Inside ACDA-MN

By Bruce Becker

Jamie Andrews (he/him) has over two decades of experience working in the arts, education, and nonprofit administration. He is a founding member of PrimeLife Arts Learning, an on-line platform dedicated to Creative Aging. Previously he served as Development Manager for Lakeshore Players Theatre, and as the Chief Learning Officer at the Minnesota Opera, where he oversaw an extensive array of programs for all ages, including an industry-leading Creative Aging initiative, Music Out Loud, the first opera-based El Sistema-inspired youth program in the US, and the commission of a youth opera The Song Poet, based on the novel by Kao Kalia Yang with music by Joceyln Hagen. Active in arts advocacy, Jamie serves on the board of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.

Jamie started his career in the arts teaching band and choir in Forest Lake and Lester Prairie, Minnesota, after earning a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He also earned a master’s degree in Arts and Cultural Management from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Working as a band and choir teacher early on, I was energized by helping young musicians find their voice. When I moved into an administrative role, I learned that I could share my passion for the arts and education in other ways, beyond the classroom. Working with students of all ages – young children, teens, teachers, and older adults – I continually saw the importance that creativity plays in everyone’s health and well-being.

I am thrilled to be a part of ACDA-MN and to work alongside dedicated professionals who keep seeking new ways to connect students through singing. I am also excited to share my “twin” passions for baseball and Monroe, WI cheese (my hometown).

Welcome New Leaders

The annual ACDA-MN elections yielded the naming of new leaders to the State Board of Directors each assuming their positions on July 1, 2022

We wish to thank the following outgoing board member for his outstanding leadership and service to our organization over the past three years:

Introducing a new three-day modified schedule!

Join us August 3-5 as the ACDA-MN community re-gathers after yet another challenging school year, for the 36th annual Summer Dialogue at St. University in Collegeville. Twelve repertoire and resource sessions featuring newly released titles and relevant classroom resources, along with twelve engaging interest sessions targeting all levels of teaching, have been planned by conference chair and ACDA-MN President Diane Heaney.

Headliners for the event are as follows:  PHOTOS ON ALL

• Ahmed Anzaldua – Directors’ Chorus conductor
• Melanie DeMore – guest conductor of the All-State SATB Choir
• Dwight Jilek – guest conductor of the All-State TB Choir
• Rosephanye Powell – guest conductor of the All-State SA Choir
• Mary Kay Geston – clinician for the annual Student Conductor Workshop
• Anton Armstrong – keynote address

The Wednesday opening day schedule will feature the 12th annual Exhibits Fair with over 40 exhibitors representing undergraduate and graduate schools, tour companies, fundraising and attire specialists, composers, music vendors, community and professional choirs.

The exclusive online Summer Dialogue registration site opens on May 15 with early discount registration rates available until June 15.

Make your summer complete and get ready for the school year…attend Summer Dialogue!

For more information and to register visit:   summerdialoguemn.info

Check your calendars now for the weekend of November 18 & 19, as ACDA-MN makes plans to produce the annual State Conference located at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi.

Over sixteen interest sessions targeting our membership who direct choirs at the elementary, middle school, high school, college/university, church, community and professional levels will be programmed.

Special Conference Festival Events are as follows:

After successfully resuming our state honor choir program during the 2021-22 academic year, , we look forward to the return of these much-anticipated events for 2022-23 in this revised schedule:

• State 9-10 Honor Choirs:  Saturday, February 18, 2023
• State 4-5-6 Honor Choirs:  Saturday, April 29, 2023
• State 7-8 Honor Choirs:  Saturday, May 6, 2023

Guest conductors will be:

• 9-10 SATB:     Merrin Guice Gill, Bethel University
• 9-10 SSAA:     Susan Vollbrecht, College of St. Benedict
• 9-10 TBB:       Derrick Fox, University of Nebraska-Omaha
• 4-5-6 Boys:    Bret Amundson, College of St. Scholastica
• 4-5-6 Girls:    Michelle Gehrz, Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs
• 7-8 CTB:         Garrett Lathe, Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School
• 7-8 SSA:         Michelle Bendett, Northfield Middle School

We wish to acknowledge these “retiring” co-chairs for their outstanding support to our honor choir program over the years.

