With the ACDA All- Eastern Conference right around the corner, here is some pertinent information you might need while planning your trip to Providence, Rhode Island:

CONFERENCE HOTEL:

The conference hotel is the Omni (attached to the Rhode Island Convention Center) where the conference will take place. A block is also reserved for our membership at the Graduate Hotel in Providence. Once your registration is completed, the confirmation email will give you access to rooms and rates at both hotels. The rates range from $149 - $179 per night.

Come join our fellow ACDA members from New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York for a drink and appetizers during our time in Providence at the ACDA Eastern Conference!

Congratuations to the following NJ choirs being featured at the ACDA All-Eastern Conference:

Melodies, Roxbury High School: Krista Sweer, Director

Voorhees Choir, Rutgers University: Brandon Williams, Director

Ramjams, Ramsey High School: Matt Wolf, Director

PD session offered by our NJ Elementary & Junior High All-State Choir Coordinator, Kaitlyn Reiser.

Takeaways from the ACDA Children's & Community Youth Choir Conductors' Retreat: Repertoire, Strategies, and More!

Stop by the Google Meet on February 3rd from 10 AM - 11 AM to discuss great repertoire and best practices with Kaitlyn Reiser. One hour of professional development will be offered at the conclusion of the session.

Register for that PD here.

Matthew Lee: High School & Youth Choirs R&R Chair

“Quality, Accessible repertoire” - it’s hard to find things for your large, non-auditioned ensemble that provide some challenge, aren’t too difficult, and also have a meaningful text. Here are a few selections that may check all three of these boxes!

1. Hutia Te Rito - Zachary J. Moore - this piece from the Māori about the Flaxbush plant as a metaphor for society is accessible and makes for a great closer. Your students will fall in love with the lush chords as well as the wholesome message of the text. SATB divisi https://youtu.be/SG-kLv1OxPM?si=K_qjDDi7HliXoXnl
2. I’m Building Me a Home - Anthony Trecek-king — Understated and accessible for groups of all ability levels, this arrangement of a lesser known spiritual delivers a powerful and impactful message. SATB https://youtu.be/909Hh5Csgy4?si=5kO8WvuMatuxSYJ2
3. Apple Tree - Katerina Gimon - Premiered by the Vancouver Youth Choir at the International Choral Symposium last year, this rousing arrangement of an empowering pop song by AURORA challenged students to see the potential in themselves. Features small percussion ensemble, SATB divisi. https://youtu.be/gZt0Zw8Scxk?si=FB0GK9ZpS7OaGos6

Brandon Williams, Treble Choir & SSA R&R Chair

"Body" from Home in Me- Andrea Clearfield

Harmonically rich, wider range

https://youtu.be/Y5FnFTUrunE?si=zSVC8xZzfKHb1Ld-

"Vedro con mio diletto" from Il Giustino- Vivaldi/arr. Brandon Williams

Introduction to the da capo aria, mostly shorter phrases, accessible amount of Italian

https://youtu.be/HmMkJHU-qX0?si=GI13z5ha2o6ZBzJ6

La Violette- arr. Susan Brumfield

unaccompanied, well-crafted harmony, accessible amount of French

https://youtu.be/AreTS8VhtgQ?si=bnncg6zYneOKdn7O

Kahlil Gunther: Community & Professional Choirs R&R Chair

The community choir that I direct has a theme of "To the Stars" for our spring season. We will actually be stargazing together after a rehearsal this spring! Here are three star-themed recommendations from our season.

• First, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, arranged by Daniel Elder. Simple, lovely, nostalgic.
• Next, The Language of the Stars by Katerina Gimon with text by Martha Lavinia Hoffman. Pulsing, quiet energy growing into a majestic choral declaration. Opportunities for soloists. Optional instrumentation. Optional children's choir section.
• Finally, Stars by Kyle Pederson. I absolutely love this piece. If you program it, note that measures 17 to the send are singular "star", not "stars" despite some recordings that are sung otherwise. I asked the composer about this. He writes: "[I] thought that after bringing it down from the cosmic starS to the most particular person/body (star), that perhaps it needed to stay "particular". Backing back out to starS didn't seem the right move."

The NJ-ACDA Board is so excited to have the opportunity to work with you and support our fellow choral educators. If you have any questions, please reach out to us.

Libby Gopal: President, libbymontielgopal@gmail.com

Kason Jackson: President-Elect, kasonkjackson@gmail.com

Dr. John Wilson: Past-President, jwilson@brrsd.k12.nj.us

Patrick Hachey: Treasurer, pghachey@gmail.com

Dr. Stephanie Tubiolo: Inclusivity Chair; Website & Media, stephanie.a.tubiolo@gmail.com

Ally Jurgens, Membership Chair: ajurgens2010@gmail.com

Dr. Brandon Williams: Treble Choir & SSA R&R, bwilliams@mgsa.rutgers.edu

Adam Good: World Music & Culture R&R, ADAM.GOOD@ebnet.org

Dr. Lynnel Joy Jenkins: Children's Choir R&R, LJenkins@WestrickMusic.org

Dr. Chris Thomas: Student Activities (Collegiate) R&R, thomasc@rowan.edu

Dr. G. Preston Wilson: Student Activities (Collegiate) R&R, gpwilson@rider.edu

Madelyn Curtin: A Cappella & Jazz R&R, mcurtin@htsdnj.org

Michael McCormick: High School Festival Chair, mike.mccormick155@gmail.com

Dr. Nicholas McBride: College & University Choirs R&R, mcbriden@tcnj.edu

Sarah A. Michal: Music in Worship R&R, sarahamichal@gmail.com

Matthew Lee: High School Youth R&R, matthew.lee@edison.k12.nj.us

Kahlil Gunther: Community & Professional Choirs R&R, kgunther@salemcc.edu

LIsa Rotondi: Elementary & Middle School Outreach Chair, lrotondi@brrsd.k12.nj.us

Kaitlyn Reiser: Elementary & Junior HS All-State Coordinator, kreiser@spfk12.org

Barbara Retzko: High School Festival Host, barbararetzko@hotmail.com

Lori Lynch: New Teacher Mentoring, lynchla@rowan.edu