The Value of ACDA Conferences to the Young Music Major
by Erin Kurtz
ACDA-MI Student Representative (Undergraduate)
This past October I attended my first ACDA Conference at Western Michigan University as a sophomore music major. Being inexperienced in the choir world outside of my high school and college, I did not know exactly what to expect in a mixed environment such as this. To be honest, the word “conference” offered connotations of sitting at a big round table discussing “choir stuff” with adults more educated than me. Even as I sat in meetings with the ACDA Board going over the conference schedule, I had no idea what an “interest session” entailed. I did know that I was responsible for providing pizza to many, many students, something I was certain I could do.
After attending the first interest session of the conference with Dr. André Thomas, the value of being there that weekend became clear to me. I, along with other choral directors and students, was given opportunities to engage in techniques practiced by masters in our field, learn about the music of different cultures, see young conductors working and improving in action, and enjoy performances by people just as passionate as myself. I would describe it as a high school student’s four-year choir career’s worth of experience packed into one weekend.
As a fresh-faced music major, I felt the tendency to be a little one-track minded in my career options. I go to high school, I enjoy high school choir, I become a music education major, I get my degree and become a high school choir director. To many of us, including myself, this seems like a pretty desirable path to take. Attending the conference did not make me stray from this idea, but rather opened up many new possible paths for me. Students at the conference attended a panel of music education graduates, all of whom worked in different fields. I witnessed Josephine Lee, President and Director of the Chicago Children’s Chorus perform with her unbelievable choir of middle to high school kids. I spoke with a young woman who has a degree in music education and is now a theater manager. Seeing success in so many areas that all stemmed from a bachelor’s degree gave me a new perspective on where I could go in the music field. I began to realize that I am still young and working through my program, and there are many options out there for me.
The ACDA-Michigan Conference at Western Michigan University was imbued with something all music enthusiasts strive for: musical excellence and enjoyment. It was a weekend of insightful discoveries, diverse performances, encouragement, connection-making and growth. Choral directors and students alike gathered to learn, meet new people in their field, and come away with new insight that would help their music students and themselves become better musicians and people. Being a young music student at this conference was intimidating, but a necessary step into the greater world of choral directing. I would recommend attending a conference to any future or current music student who is apprehensive. It was and will continue to be a life changing experience. If there’s anything I can do to help any Michigan college students with ACDA, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m here for you!
