2024 Fall Conference Headliners, Presenters & Featured Performing Choirs

2024 ACDA-MI Fall Conference Headliners

 

Dr. Jabarie Glass

Jabarie Glass is the Associate Director of Choral Studies at the University of South Carolina, where he conducts University Chorus and Gamecock Chorale and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting and choral pedagogy. Glass’s varied conducting experiences have included working with university, secondary, community youth, festival, and church ensembles. Choral organizations under his leadership have been selected to perform at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Southern Region Conference, the Mississippi-ACDA Conference, and the South Carolina Music Educators Association Conference.

Glass is a conductor and collaborator with a deep commitment to excellence in choral artistry. Through imaginative programming, he strives to create compelling concert experiences that resonate with a broad range of human experiences. He is equally dedicated to championing emerging voices in choral music through commissioning and premiering new works. Combining his dedication to artistry and advocacy, Glass is committed to enriching the choral canon with diverse and innovative perspectives.

Glass’s scholarship focuses on conducting pedagogy, choral pedagogy, culturally responsive pedagogy, and music literacy. He has given guest lectures and presentations on these topics with university choral programs, at professional development workshops, and at national, regional and state conferences of the American Choral Directors Association. His article on the intersection of literature selection and choral pedagogy was published in the February 2021 issue of The Choral Journal.

Glass previously served as Director of Choirs at Southaven High School and Middle School, conductor of the Michigan Youth Chamber Singers, as well as the founding conductor of CoroFuente, the tenor-bass chorus of CoroRio, a youth and adult community choral organization for which he currently serves on the board of directors. As a dedicated advocate for student access to quality music education, Glass is passionate about sharing the knowledge gained from his experience working with young musicians with current and future choral practitioners. Furthermore, he continues to invest in the musical growth of young choral artists through clinics with secondary choral programs and conducting honor choruses.

A native Mississippian, Glass earned dual bachelor’s degrees in business management and music education from the University of Mississippi, where he was inducted into the University’s Student Hall of Fame, a university-wide honor bestowed upon only ten seniors annually based on leadership, scholarship, and service. Glass went on to earn a master’s degree in music education from the Florida State University College of Music. He earned a doctoral degree in conducting from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. He pursued additional conducting studies as a conducting fellow with the Chorus America Conducting Academy and the Yale-Norfolk Chamber Music Festival Choral Conducting Workshop.

TTBB HONORS CHOIR

Erich Wangeman

The TTBB Honors Choir will be conducted by Mr. Erich Wangeman who received his B.A. in Music Education and M.A. in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University. He has enjoyed teaching vocal music to middle and high school students for over thirty years alongside incredible colleagues who have been wonderful friends and inspiring educators. Mr. Wangeman has mentored student teachers from Alma College, Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan.  His own students have attended these, as well as many other notable schools of music and several have gone on to careers in music education at the elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels.  Other students of Mr. Wangeman currently perform for opera companies throughout the United States and Europe, as well as in musicals on Broadway.  Choirs under Mr. Wangeman’s direction have earned highest ratings at MSVMA festivals and have performed at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival and the Michigan Music Conference numerous times.  He has had choirs featured at both Regional and National Conventions for the American Choral Directors Association, and his programs have been recognized by receiving prestigious education grants from National Geographic and the Weill Institute at Carnegie Hall. Mr. Wangeman is a nationally recognized choral clinician and the subject of the book, “Swagger, Gentlemanliness, and Brotherhood: Explorations of Lived Experiences In a High School Men’s Chorus” by Andrea Ramsey.  He is frequently asked to present interest-sessions about the developing male voice and building tenor/bass choruses. Mr. Wangeman has been recognized by Haslett Public Schools with an “Inspiration Award” and also during his tenure in Traverse City Public Schools as a Michigan Education Department “Proud Michigan Educator”.  In 2021 he was named “Teacher Of the Year” by the Michigan School Vocal Music Association.  He has served MSVMA as President and he continues to be an active and grateful member of the organization.   Though distinction in performance remains a focus in his teaching, Mr. Wangeman’s greatest joy comes from the traditions built over the years by young people who are dedicated to vocal excellence, musical achievement, and the unique community created when people share their voices in song.

