ACDA (American Choral Directors' Association) Western Division Conference, March 2026
On March 5th, I had the privilege of attending the Western Division Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in San Jose — my first time back at the conference after many years away, and it reminded me immediately of why I love this work. The Western Division conference brings together choral artists from California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona each year for performances, clinician sessions, workshops, and honor choirs. This year did not disappoint.
One of the highlights was a morning concert featuring the Ragazzi Boys' Chorus of Silicon Valley, Choral Audacity, and the Castro Valley High School Choir. Choral Audacity's set stayed with me long after the applause faded — their repertoire offered a thoughtful look at our country: who we are, where we come from, and what we might yet become. The concert closed with "Heal Our Land" by Oscar Williams, Jr., a piece that drew the entire audience to its feet. It was one of those rare musical moments that feels less like a performance and more like a communal act of hope.
Equally moving was a session led by headliner Melanie DeMore, an Oakland-based "vocal activist" whose program, Songs of Comfort and Celebration, was unlike anything else at the conference. Rather than performing for us, she sang with us — teaching songs by ear, creating space for listening, for healing, and for the kind of spontaneous, unplanned musical connection that reminds you why the human voice is unlike any other instrument. (A video clip is attached).
I also attended a reading session — for those outside the choral world, that's when conductors gather to sight-sing through new music together, which is every bit as joyful and chaotic as it sounds. This session highlighted fresh repertoire from conductors across the western region, with a welcome focus on music for treble choirs. I left with a stack of new ideas and a renewed sense of excitement about programming for next year and beyond.
Coming back to ACDA after so many years was a gift I didn't know I needed. The chance to reconnect with colleagues, to be moved by extraordinary music, to discover new repertoire, and to be reminded — in the most visceral way — of why we sing sent me home more inspired than ever to give my students the rich, meaningful musical experiences they deserve.
