Research Report Column Editors Named

Dr. Elizabeth Hern and Dr. Elizabeth Parker have been named as co-editors of the Choral Journal’s Research Report column. They will begin their term on January 1, 2025.

The Research Report column in the Choral Journal  is an avenue for sharing recent research reports and translating them to practice for choral musicians. Inclusive of research of all types, the column editors receive submissions and solicit invited reports to elucidate how research findings can be helpful to choral conductors, educators, and composers. Consistent with ACDA’s goals to: (1) foster and promote significant research in the field of choral music, and to (2) disseminate research, news, and information about choral music, the column amplifies voices of emerging and established researchers.

Dr. Elizabeth (Libby) Hearn is an Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at the University of Mississippi, where she conducts Women’s Glee & University Chorus. She also teaches graduate & undergraduate courses in choral music education, conducting, and qualitative research. Additionally, Libby serves the MidSouth Music Organization as conductor of the Mississippi River Chorale, an adult community choir. 

Before joining the faculty at Ole Miss, Dr. Hearn received a Ph.D. in music education from the University of Alabama. She previously held the position of Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Marian University in Indianapolis. Her career in secondary education began in Alabama, where she successfully taught choral music at Hueytown High School for seven years. 

In addition to teaching & conducting, Libby has presented her research in published journals and at international, national, regional, and state conferences. Her research interests include treble/SA choirs, job mobility in music education, assessment, music teacher education, and ACDA history. She currently serves as president of the Mississippi American Choral Directors Association and co-editor of the Mississippi Music Educators Journal.

Elizabeth Cassidy Parker, PhD, is Professor of Music Education at the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University where she instructs undergraduate choral and general music methods, and graduate research, sociology, and history and philosophy courses.

Prior to her work at Temple University, Elizabeth taught choral and general music education at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, GA. Her research interests include the social, vocal, and philosophical development of adolescent choral musicians and issues of preservice music educator identity. Parker presents her research regularly and is widely published nationally and internationally, including as the sole author of Adolescents on Music published by Oxford University Press. She has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Research in Music Education and the International Journal of Research in Choral Singing, and recently served as Associate Editor of the Journal of Music Teacher Education.

As a PreK-12 educator, Elizabeth held school and community music appointments in New York, Nebraska, and Georgia, specializing in the vocal development of young people through both general and choral music. An active youth choral conductor and clinician, Elizabeth is Co-Artistic Director of Commonwealth Youth Choir, a community choral program that serves 600 singers in the greater Philadelphia area.

Dr. Hern and Dr. Parker follow Dr. Bryan Nicols in this role. Dr. Nichols has served as the column editor since 2020. His term will end on December 31, 2024. ACDA thanks Dr. Nichols for raising the level of scholarship in the field and his service to the publications team and ACDA.