ACDA Convention Miami Heat

The 2007 ACDA National Convention, held in Miami from March 7 – 10, saw choral musicians and educators from across the country gather to share ideas, learn from one another, and celebrate the culture of vocal music.

Attendees enjoyed a program that included performances by eminent choirs and clinics led by distinguished scholars and industry leaders. The main hall at the Miami Beach Convention Center was home to exhibit booths hosted by key service and product providers in the field, as well as the ACDA Wall of Honor, which featured photographs and brief biographies of past leaders in choral music.

While at the busy ACDA Convention, Choral Director spoke with many show-goers on a variety of topics. We asked a handful of our readers to share their thoughts on the same topic – a “Man (or woman) on the Street” report from the Convention floor.

What do you feel is the most significant trend in choral music today?

“It seems that more people are collaborating with performing arts groups.”
Nancy Plum,
American Boychoir
Yardley, Penn.

“Things like ‘American Idol’ are having a significant influence and kids are leaning more towards pop and jazz.”
Rodney Ford
Watson Chapel High School
Pine Bluff, Ark.

“A lot of people are doing 20th and 21st Century music and not doing the classics.”
Boe Hodnefield
Sioux City Community Schools
Sioux City, Iowa

“More young people are involved, first off. Also, the music being written by American composers is awesome.”
Linda Tedford
Messiah College
Grantham, Penn.

“Literature is getting to be too much of the same. Composers are rewriting the same lyrics to the same material. Why can’t we find some more poets? It doesn’t seem like it’d be that difficult.”
Amy Fulmer
Flagler Palm Coast High School
Palm Coast, Fla.

“There are great 20th Century composers out there – you just have to look for them.”
Dr. Robin Lind
Westminster College
New Wilmington, Penn.

“In California, the big trend is all of the struggling choral programs getting cut, left and right. It’s important for those of us who are thriving to fight to keep those endangered programs.”
Julie Dana
Fresno City College
Fresno, Calif.

“I find it’s really important to bridge the gap – to talk to the kids on their own terms. I’ve had tons of rock-band guys and I say, ‘I can help you do that!’ Kids may not be ‘at’ choral music at the beginning, but they’ll get there.”
Melissa Arasi
Cobb County School District
Marietta, Ga.

“A big trend is diversified programming. The world is getting smaller and that’s reflected in the ways choral music is being programmed – and it should be!”
Duane Davis
Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids, Mich.

“There’s increased emphasis on multiculturalism.”
Vaughn Roste
Andrew College
Cuthbert, Ga.