 

FEATURED PERFORMING CHOIRS

 

Steven Lorenz

Ann Arbor Pioneer High School A Cappella Choir
Steven Lorenz, Conductor

Steven Lorenz is director of choirs at Ann Arbor Pioneer High School in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, where he directs five curricular choirs and oversees five extra-curricular choirs. Lorenz is also the music director and conductor of the community tenor-bass chorus, Measure for Measure. During the summer, he serves on the conducting faculty at the Interlochen Arts Camp, directing the Intermediate Voice program for students in grades 7-10. Choirs prepared by Lorenz have appeared at the MSVMA All-State Festival, Michigan Youth Arts Festival, Michigan Music Conference, state and regional conventions of the American Choral Directors Association, and the IMC: The Tenor-Bass Choral Consortium biannual Seminar. On five occasions, the Pioneer High School A Cappella Choir has been named an Outstanding Choir by MSVMA, and featured at the All-State Festival Gala Concert. The Pioneer A Cappella Choir regularly collaborates with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, and was featured in Dr. Jerry Blackstone’s DVD, Did You Hear That? (GIA Publishing, 2015). Lorenz was selected to conduct the MSVMA High School State TTBB Honors Choir (2013 & 2025), and has prepared choruses for the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Flint Symphony Orchestra, and Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings. He currently serves as Vice President of the IMC: The Tenor-Bass Choral Consortium, and has served on the boards of MSVMA, Michigan-ACDA, and the Michigan Music Conference. Lorenz holds degrees from Michigan State University and Carleton College.

 

Dr. Boonenberg

The Concordia Choir – Concordia University
Dr. John Boonenberg, Conductor

John Boonenberg is the Kreft Endowed Chair in Music, Associate Professor of Music, and Director of Choral Activities and Church Music at Concordia University Ann Arbor. He also serves as Director of Music at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, and Music Director of The Boychoir of Ann Arbor. Dr. Boonenberg is a sought-after conductor, vocal coach, and clinician. He has conducted much of the Bach cantata repertoire and has coached opera and art song at several prestigious music festivals, including serving as faculty at the Amalfi Coast Music & Arts Festival in Maiori, Italy. He is also active in his local MTNA chapter and remains committed to music education at all levels. Under the guidance of Dr. Boonenberg, his choral ensembles have consistently won superior ratings and awards at local and national levels, and his collegiate choirs have been recognized by The American Prize. Dr. Boonenberg is also a highly versatile, prize-winning pianist who has performed both nationally and internationally to great acclaim. His awards include the Grand Prize at the 2001 International Bartok-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev Piano Competition, 1st prize in the 2000 Piano Arts National Concerto Competition, 1st prize in the 2007 Poland International Music Festival Piano Competition, as well as first prizes in numerous MTNA and MMTA competitions. He has appeared in solo recital and as concerto soloist in Germany, Poland, Puerto Rico, Czech Republic, Italy, and across the United States. He has participated in festivals including the Internationale Konzertarbeitswochen in Goslar, Germany, the Prague International Piano Masterclasses in the Czech Republic, the Poland International Music Festival in Naleczow, Poland, the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, North Carolina, and the Interlochen Summer Arts Academy. Dr. Boonenberg’s kaleidoscopic musical activities are a direct outgrowth of how he views music itself – as an all-encompassing and joyously complete human endeavor. A passionate collaborative musician, Boonenberg was a founding member of the Amadeus Piano Trio starting at the age of eleven and continuing for many years thereafter. Other special projects have included performances of the complete piano trios of Haydn, complete violin sonatas of Brahms, Messiaen’s monumental Quartet for the End of Time, numerous song cycles of Schubert, Schumann, Vaughan Williams, and many others. He also maintains an active involvement in early music, performing regularly on harpsichord, organ, and fortepiano, and having sung professionally with the celebrated Bach Choir at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in NYC. From 2014-2018, he served as the 39th pianist of the historically acclaimed University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club. Dr. Boonenberg holds degrees from The University of Michigan (BM, DMA) and The Juilliard School (MM). In his spare time, Dr. B. enjoys spending time with his wife Claudia and daughters Nora and Jo, running, and cheering on UM football and Detroit sports teams.

 

Lindsay CieChanski

Ann Arbor Skyline High School A Cappella Choir
Lindsay CieChanski, Conductor

Lindsay CieChanski (Director of Vocal Music, Skyline High School) Mrs. CieChanski is currently the Director of Vocal Music at Skyline High School and is in her 21st year teaching. Mrs. CieChanski graduated from the University of Michigan in 2002 with a dual major in Voice Performance and Choral Music Education and a minor in Music Theory/Musicology and completed her Master’s Degree in Music Education in 2007, also from U of M. Mrs. CieChanski was previously the director at Henry Ford II High School and has directed concerts at Findlay High School and a number of middle schools. In 2022, she conducted the MSVMA High School SSAA State Honors Choir at the Michigan Music Conference. Mrs. CieChanski has led Skyline’s choirs to successful performances at Solo and Ensemble, State Solo and Ensemble, Choral Festival and State Choral Festival, as well as ACDA Michigan Conferences (2015 and 2019) and the Michigan Music Conference’s Choral Hour (2013, 2018, 2020, and 2024). Bel Canto Treble Choir and A Cappella Mixed Choir are frequently featured in performances with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and at Invitational events at UofM, MSU, and EMU. Skyline choirs have participated in performance tours in Italy, Ireland, Austria, Prague, Spain, and they attend a week-long choir camp at Interlochen Center for the Arts each summer. Skyline Blues, Skyline’s competitive A Cappella ensemble, consistently places in the top 3 in their division of ICHSA and earned the First-Runner Up award at ICHSA Finals in 2019. As a performer, she was a member of the select choir “InVoice” under the direction of Dr. Stuart Scott, which performed at the American Choral Directors Association Regional Convention in 2010. Mrs. CieChanski conducted the SSA Choir at Blue Lake in 2013 and was the Co-Director for the Vocal Music Camp at Wolverine Camps in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, she enjoys presenting in and attending state conferences and recently completed her terms on the Executive Board for MSVMA as the Director of Specialized Events. Mrs. CieChanski continues to look forward to new opportunities and experiences for herself and the choirs at Skyline High School and is forever grateful for her family and friends, the community, and choir parents for their continued support.

 

Beyond
Brandon Johnson, Conductor

Beyond is a professional vocal ensemble comprised of distinguished soloists, chamber musicians, and music educators. Established in 2021, the ensemble is dedicated to achieving unparalleled artistic excellence. We seek to inspire audiences and members to embrace creativity and innovation, thereby elevating their daily musical endeavors. Currently, Beyond is actively engaged in multiple recording projects, with anticipated releases in the near future.

Dr. Brandon Johnson

Award-winning teacher, scholar, and conductor Dr. Brandon Johnson is the Founder & Artistic Director of BEYOND, a choral ensemble for professional musicians, and the Director of Choral Activities at Eastern Michigan University.  He is broadly recognized for his work with high school & collegiate singers and has conducted ensembles and taught masterclasses across Europe, Asia, and the United States. 

​​Choirs under his direction have been invited to perform for multiple state and regional American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and National Association for Music Education (NAFME) conferences. He has performed in the most prestigious concert halls across the country, including Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the renowned Carnegie Hall. 

 He has conducted choral ensembles in every facet of the profession and takes pride in pursuing excellence in choral art to enrich and affirm musicians of all ages. Past artistic appointments include The Director of Choral Activities at Houghton College, Interim Associate Director of Choirs at the University of Michigan, the Founder and Artistic Director of the semi-professional vocal ensemble of Vox Lumine, Artistic Director of the Detroit Performing Artists, the Conductor of the Symphonic Choir at the University of Arizona, the Director of Choirs at Duluth East High School and Springfield Public Schools, and multiple sacred music appointments.

 Dr. Johnson’s choral-orchestral training includes study with German conductor Helmuth Rilling and American conductors Neil Varon and Dr. Bruce Chamberlain. In addition to his work with university orchestras at EMU and Houghton, he has received invitations to conduct the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus, Buffalo Choral Artists, Continuo Arts Orchestra of New York, Michigan Sinfonietta, Oregon Bach Festival Chorus and Orchestra, Rochester Oratorio Society, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony, Cordancia, and The Southern Tier Symphony on collaborative projects.

​Respected by his faculty colleagues, he has been awarded multiple teaching and artistic awards. At Eastern Michigan University, he was selected to receive the Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Creative Activity Award, the highest honor the University presents to an individual faculty member. At Houghton College, he was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award and was the first recipient of the first fully endowed chair at Houghton College, the Horne-Blanchard.

PRESENTERS

Ryan R. Fellman
“Adding Strings Subtracting Stress”

This practical session will serve as an introductory guide for the choral conductor seeking to improve their gestural faculties while learning the language required to effectively collaborate with string musicians. Interacting with a curated canon of choral-orchestral repertoire of underappreciated composers throughout history as our canvas, presenters will demonstrate techniques that will enhance creative artistry, understanding of historically informed performance practices, and illustrate the importance of thoughtful and purpose driven score study.

