Candidates for 2023 ACDA President-elect Announced

The candidates running for national president-elect for the term beginning July 1, 2023, have been announced: Pearl Shangkuan and Brian Galante.

Statements

Pearl Shangkuan: “Six months after being sent home suddenly as everything shut down, singing a simple warm up at our first rehearsal back, albeit masked and distanced, caused our emotions to overflow. I asked my students to ‘click save’ that moment; singing in a choir, something we took for granted at times, we now fully know and cherish as essential to the human spirit. We remembered that sense of loss only to regain a greater sense of joy of this most beautiful gift.

“My vision thus begins with remembering, reflecting on, and encouraging us to continue to be guided by our shared core values and mission as music educators: to provide a safe, fair, nurturing environment for our students and singers as we share with them the relevant, life-giving art of choral singing. We have a profound opportunity to live out how a larger community with different perspectives can still listen to, learn from, and live with each other despite the prevalent tensions in our society and world. I would ask that we collectively ‘click save’ memories of what binds us together.

“Since I was completely blown away as a graduate student attending my first national conference, ACDA has been a lifeline for me. I have developed many deep friendships in ACDA over the years. Increasing membership is also vital to my vision. What an incredible resource ACDA can be for many others!

“Recently I finally met in person a younger colleague who initially approached me through an ACDA mentorship initiative. We had Zoomed and emailed over these past two years. What a personal joy to have this opportunity to intentionally walk alongside a next generation conductor, something I believe must be an ongoing initiative in ACDA.

“Unity, recruitment, mentorship: all are possible through our collective efforts.”

Brian Galante: “When I consider the impact that ACDA has had in my career, I am reminded immediately of the warmth and generosity of my mentors, the remarkable efforts of our leadership, at every level, and the opportunities that have allowed me to meet and develop friendships with so many colleagues. I am honored by the nomination to run for national president.

“I firmly believe that ACDA is not an association for our members; it exists of our members. We do not provide mentors for early career conductors: we are the mentors and partners of members who seek the same inspiration and connection that we experienced. And we are all the lifelong learners as we open our eyes and ears to new approaches, different opinions, and thought-provoking expectations.

“This is a significant time for our association: proposed changes in the bylaws seek to produce a new responsive, relevant ACDA, and we are challenged to acknowledge our biases—personal and organizational—as we engage in meaningful conversations about racial, gender, and socioeconomic diversity; repertoire and performance standards; and indeed, our own definitions of musical excellence and artistry.

“As president, I will continue to encourage and expect a spirit of service and openness among all members. At the same time, I will work with the executive director and other leadership to identify short-term strategies that will stabilize our financial resources and engage in strategic planning and prioritization of resources to achieve our collective vision for the successful ACDA of tomorrow.

“We cannot rely on our past successes—whether in education, performance, membership, or conferences—to justify our existence. We must continually seek ways to grow, to reevaluate and, when appropriate, change our approach. This requires a time of introspection and frank conversation, and I look forward to that opportunity with you.”

Biographies

Brian Galante is chair of the Department of Music and Director of Choral Studies at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. During his time at PLU, Galante has conducted Choir of the West, Chorale, University Singers (SA), and Knights Chorus (TB), and taught undergraduate courses in vocal pedagogy, choral repertoire, and rehearsal. Galante received the DMA degree in Choral Conducting from the University of North Texas, and MM and BME degrees from Louisiana State University. Previous choral appointments include Visiting Associate Director of Choral Studies at LSU; Doctoral Teaching Fellow at UNT; Director of Choral Music at Highland Park High School (Dallas, TX); and Director of Choirs at Episcopal High School (Baton Rouge, LA). Choirs under Galante’s direction have offered performances for the 2010 Washington Music Educators Association Conference; the 2011 Northwest MENC Conference; and 2012 and 2022 NW Region ACDA Conferences. He has conducted honor choirs at all levels, and led workshops on conducting pedagogy, voice science, and repertoire. Galante’s compositions are published by Galante Music, Walton, and Colla Voce, and have been performed by choirs worldwide. His works have recorded for commercial release by Delos, Centaur Records, and MSR Classic. He is the recipient of multiple ASCAP Plus awards and a regular composer-in-residence for the Taylor Festival Choir (Charleston, SC). Galante has previously served ACDA as president of Louisiana ACDA (2001-2003), on the National Technology Committee (2007-2011), Honor Choir Performance Site Chair (Oklahoma City, 2009), Northwestern Region Conference Program Chair (Seattle, 2010; Portland, 2018), Transportation Coordinator (Chicago, 2011), Associate Conference Chair (Dallas, 2013), and Northwestern Region President (2018-2020). He is also a member of the American Society for Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO), and the Washington Music Educators Association.

Pearl Shangkuan is Director of Music at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI. She is a highly sought-after conductor, lecturer, and clinician who has led performances and workshops across six continents. Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she is also the chorus director of the Grand Rapids Symphony, a Grammy-nominated professional orchestra. Recently appointed as the editor of Hinshaw Music, Shangkuan also has a signature choral series with earthsongs, and is the music editor of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship choral series published by GIA. In 2014, she was an invited guest lecturer at the World Symposium for Choral Music held in Seoul, South Korea. Dr. Shangkuan has served on the jury of several international choral competitions in Europe and Asia and has led conducting masterclasses for the ACDA national conference, Chorus America conferences, the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois Choral Conducting Symposium, among many institutions and organizations in the United States. She has conducted numerous all-state choirs, ACDA region honor choirs, and choral festivals nationally and internationally, and has headlined several ACDA state and other professional conferences. Upcoming engagements include conducting the SSAA honor choir at the ACDA National Conference, returning to conduct at Carnegie Hall, an international choral festival in Italy and other ACDA conference and festival engagements. She serves on the Board of Directors of Chorus America and has served as president of the ACDA Central Region and Michigan ACDA. She has commissioned and premiered numerous choral works, and her choirs have performed at ACDA national, region, and state conferences. In 2020, she received a Calvin University Award for Excellence in Teaching and previously received the Grand Rapids YWCA Arts Tribute Award. In 2013, Michigan ACDA honored her with the Maynard Klein Choral Award for “artistic excellence and lifetime leadership in choral music.”

The election is scheduled for Jan. 4-31, 2023.