Like any large event, there were challenges. We experienced frustrations with hotel accommodations, including incomplete renovations, inconsistent hot water, and elevator issues. The unexpected restaurant closure at The Clyde and limited nearby food options created real inconvenience for many attendees.We alsolearnedvaluablelessonsaboutpacing,astoomanychoirsinasinglesessionandnotenoughtransition timebetweenconcertsledtocongestionandfatigue.Theseareimportanttakeaways,andtheywilldirectly informhowweplanfutureconferences.
There was a sense of place, a cultural richness, a warmth, and a uniqueness that reminded us why we gather in different cities This conference was a meaningful investment in the New Mexico ACDA community, and it was clear that our presence mattered We strengthened connections in a region that deeplyvalueschoralmusic,andthatimpactwillcontinuelongafterweleft
Therewasalsoapowerfulsenseoftogetherness.
HavingperformancesinFirstUMCcreatedanenvironmentthatfeltlesslikeaconventionandmorelikea shared musical home. Yes, it was warmer than expected, but it was also full of energy, humanity, and connection. We entered and exited through common spaces, we saw one another moved, and we experiencedconcertsnotjustasaudiencemembers,butasacommunity.
Andthentherewasthesinging.
The choirs were outstanding. Twenty-one ensembles brought artistry, preparation, and heart. The honor choirswerenothingshortofinspiring,andtheirperformancesremindeduswhywedothiswork.Standing togetherforthefinalewasamomentthatcapturedtheessenceofNewHorizons,asharedpurpose,shared sound,andsharedjoy.ONEVOICE!!
WealsoexpandedwhataSWACDAconferencecanbe.
The addition of the Wednesday R&R Immersion Day, along with 28 interest sessions, created more opportunitiesforlearning,renewal,andconnection Wasitafullschedule?Absolutely Butitalsoreflected acommitmenttoofferingsomethingmeaningfulforeverychoraleducatorinourregion
Wewerealsoremindedofthebroaderworldaroundus.
Like many cities, Albuquerque has a visible unhoused population. Rather than turning away, our community,througheffortsledbyJonathanPalant,continuedtoengagewithcompassion,sharingmusicin sheltersandreachingbeyondtheconferencewalls.Thisispartofwhoweare.
NewHorizonsisnotjustaname.Itisadirection.
This conference represented a step forward, trying new ideas, embracing a new location, and expanding whatconnectioncanlooklikeinourregion.Noteverythingworkedperfectly,andthat’spartofgrowth.But whatdidhappenwasmeaningful,impactful,anddeeplyhuman.
On a personal note, as this chapter of leadership comes to a close, there is deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve, for the relationships built, and for the shared belief in this choral community. This work continues, and so does the commitment to supporting, connecting, and inspiring one another throughouttheyear.
2.To work to create more connection within our region - visiting summer conferences, utilizing social media more often, sending emails to the states’ members, the first two opening sessions on Wednesdayforfunandconnection
3 To show our members that SWACDA can offer something through the whole year and is not just something that happens every two years for four days Hopefully you have seen some benefit to the articlesanditemssharedinthisnewsletter/magazineoverthepast,almosttwoyears
Last year I had an important convention performance with my university top mixed ensemble, and I experimented with something new and ambitious: we studied and performed a program in nine different languages.We sang in Xhosa, Taiwanese, French, German, Swedish, Quechua, Spanish, Latvian and… yes, alsoEnglish(noLatin,thistime!).Wehadspecificlanguagecoachesforeachoneoftheforeignlanguages: we learned a lot! In addition, that rep represented four different historical periods. It was a LOT indeed! And,inaddition,itwasfuntoo,butitwashard.Yet,alas,Idon’tregretitatall!
Dr.Higdon(thelong-timeandprestigiousorganprofessoratmyuniversity)andIagreedondoingaconcert together of English choral and organ music later this spring It feels strange now Only English? Music of only one country? England? I must confess, I feel a bit of self-guilt, but I also know that I need to give myselfsomegrace.
While there is nothing wrong with either program model, these are, perhaps, special cases In a normal semesterorcompleteacademicyear,wehopefullyfindourselvesselectingvaried,balanced,andenriching repertoire.
Indeed:weallknowthatselectionofrepertoireisalwaysabigadventure.Sometimeswesimplyfallinlove withaparticularwork,andwewanttodoitatallcosts.However,weknowthatwemustalwaysthinkof the strengths of our groups, the needs and wants of our singers (and, especially, also our audiences) and, hence,formulasbecomealwayscomplex
Whereisthebalance?
Ihaveobservedlatelysomegravitationtomusicofourtime,particularlymusicwheretheinkisstillfresh; that is certainly a wonderful thing, because we want to celebrate living composers! In addition, I find it helpful to ask myself some questions: When was the last time we did a German Romantic work? How aboutaRenaissancemotetormadrigal?PerhapsamovementfromaClassicalmass?OraBaroquemaster? Orevenahard-coreearly-to-mid20thcenturywork?Ifmyanswertoanyofthesequestionsis2or3years (ormore),thenIknowIhavesomehomeworktodo.Thoseareclassicquestions,though.Thepointisthat exactlythesamethingappliestomusicofothercultures,andtherearecertainlytoomanytocount.
World Music & Cultures
Howcanwefititall?
Ihavenewsforyou:wecan’tfititall.Notinoneconcert,notinonesemester,notinoneyear.Mostofusin educationalinstitutionsworkinfour-yearcycles,withsomeworkingontwoorthree-yearcycles Ilikethe idea of sitting and giving a little thought to at least three things: the repertoire I am doing this year, the repertoire I taught/conducted last year, and the repertoire I am considering for next year. In that way, I knowIforcemyselftoputallofthatonthetableatonceandexpandmyview.
Crafting meaningful, balanced programs is certainly time consuming, sometimes even exhausting, but surelyalwaysrewarding.Isimplysaytomyself:justgiveitanhonesttry!
That’sallwecando!
Eduardo
R&R Resource Community Choirs Andy Waggoner
HelloFriends!
Atthetimeyou'llbereadingthis,wewillhavejustwrappedupourdivisionconferenceinAlbuquerqueFor those of you who attended, I hope it was a meaningful time of learning, inspiration and invaluable connections.
Inadditiontothebeautifulmusicyoucreate,oneofthethingssupportersloveistosupportyouANDsee theirnameasasupporter!HavinglevelsofgivingwhichareaccessibletoallincomelevelsisimportantMy suggestionistocreatefunnamesforeachlevelandofferperksthatget"better"witheachlevel.Smaller giftscanbenotedintheprogram,mid-levelgivingcouldincludeaconcertticketorarecording(seeabove!) and larger gifts could get reserved seating, reserved parking, artist reception/meet and greet, open rehearsals,etc.Youcouldevenofferaspecialsectionofyourprogramforareabusinessestobelisted. Speakingoflocalbusinesses,theremaybesomecompaniesinyourcommunitywhowouldsponsora reception,coffee/snacks,programprinting,etc.