Dr. Ryan R. Fellman

Ryan R. Fellman is a rising leader in the field of conducting and just finished pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from Michigan State University. During this time of study with Drs. Rayl, Reed, and Snow, he was the assistant conductor of University Chorale, Choral Union, Singing Spartans and the Opera Theatre program. Fellman has also taught class voice and choral conducting to undergraduate music education students. Prior to Michigan State, Fellman was at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York studying with Dr. Janet Galván. There he served as co-conductor of the IC Campus Chorus, and assisted with the Treble Chorale, IC Chorus, Madrigal Singers and Ithaca College Choir. Fellman was also selected as one of three finalists in the ACDA East conducting masterclass in Rochester, NY where he worked with Marguerite Brooks and the Hendricks Chapel Choir of Syracuse University. Fellman’s recent scholarship is related to his passion for presenting Latin American choral music in a culturally relevant and historically informed way. His research on the topic of Mexican choral music was most recently seen through the online platform Modern Conducting Academy and as a featured interest session at the 2023 National ACDA conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fellman is in demand as a conductor and clinician having worked with choirs of all mediums in Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Texas and Wisconsin. In 2023 he was selected to participate in the Chorus America Conducting Academy which took place on the campus of Cal State Fullerton. In August of 2022 and 2023, Fellman was a guest conductor with Sinfonietta Memphis.. From 2013-2019, Ryan was a choir director at Oñate High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico. There he tripled the choral program and prioritized collaborations with living choral artists and composers. Fellman’s students participated in singing the world premiere of Z. Randall Stroope’s Carmina Pax at Carnegie Hall and the New Mexico premiere of Tim Takach’s The Longest Nights. In the community, Fellman has held positions as music director of musical theater productions, community choirs, and church choirs. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music Education from Concordia College, in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Mariana Romera Serra
“Beyond the Score: Exploring Columbian Cumbia in Choral Spaces”

Recent efforts toward the expansion of the choral canon have led to an increase in the programming of musics outside of the Western European classical tradition. Despite their vocal nature, some of these musics did not emerge as choral forms, but have had modern choral adaptations throughout their historical transformations. As strides are made in this new direction, we must find ways to honor the full depth of these traditions without diluting their cultural significance, despite our limited resources. This session aims to examine and address the cultural significance of Colombian cumbia, and proposes a pedagogical approach that focuses on engaging participants beyond the score first. Cumbia refers to cultural traditions born in the Caribbean coast of Colombia through a tri-ethnic syncretism of African, Indigenous, and European elements. We will explore and attempt to embody the Black and Indigenous rhythmic components of cumbia through movement and vocal percussion, experience call-and-response singing, and learn “El pescador,” a representative song belonging to the genre. All of this

Mariana Romero Serra

before engaging with musical notation, which is not traditionally part of this musical practice. Following this practical exploration, we will discuss the origins of cumbia, and its transformations as a result of blanqueamiento, or white-washing. Finally, we will discuss the efforts of modern Colombian performers to return to the roots of cumbia and look into a personal case study demonstrating how this is applicable in our own choral spaces. Through experiential learning and discussions around cultural understanding, this session seeks to foster greater appreciation for diverse musical traditions, offering an exciting and transformative approach to music education that expands on traditional Western choral perspectives. The goal is to get to the source of cumbia and honor its richness by engaging with the genre in its original form as closely as possible. Participants will receive all the pedagogical materials presented in the session, and a list of choral repertoire by representative composers and arrangers.

Mariana Romero Serra, a versatile music educator and choral conductor from Caracas, Venezuela, brings a global perspective with international experience in Colombia, Japan, and the US. She’s served as adjudicator and clinician at vocal and choral festivals worldwide, including Tokyo and Michigan. An active arranger, her work was featured at the 2021 VMEA conference. Mariana was awarded a graduate assistantship at Michigan State University, where she is a doctoral student, and serves as conductor of the Treble Glee Club. She holds a BME in Choral Music Education from Florida State University and a MM in Choral Conducting from Michigan State.

