UNISON - WA ACDA's Online Newsletter
Articles and news
Click here for 2012 Summer Institute Information...>
Summary of WA-ACDA 2011 Summer Institute, Hilary Apfelstadt as headliner
Judy Herrington receives leadership award...>
Justin Wisness the young director award...>
and Eric Banks, outstanding director award...>
WA-ACDAwrapped up its sixteenth annual Summer Institute on July 22nd with the announcement from President Lori Wiest that the session had 210 registered for the three day event held in Kilworth Chapel at the Univ
ersity of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington.
Hilary Apfelstadt headlined the event. Dr. Apfelstadt is the director of choral activities at the University of Toronto. Her gracious manner and super President Lori Wiest remarked, "Whether hearing new information or renewing ideas from the past, Hilary’s workshops were inspirational in the actual integration of those ideas in practical application, not just talking about them."
During the conducting session, held on Thursday evening, four attendees chose to conduct the conference choir and work with Hilary's suggestions for improving. They were Soonja Doyle, a student at WWU, Jason Saunders, Pacific Lutheran University student, Laurie Cappello, who teaches at Cascade High School in Everett, and Katrina Rooney, director of music at Kelly Walsh High School, Casper, WY.
Judy Herrington
Teacher, conductor, composer...the roles are many for J
udy Herrington, this year's winner of WA ACDA's Leadership and Service award. Leora Schwitters, past-
president and treasurer of the association presented the award this year. For Leora's full presentation and to see Judy's response, please visit this page on our site.
Judy and a group from the Tacoma Youth Choirs were in England at the time of the presentation.
Justin Wisness
This year's winner of the association's Outstanding Young Choral Director Award went to Justin Wisness. Justin teach
es at Rogers High School in Puyallup. He taught previously at Squalicum High School in Bellingham. Justin graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2003.
Eric Banks
Eric Banks, director of the Esoterics from Seattle was awarded this year's Outstanding Choral Director Award. Conductor, composer, professor, vocalist, linguist, and ethnomusicologist, Eric Banks has garnered significant acclaim as one of the most creative choral directors in the United States for his unwavering commitment to new music for unaccompanied voices.
Repertoire and Standards chairs selected outstanding presenters who led reading sessions in various categories.
For the full schedule showing all presenters, see below.
Outgoing president, Marc A. Hafso (Whitworth University) as well as Lori Wiest, (Washington State University), who took office as president on July 1, both served as leaders in planning what has been described as "a well-oiled machine...this Summer Institute."
Lori and Marc were quick to point out that every board member contributed greatly to the success of the 2011 SI.
A board retreat convened at 2:30 following the conclusion of the Summer Institute on Friday, the 22rd of July. The meeting summarized the 2011 SI and got a good start in planning the 2012 event.
After spending the afternoon in evaluation and planning, the board continued in informal discussion following dinner. They convened in formal discussion on Saturday, July 23rd, meeting from 9 a.m. until noon.
Rod Eichenberger, well known as a "giant" in choral music will be the WA ACDA headliner for 2012. Rod actually began his teaching and conducting career in the state of Washington, including several years a Director of Choral Activities at the University of Washington. Rod also served as president of NW ACDA.
He retired recently from directing choral music at Florida State University, but remains incredibly busy as a presenter and clinician. His work, writing, and videos related to the conducting gesture, are well known world-wide.
Next year's Summer Institute will be held one week later than usual. It will be July 25 to 27, 2012. Again, UPS will host the event. WA ACDA thanks Dr. Keith Ward, head of the music department, for his help and the hospitality of allthe UPS staff. Once again J. W. Pepper of Tacoma got high praise from the board and officers for the work done by Pepper staff on behalf of WA ACDA.
This was the schedule for the 2011 Summer Institute. Click here for PDF with complete schedule...>
WA-ACDA Summer Institute (sponsored by WA-ACDA, University of Puget Sound School of Music, and J. W. Pepper