2 • CANTATE • VOL. 28, NO. 1 • WINTER 2016 CALIFORNIA ACDA 5 | AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! FROM THE PRESIDENT’S PEN · BY LOU DE LA ROSA 6 | MAKING THE MOST OF MENTORING PAST PRESIDENT’S REPORT · BY LORI MARIE RIOS 7 | “BECAUSE YOU ASKED....” LETTER FROM THE EDITOR · BY ELIZA RUBENSTEIN 8 | THE YEAR OF ROBERT SHAW MEMORIES OF A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME APPRENTICESHIP · BY RONALD KEAN 12 | CREATING CHOIRS THAT WELCOME TRANS* SINGERS BY JANE RAMSEYER MILLER 14 | TALE OF THE TAPE WHAT WE LEARN FROM RECORDING OUR REHEARSALS · BY BUDDY JAMES 17 | SUSTAINABLE COMPOSING THE COMPOSER’S VOICE · BY DALE TRUMBORE 19 | SEEN AND HEARD CA-ACDA MEMBERS IN PICTURES more photos 21 | CASMEC 2016 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS on page 19! PLAN AHEAD FOR CA-ACDA’S NEWEST CONFERENCE 22 | HONOR CHOIR CENTRAL ALL ABOUT CA-ACDA’S REGIONAL AND ALL-STATE HONOR CHOIRS 24 | NEWS AND NOTES HAPPENINGS FROM AROUND THE STATE 26 | REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ELECTIONS MEET THE CANDIDATES 28 | VISION FOR THE FUTURE SCHOLARSHIP FUND DONORS 31 | TOP FIVE: HIGH-SCHOOL CHOIRS BY CHRISTOPHER BORGES 32 | TOP FIVE: MALE CHOIRS BY GAVIN SPENCER LEADING THE WAY CANTATE • VOL. 28, NO. 1 • WINTER 2016 • 3 CANTATE Volume 28, Number 1 Official publication of the California Chapter of the American WHEREAS, Choral Directors’ Association the human spirit is elevated to a broader understanding of itself Eliza Rubenstein, editor through study and performance in [email protected] the aesthetic arts, and WHEREAS, GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS serious cutbacks in funding and We welcome and encourage California ACDA support have steadily eroded state members to contribute articles, announcements, institutions and their programs music and book reviews, job vacancy listings, throughout our country, photographs, and other items of interest to Cantate! BE IT RESOLVED Please send queries and article ideas to that all citizens of the United [email protected]. You are also States actively voice their affirmative welcome to submit completed articles, but please and collective support for necessary note that not all articles received will be published. funding at the local, state, and national Deadlines for publication are as follows: levels of education and government, August 15 (Fall issue); November 1 to ensure the survival of arts programs (Winter issue); March 1 (Spring issue). for this and future generations. The editor reserves the right to edit all submissions. California ACDA members are encouraged to print this ACDA resolution in all programs. ADVERTISING IN CANTATE Please visit our website (WWW.ACDACAL.ORG) or e-mail us at [email protected] for 2016 EVENTS CALENDAR complete information on advertising in Cantate, including rates, deadlines, and graphics specifications. Advertisements are subject to editorial approval. CASMEC (CALIFORNIA ALL-STATE MUSIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE) FEBRUARY 11-14, SAN JOSE On the cover: The Azusa Pacific University Chamber Singers (Dr. Michelle Jensen, director) rehearse with Dr. Charlene Archibeque at the ALL-STATE HONOR CHOIRS conference of the National Collegiate Choral FEBRUARY 11-13, SAN JOSE Organization in Portland, Oregon, in November 2015. Photo by Chase Gilley; used by kind permission of Chase Gilley, ACDA WESTERN-DIVISION CONFERENCE Dr. Mitos Andaya, and NCCO. FEBRUARY 24-27, PASADENA SUmmER CONFERENCE AT ECCO JULY 24-27, OAKHURST 4 • CANTATE • VOL. 28, NO. 1 • WINTER 2016 CALIFORNIA ACDA From The president’s pen: and a happy new year! hings are getting real. It’s 2016, and ductors. I am doing so with the assistance of Twithin just a few weeks, we will have the David Montoya, the State R&S Chair for opportunity to attend two exciting conferences Choral Composition. Many thanks to Magen here in California. I want to give you a glimpse Solomon, Eliza Rubenstein, and Anna Hamre into some of the exciting plans for each. for their suggestions. There will be seven sessions when various The First ACDA State LOU DE LA ROSA IS THE Western-Division composers will be in the Chat Conference at CASMEC area near the Exhibits. Unlike the Buttonhole PRESIDENT OF CALIFORNIA As I have been touting for over a year, this sessions of past conferences, we will have no ACDA AND THE year’s choral track at CASMEC will be dif- sign-up list; all conference attendees are wel- ferent from any past CMEA State Conference come to drop by. There will be 2-4 composers in DIRECTOR OF CHORAL you may have attended. California ACDA the Chat area, including Conference Honorees AND VOCAL STUDIES was solely responsible for choosing the content Emma Lou Diemer and Kirke Mechem. Be and the concert venue for this conference. The sure to check it out! AT WEST VALLEY performing choirs represent some of the finest COLLEGE IN SARATOGA. choirs in the state; the interest sessions have a A note about NCCO strong music-literacy