All Posts

Congratulations to our New Choir Director of the Year, Brady Gudgel! From his nominators: This person is described as a learner, an innovator, and a servant leader. They are a learner through their demonstration of a reflective teaching pattern where they strive to create singers of diligent practice, skill, and expertise. They consistently try new activities to reach all students. They have been an innovator in their district to help students succeed in new and exciting ways

Congratulations to our Director of the Year, Annette Hovey ! From her nominators: This person has had a career teaching music in smaller communities. In each school, they have built the music program up to a level of excellence. Her nominator has had the opportunity to hear many of this person’s groups perform and the musical selections are always of the highest quality literature. They put beautiful challenging pieces in front of their students and teach them HOW to achieve

Bryan Poyzer  did a wonderful job directing the Middle Level Mixed Honor Choir at the ND-ACDA Conference this past weekend. We appreciate the time, preparation, and care he invested in working with these young singers. Thank you, Bryan, for supporting middle level choral music and for helping students grow in their musicianship and confidence. Thank you to Lexie Birnbaum  and Alyssa Peterson  for their tireless efforts in creating a smooth and successful Honor Choir experienc

Nicky Manlove did a fantastic job leading the Middle Level Treble Honor Choir at the ND-ACDA Conference this past weekend! The ensemble’s beautiful set centered on the theme of home was thoughtfully curated and meaningfully performed. Thank you, Nicky, for your artistry, leadership, and for creating such a powerful musical experience for these young singers. Bravo on a wonderful performance! Thank you to Lexie Birnbaum and Alyssa Peterson for their tireless efforts in crea

Congratulations to Mike Weber  on his outstanding direction of the TTBB Honor Choir and the world premiere of his composition at the ND-ACDA Conference this past weekend! Your dedication, artistry, and leadership continue to inspire singers and audiences alike. We are so proud of the incredible musical experiences you create and the impact you make on choral music in our region. Bravo on this remarkable achievement! Thank you to Christopher Bales  for his organization of this

The holidays are a notoriously busy time for musicians and music professionals, which means a high risk for burnout or symptoms of burnout. We've asked our ND-ACDA Board members for ways they practice self-care during this busy season. Comment with the ways you practice self-care! " Be sure to schedule family time that is free of rehearsals. I like to take some time to bake but try not to leave it all until the last minute. Be careful not to overcommit yourself or your studen

At 9 AM they started coming in. Some excited. Some nervous. Some arriving on buses or school vans. Some dropped off by parents. Some came from K-12 schools with only 50 students, and some came from 7 th grade choirs of 50+. But they all came for the love of singing. That spark is what makes Surround the State in Song such a special festival each year, and this year’s event was no exception. On Saturday, October 11th , NDACDA hosted the annual Surround the State in Song Choral

College and University R&R Chair Melanie Popejoy shares why she believes an ND-ACDA membership is a great choice for any vocal music...

We asked our ND-ACDA Board Members for one or two things they do to get ready for each school year! Here is what they said: " To prepare...