Two University students, an alumna, and a faculty member recently attended the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Conference in March.
Assistant Professor of Music Felicia Barber, Ph.D.; alumna Stephanie Carvalho ’17, and students Isabel Caraballo and Samuel Tsongalis attended the annual conference in Kansas City, Mo.
“ACDA was a wonderful and inspiring experience,” said Caraballo, a senior music major from Springfield. “I made lots of connections with people around the country, attended beautiful concerts by well-known performers, and learned about what it’s like to be a choral director.”
The conference’s theme was “Legacy and Community.” Events held included performances by national and international choirs, a “Legacy Director’s Chorus” featuring 11 notable conductors, reading sessions, and “A walk through ACDA history” panel.
“It was really great to go and meet people from around the country and across the globe,” said Tsongalis, a sophomore from Worcester, majoring in music. “It was great to see [Dr. Barber] present her work. Having someone who I would consider [to be] a leading researcher in her field teach at Westfield State is an amazing opportunity [by itself].”