Considering a Student Chapter? Tips & Ideas

By Emily Chmielewski

When I was a freshman at St. Olaf College, I was an instrumental music education major and still loved choral music. I was of the mindset that if I was going to be the best version of an educator, I needed to continue learning as much as I could about vocal pedagogy and technique in addition to my instrumental classes. The outlet I immediately discovered was St. Olaf’s ACDA Student Chapter, which was in the process of rebuilding. I was extremely fortunate to have been selected as the freshman representative and spent the remainder of my time at St. Olaf on the board of our student chapter. Halfway through college, I switched my major to vocal music ed, and I have never looked back. 

If you are at an institution and do not have an ACDA Student Chapter, let this article be your sign to start one. Below are some ideas to help you get the ball rolling on your campus. 

1. Start small! – No matter the size of your program, even a small gathering of a few friends with the specific purpose of growing as educators and conductors is enough to gauge interest and begin to give your budding student chapter the momentum it needs to move on to new events. Consider advertising to all music education or music majors – you never know where your career or interests will take you. You might get some members whose background surprises you! 
2. Be social! – Your first event does not need to be a speaker or a conference. Plan an informal gathering, a group dinner, or a trip to your local watering hole and allow this time to be purely social – a gathering of people with a shared interest and passion. Check with your Department of Music, they may be willing to help organize or fund this first step. 
3. Check in with a faculty member – Your mentors are your greatest resources. Ask one of the choral conductors on your campus. They may already be affiliated with ACDA. If you are looking to register your student chapter with the National ACDA list of student chapters, both your advisor and your chapter president must be ACDA members.
4. Consider attending events as a group – If you are planning to travel off-campus to an event, bring some friends and call it an outing! The more the merrier. 
5. Consider sponsoring an event – Host a composer, alum, visiting conductor, high school teacher, touring ensemble, or any other person who might have valuable insight to share. In person visits are wonderful but the global network of musicians makes Zoom clinics very easy. Ask broadly! The worst thing someone can say is no! 

Best of luck on your journey! Remember, growth takes time but if you are excited about something, that excitement can be contagious. Feel free to reach out to me, Emily Chmielewski (emchmi@gmail.com), or Jaime Andrews (jandrews@acda-mn.org) for more information, or inquire with National ACDA by emailing: membership@acda.org. 

About the author

Emily Chmielewski teaches music at Holy Family Academy in St. Louis Park, MN. A 2020 graduate of St. Olaf College, Emily is a sacred music enthusiast, working with various choral programs around the Twin Cities in addition to her teaching role and work as a freelance singer.  Emily is an active member of the Church Music Association of America, the American Choral Directors Association, and edits articles for the Minnesota Chapter’s online publication Star of the North. Emily recently presented in a panel on sacred music pedagogy at the National Catholic Education Association’s National Conference.