A Letter from the Editor

Dear Readers,

Tactus wishes you a Happy New Year! It is my hope that this year brings us all greater peace and meaningful connection In the holiday season, we witnessed a resurgence of singers gathering again to make music In Honolulu, barbershop groups, community ensembles, school, professional, and worship choirs worked incredibly hard to bring joy to their audiences Many choirs teamed up with one another to perform in joint concerts, drawing excited audiences from around O'ahu and beyond I hope that this winter season has similarly brought communities in our Western Region closer together

On my way home the other day, I drove past a student driver car The license plate read: "IM TRYIN" Sometimes I catch myself dreading even beginning something because I cannot fully imagine the end product What if I fall short of my own or others' expectations? What is the point if the result doesn't end up being the most amazing, impressive choral endeavor? What if I am not successful enough?

Thing is, we have to start somewhere to get anywhere

This issue features choral powerhouses who all started by first trying something:

For one music therapist, salvaging a microphone from a trashcan and having a love for conversations led to her starting a podcast

For one high school choral retiree, reflecting on her incredible career inspired her to create a resource website

Readers, I hope that you are inspired by our fantastic colleagues featured in this issue as much as I am If I might suggest a takeaway from this issue, it would be to encourage you to keep trying Before you eagerly flip the page, I will leave you with a quote from Dolly Parton

READER'S

DIGEST

If this charge (or just Dolly Parton in general) inspires you to try something, tell me about it! I would love to feature your worthwhile efforts in a future issue

You can email me at tactuseditor@acdawestern org

Aloha, Olivia Arnold Tactus Editor

Hawai'i-ACDA R&R Middle School Chair Hawai'i Music Educators Association Secretary