Membership has its perks.
I just love perks, don’t you? And being a member of NJ-ACDA this year DEFINITELY has its perks! Members already have experienced a fabulous summer conference this past August with headliner Z. Randall Stroope that left us energized and full of ideas for the year. We also had the pleasure of attending an excellent Multicultural and Ethnic Music Workshop led by Marion Dolan that left us empowered to delve into music of all cultures with a new perspective.

Looking ahead, there are so many more wonderful opportunities for NJ-ACDA members to gain new ideas, connect with choral colleagues, and offer experiences for your choir members. The Eastern Division Conference is in our own backyard this year. Philadelphia is going to be amazing! Don’t miss out on the fabulous experience that our Eastern Division board has worked so diligently on this past year. We also have our High School Choral Festival which is being held at Rutgers New Brunswick again this year. We also have our Elementary and Middle School Festival this year held at JP Case Middle School in Flemington. And back by popular demand, New Jersey Music Immersion will be offered again for secondary/college choral directors (presenter is Dr. Paul Head of University of Delaware) and elementary/middle school choral directors (presenters from the American Boy Choir School and Princeton Girls Choir). Both reading sessions will be held in Princeton in June. Stay tuned to the website for more details!

At our first board meeting, we discussed how we as NJ-ACDA can help our members become better advocates for their programs. We have ideas both big and small to help choral directors keep choral music alive in their area. These ideas will come to you through articles, e-mails, and workshops.

We also compared stories about how we became a member of ACDA and what keeps us coming back. So many people were personally invited by colleagues. We hope you will speak up for ACDA and make your choral friends aware of all the great opportunities your membership has afforded you to grow as a musician. We are here for each other. Let’s keep ACDA strong and continue to grow.

One type of membership that many don’t know about or tend to forget is the Associate Membership. This is for choral music lovers like those in your church and community choirs. They get all that membership offers except voting privileges. I am sure there are some people you can think of who would feel like they were in choral heaven to be able to attend the conference and listen to all the talented choirs performing! Please direct those singers to ACDA to join up!

I joined to attend the national convention in Chicago and I have been a member ever since then. It was at that convention that I was inspired to get my masters degree and become the best conductor I can be. I continue to benefit from my involvement in the workshops and conventions ACDA has to offer, finding new repertoire and ideas to bring my choirs to their fullest potential. It is my pleasure to serve an organization that has given me so much personally and professionally as a musician and I look forward to serving as NJ-ACDA President for these next two years.

- Laurie Lausi

Laurie Lausi,
President, NJACDA