theme, and three of them HE HAS TAUGHT MUSIC IN This past November I attended my first were chosen for inclusion in the curriculum of National Collegiate Choral Organization con- THE SAN JOSE AREA FOR the Choral Leadership Academy. ference in the beautiful city of Portland, and I MORE THAN 30 YEARS, If you have a student participating in one of was proud that 40% of the performing ensem- the five honor choirs, I encourage you not only bles were from California. Congratulations to INCLUDING 13 YEARS AT to attend the All-State Honor Choir perfor- Azusa Pacific University Chamber Singers, LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL, mances on Friday and Saturday, but to attend Michelle Jensen, conductor; Riverside City the conference starting on Thursday. While College Chamber Singers, John Byun, conduc- A VISUAL AND PERFORM- your students are rehearsing, you can take tor; University of Redlands Chapel Singers, ING ARTS SCHOOL. HE HAS advantage of the opportunity to attend interest Nicholle Andrews, conductor; and University sessions and concerts, as well as to observe All- of Southern California Thornton Concert SERVED HIS PEERS THROUGH State rehearsals. Choir, Cristian Grases, conductor. NUMEROUS PROFESSIONAL It all begins at the Fairmont Hotel at 11:00 Congratulations also to Dr. Charlene Thursday morning with our first interest ses- ORGANIZATIONS. LOU FEELS Archibeque, professor emeritus of San José sion. The exhibits open at noon, and our first State University, who was honored for her LUCKY TO BE MARRIED TO concert starts at 1:45 p.m. in the Cathedral contributions to the choral art, and for her MARY AND IS PROUD TO BE Basilica of St. Joseph. Thursday night we’ll trailblazing role as the first woman to earn a enjoy a “hometown” concert featuring the San doctorate in choral conducting. THE FATHER OF CHRISTINE, José State University Choirs and The Choral KATHERINE, AND EMILY. Project, followed by an After-Hours Jazz Postscript Concert in the Fairmont Club Regent. Over Thanksgiving weekend, a good number HE ENJOYS WOODWORK- With most of the choral interest sessions of my Facebook friends posted that well-known ING, LOATHES PLUMBING housed in the Fairmont alongside those of band, status asking for a one-word response to the orchestra, jazz, technology, general music, and REPAIRS, AND IS A DIE-HARD question, “How did we meet?” I found myself music advocacy, we’ll be able to network with answering so many with a single acronym: FAN OF THE 2014 WORLD our colleagues across genres while we celebrate ACDA. An extraordinary number of ACDA the excellence of choral music in California. CHAMPION SAN colleagues have become close, personal friends. Western Division ACDA in Pasadena It is a unique professional association that FRANCISCO GIANTS. affords one the opportunity to make close President Anna Hamre asked me to oversee friends. I encourage you to keep strengthening a project we’re calling Chat with a Composer, those ties at CASMEC and at the Western which will bring together composers and con- Division ACDA Conference. Happy 2016! LEADING THE WAY CANTATE • VOL. 28, NO. 1 • WINTER 2016 • 5 past president’s report: Making the most of mentoring s I approach my 25th year of teaching, • Allow your mentor to take the lead in the AI’m often reminded of how lucky I was to relationship, at least initially. Always act with be mentored by some wonderful, experienced courtesy and respect toward your mentor. choral conductors. I met my first true mentor • Use active listening skills, and don’t fill in the LORI MARIE RIOS IS at Pasadena City College when I was 24. information you think you are hearing. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Twenty-nine years later he is still my mentor; • Be prepared to ask for specific guidance and our relationship has changed, but it continues advice on your goals, plans, and strategic ideas. OF MUSIC AT COLLEGE to be dynamic, collaborative, and reciprocal. The more specific you can be, the easier it will OF THE CANYONS. PRIOR Mentoring is a symbiotic relationship aimed be for your mentor to help you. at career satisfaction for both the mentor and • Ask for feedback. It’s difficult to hear at TO HER APPOINTMENT the mentee. Being a mentor or a mentee can times, but it’s critical to your personal and AT COC, SHE DIRECTED be a rewarding experience both personally and professional growth. Demonstrate that you THE CHORAL PROGRAM professionally. You can improve your leadership are open to new ideas and suggestions. Ask and communication skills, learn new perspec- for specific details to ensure you understand AT LA CAÑADA HIGH tives and ways of thinking, advance your career, specific behaviors. SCHOOL. HER CHOIRS and gain a great sense of personal satisfaction. • Tell your mentor how you prefer to receive ACDA is focusing on mentoring as a way feedback. Don’t be defensive. Appreciate your HAVE APPEARED AT ACDA to assist our membership in finding allies in mentor for being honest with you.