The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

American Choral Directors Association selects PV students

Pleasant+Valley+choir+students+prepare+to+attend+the+ACDA+conference+in+Milwaukee.
Rece Vining
Pleasant Valley choir students prepare to attend the ACDA conference in Milwaukee.

The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) has selected 21 Pleasant Valley choir students to attend the association’s regional conference in Milwaukee on March 4 through March 7. The students work with other singers from around the Midwest to develop their music skills. ACDA also provides constructive activities for choral directors.

According to the ACDA website, their primary mission is improving choral education and performance. “ACDA is a nonprofit, professional association of choral conductors that exists to inspire excellence in choral music through education, performance, composition, and advocacy,” the website states. The organization caters choral education from Kindergarten through high school.

ACDA also hosts regional and national conferences for students and teachers. In Milwaukee, both the central and north central regions met for a double regional conference. The conference typically selects around 300 students to attend from 10 states within the two regions. Of these 300 singers from 10 states, Pleasant Valley is represented by 21 students.

Representing around 7% of the total student population attending is a significant accomplishment for Pleasant Valley. Pleasant Valley’s Director of Vocal Music, Meg Byrne, appreciates the effort it takes to be part of such a selective group. “Those selected represent our school and state in the honor choirs, which is a great honor and privilege for the student and the school,” she said.

At the conference, students attend workshops and performances to fully immerse themselves in the choral ambience. Bass singer Ethan Kilcoin admires the atmosphere the conference provides. “I enjoy the community it brings and how cool choral music sounds,” he stated. ACDA provides a way for singers to meet and learn from each other.

The audition process for such a selective conference is thorough. Students send in recordings of two songs, along with scales, in October. In November, the students are notified of the selections and receive music to have ready for the conference. With choral department support, they prepare on their own with their own time.

The American Choral Directors Association hosts regional conferences every other year, but the lessons the students learn hold over far longer. Byrne is eager to see the results from this year’s conference. “They come back from these honor choirs having learned new styles, techniques, and discipline that they then bring back to our choirs at PV,” she stated. The ACDA experience is sure to remain in the minds of the selected Pleasant Valley students.

Leave a Comment
Donate to Spartan Shield
$480
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, Iowa. Your contribution will allow us to purchase needed equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
About the Contributors
Anton Dahm, Copy Editor
Anton Dahm is currently a senior in high school where he demonstrates unwavering Spartan loyalty. He enjoys public service through Civil Air Patrol, where he serves as the Squadron Cadet Commander and search and rescue instructor. Additionally, he is an Eagle Scout from Troop 89. In school, Dahm is involved with concert and jazz band, along with serving as a student ambassador and treasurer for the Model United Nations Club. He also plays football and runs track. Outside of school, Dahm enjoys international travel, outdoor treks and learning about history. Dahm is looking to pursue a degree in systems engineering and serve as an intelligence officer in the Air Force or Central Intelligence Agency. Within the walls of Pleasant Valley, Dahm seeks to spread truth, unite the spartans and stay true to the grey and blue.  
Rece Vining, Lead Editor
Rece Vining, a senior at Pleasant Valley high school, is an avid supporter of the arts, evidenced by his heavy involvement in music. As a bass, he sings in both the Chamber Choir and the Leading Tones jazz choir. In band, he plays the trumpet. Vining also participates in history bowl and tennis. In the warmer months, he can be found practicing on the tennis courts with his choir friends. Outside of school, he enjoys metal detecting and reading biographies. Also possessing an entrepreneurial spirit, he offers his used goods at a discount on his instagram account: @recesellsthings, in which eager customers can find hardcover books, model planes, and rechargeable flashlights. Although he does not yet know where he is going to school next year or what exactly he will be studying, he is certain he will not be majoring in math. Vining is excited to apply his writing skills and unique perspective to the Spartan Shield online.
Donate to Spartan Shield
$480
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

All Spartan Shield Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Activate Search
American Choral Directors Association selects PV students