuchas,“whenyousaidordidthis, itmademefeel….”
Listen for understanding – When the other person is sharing their side of the dispute, conflict, or disagreement,befullypresent,breathemindfully,andlistenwiththeintenttounderstandwherethe otherpersoniscomingfrom Thisapproachcanoftenclearthingsupandaconflictcanberesolvedat thisstepifitturnsoutthattheentiresituationwasamisunderstanding Haveanopenmind–Althoughyoumaybeupset,approachtheconversationwithanopenmind.Be willing to be wrong and be willing to apologize. Try to look at the situation with a creative mind to look for a solution. Albert Einstein once said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.” Admitting where we may have overstepped or overreacted can open up channels of communication with the other person and may lead them to consider and share where theymayhavealsobeenatfault.
Findcommonground–Eventhoughyouareexperiencingaconflictwithsomeone,youarestillpartof the same team, organization, or ensemble Reflect on what you do have in common in terms of goals forthegroupandwhyitisimportanttobeabletoworktogetherforthebenefitofthelargermission oftheorganizationandtheothermembers
Craftawin-winsolution–Throughtheprocessofcommunicating,listening,consideringeachother’s pointofview,andfindingcommonground,thefinalstepistocomeupwithasolutionthatisawinwinforbothparties.Theconversationandreflectionwillhopefullyleadtoadeeperunderstandingof one another, a potential apology, and a pathway forward that everyone is satisfied with. Ultimately, ratherthanlookingforsimplyaresolutiontoconflict,weshouldlookforapositivesolution.
Bio: Dr. Matthew Arau, author of Upbeat! Mindset, Mindfulness, and Leadership in Music Education and Beyond and founder of Upbeat Global, is an associate professor of music and the chair of the music education department and symphonic band conductor at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, WisconsinandtheLeadershipEditorforGIAPublications.