 

                                               Alex Gerleman
“Small Steps to Big Rewards”
Methodologies for Making Large Works More Accessible and Meaningful to Today’s Singer

Programming multi-movement works presents a significant task to already overworked conductor-teachers: larger units of music, more collaborative musicians, bigger budget concerns, and greater context needed for singers/audiences. All of these considerations are enough to make the most experienced choral conductors let out a knowing and full exhale… However, on the opposite side of that extra work, many of us have experienced the life-changing musical “mountaintops” that accompany performing large works. A long-term investment in a unified musical idea offers participants more time to live in the music, it’s story, it’s context, and cultivate it’s connection with their own experiences. The interdisciplinary opportunities to dive deeper into world cultures, social issues, human history, and of course the music itself are both exciting and limitless! Through this session, participants will explore the benefits of preparing large choral

Alex Gerleman

works – both concert length (~60 minutes) and mini-majors (15-30 minutes) – for students, conductors, and audiences alike. Participants will gain suggestions for preparing larger units of music, strategies for stretching a budget, resources for finding new and accessible repertoire (diverse voicings, smaller instrumentations, and historically undercelebrated works), and examples of how to implement side-by-side projects that can cultivate greater investment and contextualization in performance for our singers and audiences.

Alex Gerleman is currently pursuing his DMA in Choral Conducting at Michigan State University. At MSU, Alex has been the instructor of record for Applied Conducting Lessons and Voice Class for Instrumental Music Educators, as well as teaching assistant for Singing Spartans, State Singers, and Choral Conducting II. Alex also currently serves as conductor for both the Chancel Choir and Handbell Choir at Okemos Community Church in Okemos, MI. Prior to graduate study, Alex was a choral director at Shakopee High School in Shakopee, Minnesota. At Shakopee, a program with 320 student singers, Alex conducted curricular choirs and chamber groups, vocal directed the fall musical, taught private voice, and co-led an annual Masterworks performance as well as regular European performance tours. As a vocalist, Alex has served as Bass section leader of Magnum Chorum in St. Louis Park, MN, and Assistant Conductor/Bass Section Leader of the WCC Chancel Choir in Wayzata, MN. Alex holds a MM in Choral Conducting from Baylor University and a BM in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College.

 

READING SESSION FACILITATORS

Dr. Bruce Snyder

Bruce Snyder is a veteran musician. He taught choral music in Bloomfield Hills Schools for 35 years and has been a church musician for 50 years.  He values his education, learning under and working with talented mentors and colleagues. He has been active in Michigan where he served the Michigan School Vocal Music Association as district manager, festival host and as part of the executive board.  He is a past president of the MSVMA and has twice directed one of the MSVMA Honors Choirs.  He was named Teacher of the Year in 2008. Bloomfield Hills School honored him with both a Master Teacher and a Distinguished Service award. For six years Bruce was on the Board of the Fellowship of American Baptist Musicians. Responsible for a national conference each summer, he helped the FABM secure clinicians, accompanists, worship leaders, organists, interest sessions, publisher sponsored reading packets and even housing options for those attending the conference. He led the Youth division of this conference and initiated the College age ensemble.   He is active with the Michigan ACDA.  He began by being the registrar for the Divisional ACDA Conference in Kalamazoo many years ago.  For the last 10 years he has been the R & R Chair for Music in Worship on the ACDA-MI Full Board.  Each year he has helped bring in clinicians and presented publisher’s reading packets for the fall conference.  He organized the first-ever Church Honors Choir for the fall conference. In retirement he is active as a clinician, a vocal coach, an accompanist and still serves in his local church.

 

Sean Ivory

Sean Ivory serves as the conductor of the Calvin Alumni Choir and the Calvin Oratorio Society. Since 1992, Mr. Ivory has been the vocal music instructor at Forest Hills Central High School. He is also a collaborative pianist with the Grand Rapids Youth Chorus. He has held positions at St. Cecilia Music Society and the North American Choral Company.

Mr. Ivory attended Northwestern University, Calvin College, and Michigan State University. His choirs have performed at both state and regional conventions for the American Choral Directors Association, and have toured Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, Estonia, Ghana, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Trinidad and Iowa.

Mr. Ivory has an active career as a composer. Collaborative works with long-time writing partner Paul Caldwell have been popular with choirs for many years. As a solo composer, Mr. Ivory has written music for the Sarasota Young Voices, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Grand Rapids Chamber Choir, and the Michigan Choral Commission Consortium, among others. He has written several works for the Calvin Alumni Choir through its commissioning arm, the Laudate Society. His most recent compositions are published by Walton Music, Hinshaw, and earthsongs.