On January 1, 2025, the International Journal of Research In Choral Singing saw a transition of leadership. Patrick Freer ends his service as the Editor of the IJRCS and ACDA welcomes Bryan Nichols as the new Editor.
ACDA thanks Patrick Freer for his unwavering service to the IJRCS. Originally Associate Editor, Freer became the Editor after Steven Demorest passed away in 2019. Since that time, the IJRCS has grown in its scope, content, and impact on our profession under Freer’s leadership. ACDA is grateful for Patrick Freer’s service to the profession and dedication to research in our field.
Welcome Bryan Nichols as Editor of the International Journal of Research in Choral Singing
Bryan E. Nichols is an associate professor and conductor at Penn State University, where he leads the University Choir. He is a life member of the American Choral Directors Association and serves in leadership positions in ACDA and NAfME. He served on the Future Directions Committee for the Kentucky Music Educators Association was the Region 4 Choral Chair. He served ACDA as the Ohio middle level R&R chair; he was the high school R&S Chair for the state of Kentucky, where his choirs performed for the Kentucky Music Educators Association and toured all regions of the country. He served as editor of the Research Report column in the Choral Journal from 2020-2024. Ensembles under his direction have commissioned five works and have given joint performances with ensembles from the Indianapolis Children’s Chorus and the Minnesota Boychoir. Dr. Nichols earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Kentucky, the Master of Music Education from Florida State University, and a PhD from the University of Washington. Most recently, Dr. Nichols served as the Chair of ACDA’s Symposium for Research in Choral Singing held in 2024 in Chicago, IL.
Patrick K. Freer is Professor of Music at Georgia State University where he conducts the Tenor-Bass Choir and directs the masters & doctoral programs in music education. The GSU Tenor-Bass Choir is one of four national finalists for the 2023 American Prize in Choral Performance (large university division) and was selected by audition to perform for the 2023 GA-American Choral Directors Association. The ensemble was a featured choir in 2022’s XIV Corhabana International Choir Festival (Havana, Cuba) and the 2012 national meeting of Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses, Inc.
Dr. Freer has held Visiting Professorships at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg (Austria) and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain). He has been conductor-in-residence conductor for the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra (Colombia). His degrees are from Westminster Choir College and Teachers College-Columbia University. Dr. Freer has guest conducted or presented in 40 states and 30 countries.
Dr. Freer most recently served as the Editor of the International Journal of Research in Choral Singing and former longtime editor of Music Educators Journal. He serves on ACDA’s National Standing Committee for Research and Publications and has chaired all three of ACDA’s International Symposia for Research in Choral Singing. He was elected to three terms as National Chair for NAfME’s Special Research Group on Gender & Sexuality. He also chaired the philosophy sub-group within the task force responding to COVID-19 concerns for the National Collegiate Choral Organization (USA).
Dr. Freer’s research and pedagogical expertise centers on working with boys and their changing voices, from prepubescence to young adulthood. Dr. Freer is a recipient of the Outstanding Senior Faculty Award for Research & Creative Activity in GSU’s College of the Arts.
Have an interest in ACDA’s National Standing Committee for Research and Publications? The committee currently has a call open for new members. You can find the call HERE. The deadline for applications is April 15, 2025.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.