Presenters & Sessions

Keynote: Someone Has Your Voice in Their Head: Connecting Impact to What Comes Next

Robyn Hilger

What if the most important part of our work isn’t what we see on stage, but what walks out of our classrooms and into the world? We’ll reflect on the quiet, lasting impact music educators have in the lives of singers. Through personal story and shared experience, this session invites you to reconnect with the heart of why we do this work, even in challenging times. From that place, we’ll look ahead—considering how we can more intentionally help singers see what’s possible for their lives through music. This is a moment to be reminded: what you do matters, and where it leads can last a lifetime.

Real Dialogue

Bryan Fisher

The choral world is evolving alongside the profound changes shaping our country. While these shifts can feel overwhelming, the rehearsal room and performance stage offer a powerful space for connection and community. In this series of sessions, Bryan Fisher will lead participants through meaningful reflection, open discussions, and shared moments of optimism, fostering a supportive environment for navigating change together.

Rehearsal Revolution: Intentional Strategies for Engaging and Energizing Your Ensemble

Colleen Chester

As directors, one of the keys to sustaining an engaged, focused, and dynamic ensemble lies in our ability to innovate and remain purposeful during our rehearsals. In this session, we will explore practical and effective strategies for building an intentional rehearsal that keeps every musician actively involved. From moving away from autopilot warm-ups to incorporating creative sequencing, we’ll dive into techniques that challenge and motivate all musicians in the room. Attendees will also walk away with tangible tools on how to tackle musical problems in real-time with a collaborative approach that encourages collective problem-solving. We’ll also explore how to bring pop music into the rehearsal as a powerful tool for music literacy and strategies to maximize and transform even the last five minutes of your rehearsal into valuable moments of learning, connection, and fun. Whether you’re looking to energize your singers (and/or yourself!) or manage your time with more precision, this session will provide you with actionable tools to make every moment count.

Guidelines & Resources to Explore the Contributions of MN American Indians in the Secondary Music Ensembles

Michael Buck

License Renewal Session – Addresses the MN American Indian History and Culture re-licensure requirement

This session explores the cultural heritage of MN American Indians, both past and present. We will examine the contributions of MN American Indians as a prerequisite to lesson planning and curriculum development. We will utilize the MN Academic Standards for Arts Education to provide a useful framework for this endeavor, with particular emphasis on the applications of the “Connect 10” anchor standard. We will highlight music-related resources involving the contributions of MN American Indians and provide ideas for lesson plan development using these materials. An extensive bibliography and list of resource links, including materials available through the Perpich Center Library, are included in this session.

Why Music? Resources for Advocacy, Research & Brain Development

Why should students participate in Music? Making music is a lifelong skill that remains an essential part of a well-rounded education. Besides the aesthetic and social benefits of music, the research is clear that music-making supports brain development, having lasting effects on intelligence, cognitive processing and executive function. Music helps develop many 21st century learning skills like critical thinking, creativity, cooperation, that are highly sought after traits by potential employers. Brain imaging research showed that while engaging in music-making, the neural pathways of the brain explode with activity. This session explores the research on music and brain development. We will take a deep dive into reviewing resources for music advocacy and share ways to support students making music as a part of their educational experience.

Musical Literacy in the Choral Classroom

Michael Culloton

We will discuss why musical literacy should be the goal for our students, approaches to teaching literacy, and pressures that keep us from doing it enough – or at all!

State of the State

Mark Johnson

Join Mark Johnson to hear about ACDA-MN’s recent accomplishments, the new strategic plan, and how to get involved.

ACDA Choral Leadership Academy

Abigail Hansen

Hear about the new Leadership Academy offered by ACDA to undergraduate and graduate music majors held during the Midwest Regional ACDA Conference in Milwaukee. The Minnesota representative, Abi Hansen will share her experience in the inaugural cohort. 

Brandon T. Cash

TTBB

Stephanie Tubiolo

SSAA

Mariana Farah

SATB