Dr. David Edmonds Named ACDA National Student Activities R&R Chair

The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) has named Dr. David Edmonds its new national Repertoire & Resources (R&R) chair for Student Activities.

Edmonds serves as Director of Choral Activities at the University of Montana. In just four years under his direction, the University of Montana Chamber Chorale was invited to perform for the 2015 NAfME Northwest and 2016 Northwest Region ACDA Conferences—both first-time invitations for the choir. During his tenure at the University of Montana, he has held state and regional leadership roles including Montana R&R Chair for Women’s Choirs and Northwest ACDA Regional R&R Chair for Student Activities.

Before coming to the University of Montana, Dr. Edmonds obtained advanced degrees in conducting from the University of North Texas and Westminster Choir College and taught high school choral music for six years in Iowa and Texas. His original choral works and arrangements have been commissioned and recorded by schools and arts organizations in the United States and Canada and are available through Alliance Music Publications, Inc., Colla Voce Music, and Morningstar Music Publishers.

Dr. Edmonds joins a team of national R&R chairs who are specialists in a variety of areas, including choir types (like high school choirs or community choirs) and repertoire-specific areas (such as contemporary/commercial or vocal jazz). National chairs are selected for their experience and expertise in their particular area. Their leadership duties include collaborating in selecting music that is to be presented in reading sessions at ACDA national conferences, serving on audition panels for choirs that apply to perform at national conferences, and in general providing leadership in their area of expertise.

About ACDA: American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) is made up of approximately 20,000 members who represent more than 1 million singers across the country. ACDA members conduct and teach a range of choirs, including school and university-based choirs, community choral groups, professional ensembles, and music in worship. ACDA’s mission is to inspire excellence in choral music through education, performance, composition, and advocacy.