Winter 2025 Sustainability

Welcome to the Winter 2025 edition of Star of the North, where we continue exploring the vital theme of “sustainability” within our choral community. This issue showcases inspiring stories of connection, growth, and innovation that demonstrate how we sustain and nurture our musical traditions while embracing change and building for the future.

Inside ACDA

Stay updated on key initiatives, events, and accomplishments within ACDA-MN. In this issue, learn about the impact of the IDEA Fund, upcoming Honor Choirs, new communications opportunities, state elections, Summer Dialogue plans, and the 2024 State Conference award recipients.

Scholarship Sketches

Emma Silvestri and Jenna Altonen share their transformative experiences from the Student Conductor Workshop at the ACDA Summer Dialogue Conference. Their stories highlight how the FMC Endowment Fund and Gateway Travel’s support helps sustain the next generation of choral leaders.

Voices from the District

Our Voices from the Districts section offers two compelling perspectives on sustaining our work as choral directors. One piece explores finding inspiration through meaningful connections with colleagues, while another provides valuable insights for directors who are “parties of one” in rural communities, offering practical strategies for maintaining both program quality and personal well-being.

Student Chapter Forum

The UMD Student Chapter Forum demonstrates how ACDA nurtures emerging music educators through community building and professional development.

ACE Inspiration Awards

This issue celebrates two remarkable individuals who have sustained choral excellence in Minnesota for decades. Kerri LeJeune, the Metro East ACE Award recipient, is recognized for her extraordinary collaborative work with the Minnesota Valley Women’s Chorale and numerous other ensembles. Constance Goslar, receiving the Southeast District ACE Award, is honored for her 40+ years of dedication to the Owatonna School District and broader southern Minnesota choral community.

Star Program Spotlight

Bri Bergstrom shares the story of St. Peter’s thriving choral program, where sustainability means creating a safe, inclusive space where student voice and choice matter. The program’s focus on community building and meaningful repertoire selection demonstrates how adapting to student needs can help sustain and grow participation in choral music. Complementing this feature, our Star Program Pick Six selections for both high school and middle school provide directors with tested repertoire choices for their own sustainable programming.

IDEA

Amy Johnson’s interview with Sarina Partridge reveals how the IDEA Fund is supporting innovative approaches to community singing. Partridge’s “Singing the Circle” project for pre- and post-partum parents demonstrates how choral music can sustain wellness and build connection during significant life transitions.

Commissioning Corner

Kim Bowman introduces us to Ralph Johnson and Laurie Richardson Johnson’s new work, “Gifts of the Magi,” commissioned by Magnum Chorum. This collaboration between composer and poet exemplifies how new works sustain and refresh our choral traditions.

Home Sweet Home

Kalle Akkerman’s journey teaching in his home program at Austin High School offers insights into sustaining and adapting a choral program amid community changes. His story reminds us that sustainability often means finding new ways to serve evolving student populations while honoring established traditions.

In Remembrance

We honor the legacies of John Allen Ferguson and Marvel “Dawn” Allan, whose lifelong dedication to choral music and education has helped sustain our art form and inspire generations of musicians.

FMC Endowment Update

The FMC Endowment Fund continues its vital role in sustaining Minnesota’s choral future through scholarships, grants, and program support. Recent awards are helping emerging leaders attend the ACDA National Conference in Dallas, supporting honor choir programs, and funding innovative events like the Tenor-Bass Festival.

From all of us at Star of the North, thank you for your continued dedication to sustaining and growing our vibrant choral community. Together, we’re building a future where the transformative power of choral music remains accessible to all.

Richard Carrick
Managing Editor
Star of the North

About Richard Carrick

Richard Carrick is a conductor, clinician, singer, and educator. He is the Director of Choral Activities at The College of St. Scholastica, conductor of Borealis Chamber Artists, and Director of Music at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Duluth, MN. Additionally, he serves as the Managing Editor of Star of the North, the official publication of the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota. Richard holds a DMA in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington where he studied with Geoffrey Boers and Giselle Wyers. When not making music, Richard can be found on a trail somewhere in the woods, on the golf course, or spending time with his wife and children.