Assuming leadership positions effective for the 2022-23 school year are these new honor choir co-chairs:

They join the existing honor choir co-chair leadership team as follows:

• 9-10 SATB:      Chad Garrels and Bri Bergstrom
• 9-10 SSAA:      Laura Odden Quaintance and Wendy Suoja
• 9-10 TBB:        Jim Cox and Jonathan Kopplin
• 4-5-6 Boys:     Andrew Parr and Deveny Beaton
• 4-5-6 Girls:     Julie Conzemius and Melanie McIvor
• 7-8 CTB:          Susan Snorek and Matt Kiminski
• 7-8 SSA:          Megan Cox and Katie Irvin

Look for more information about the exciting 2022-23 honor choir season posted via The Weekly Pulse and Star of the North.net Fall issue later this summer.

After several years of faithful service and leadership, ACDA-MN bids farewell and says a special thank you to the following members who have served as Repertoire & Resources (R&R) Chairs:

Among the duties of these dedicated servants was to screen titles for Summer Dialogue reading packets, provide resources for the Pick Six repertoire articles, and provide leadership in developing interest sessions and special performance events for Summer Dialogue and State Conference.

Scholarship applications to attend the ACDA-MN Summer Dialogue are now available at:

https://acda-mn.com/scholarships/summer-dialogue-scholarship/

Scholarships will be awarded in these categories:

• Full (registration and 2 nights of on-campus housing) @ $369
• Partial (registration only) @ $269

Eligibility: 

1. Recent college/university graduate or members in their first two years of teaching
2. Members attending their first Summer Dialogue regardless of years of experience

Application due date is June 1, 2022 

The Advocate for Choral Excellence (ACE) Award is offered annually to Minnesota community citizens who make a difference by their advocacy and support for choral music in their communities.

Since 2008, awards have been presented to administrators, community choral directors, church choir directors, accompanists, piano instructors, school board members, parent booster clubs and organizations, parent volunteers, arts advocates, community organizers, music store vendors, and ACDA colleagues.

Contact your ACDA-MN District Chair for candidates to consider in your geographic area:

• Central          Tim Cayler         caylertim@gmail.com
• Metro East      Amy Jo Cherner     Amy.cherner@district196.org
• Metro West     Chris Larson          chris.larson@wayzataschools.org
• Northeast          Richard Robbins    rrobbins@d.umn.edu
• Northwest          Laura Quaintance    Laura.quaintance@minnesota.edu
• Southeast          Michael Jeffrey    m.jeffrey@pineisland.k12.mn.us
• Southwest       Chad Felton        chadjfelton@gmail.com

Deadline to receive applications is on or before June 1, 2022

In addition, the choirs will perform the world premier of “Home” a new piece commissioned for this event by American composer Rene’ Clausen, former conductor of The Concordia Choir, collaborating with Minnesota poet Brian Newhouse, former Program Director for Classical Minnesota Public Radio.

The Christiansen choral music legacy continues to be a guiding force for ACDA-MN and the endowment fund named in his honor. All proceeds from the event will be used to ensure the vitality of choral music in Minnesota by providing direct financial support to promising Minnesota choral directors and their students wishing to further their training and experience. Since 1996, $304,649 in scholarship funds have been awarded to 543 Minnesota choral directors and their students thanks to the supporters of ACDA-MN and the FMC Endowment Fund.

We wish to especially thank Dr. Peter Durow for his guiding influence and superb leadership in managing the production of Star of the North.net since 2019 and serving on the editorial board since 2018.

Stepping into the leadership role of Managing Editor will be Dr. Richard Carrick from the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth.