Michigan Male Chorus Network
by Matthew Packer
ACDA-Michigan Male Chorus R&R Chair
“Those who wish to sing always find a song.”
― Swedish Proverb
I write this having recently returned from Western Michigan University and the 2017 Fall Conference of the Michigan Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. There was much singing and songs to be found there, as people gathered to celebrate and share the choral art in its many forms. It’s a yearly cup-filling experience for me: being with like-minded people, singing music, listening to others sing, getting ideas for songs to do with my groups, being stretched with new ideas. It’s a joy-filled as well as a song-filled time!
This is my first year serving the ACDA MI Board as the R & R Representative for Male Choruses. I’m particularly passionate about male choruses as I am in my 12th year as Director of The Flint Male Chorus. This group had its beginnings in a Chevrolet factory in Flint in the late 1940’s. A number of the men have been singing with the chorus for 20 and 30 plus years. The chorus is an integral part of their lives. The Flint Male Chorus is a member of the Great Lakes Male Chorus Association that includes six other choruses besides ours—five in Michigan, one in Ohio and one in Indiana.
I share this information with you because one of my goals as Male Chorus Rep is to develop a network of male choruses across the State of Michigan. I would like the network to include all levels: elementary, middle school/junior high, high school, adult community and adult faith-based organizations. To do this, I am asking for your help. If you know of a group that fits into these categories, would you please email me the following information:
Name of the group
School or religious organization with which the group is affiliated (if any)
Name of the Director
Contact Phone Number
Contact Email
Group website (if applicable)
Establishing a network of state-wide male choruses will assist me with a second goal: an ACDA MI sponsored male chorus festival. I have two directions in mind:
Organizing a mass male chorus to sing for an ACDA MI Fall Conference
Organizing a Day of Song bringing groups together to work with a clinician and share their music with each other
Those of you that have read this far, I would like to thank you in advance for your assistance with these two goals. There are numerous boys, youth, and men across Michigan who wish to sing and have songs to share. I’d love to promote opportunities for them to do so!
Dr. Matthew J. Packer
ACDA MI Male Chorus R & R Representative
Director: The Flint Male Chorus
Choral Director: Mott Community College and Mott Middle College, Flint, MI
Director: Fenton United Methodist Church Chancel Choir, Fenton, MI
Music Director: Swartz Creek Center Stage Community Theater, Swartz Creek, MI
Accompanist: Swartz Creek High School Choirs, Swartz Creek, MI
Email: matthew.packer@mcc.edu
Cell: (810) 610-3692
