2013 ACDA National Conference Dallas Texas March 13-16, 2013 PowerPoint Dialogue Slide 1: A view of the Dallas Arts District, which covers approximately six blocks. This photo is taken from the Dallas Museum of Art end of the district. The white building on the left is the Meyerson Symphony Concert Hall, next to it is the Winspear Opera House (with the red oblong roof), next to it is the Booker T Washington High School for the Performing Arts, on the right side of the street is the new Performing Arts Center, the Wylie Theater, Our Lady of Guadulope Cathedral and beneath us (which we can't see) is the Belo Mansion, Crow Asian Art Museum, Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. The conference will be utilizing most all of these buildings in the Arts District. Slide 2: Images from the Meyerson, Winspear, Museum of Art and eating area inside the art museum. Slide 3: Walking through the arts district, a person is surrounded by interesting objects which challenge the observer to look at common elements with new and different perspectives. Slide 4: The arts district is filled with color. Slide 5: Interesting architecture, energy through water, and visual art. Slide 6: In creating a theme for the conference, Brian Galante, Assistant Conference Chair and Karen Fulmer, Conference Chair, took time to reflect on what we were seeing and experiencing, thinking about the possibilities available to our membership in the arts district and then came up with a "hair raising" idea. Let's challenge attendees to think about choral music in new and creative ways. Take common elements and create something interesting. Color outside the traditional ACDA conference lines a little bit... Slide 7: We would take the sleepy arts district by night and bring together Choral music and Visual art to create the theme: Choral Art. The word ART would stand for three themes: Advocate, Remember, Teach.
Slide 8: The conference theme becomes visual through the colorful ribbons which represent people coming from all over the world to network and engage, creating a great energy in the heart of the arts district. The ribbons also represent the three themes of Advocate, Remember and Teach entwined throughout the conference. Slide 9: The conference themes Slide 10: The conference logo with one of the ribbons surrounding a conductor's baton. A great conductor always advocates, remembers and teaches through the music being rehearsed and performed. Slide 11: World class performance venues and two of the headliner conductors. Slide 12: Images of the performance halls (Meyerson and Winspear) Slide 13: Remember: John Rutter will conduct a Music in Worship Festival Choir to open the conference on Wednesday. Repertoire will include his edition (30th anniversary) of the Faure' Requiem and his Mass of the Children (which uses a children's choir - Remember, Advocate and Teach) Slide 14: Craig Jessop will conduct the Dallas Symphony Chorus and members of the United Forces Military Chorus in a performance of the Britten War Requiem (Remember) Slide 15: Craig Jessop will also conduct a special remembrance on Friday afternoon with the Unified Forces Military Chorus outside the John F Kennedy Memorial as the 50th anniversary of JFK's assassination approaches in November 2013. Slide 16: All of the music for the Remembrance will be based on compositions written specifically for JFK, words related to his dreams, visions and ideals for our nation or an event associated with JFK. This special event will be open to the community (Remember, Advocate, Teach) The quote, "Celebrate the past to awaken the future" comes from the Kennedy library in Massachusetts. Slide 17: Invited groups include Rajaton (Rye-a-ton), an acappella group from Finland
Slide 18: The National Cuban Choir from Cuba Slide 19: Camerata Musica Limburg, Men's Chorus from Germany Slide 20: The Philippine Madrigal Singers Slide 21: And the Tallis Scholars. The variety in repertoire, genre and style will give attendees a music history lesson and satisfy everyone's musical taste. Slide 22: The newly renovated historic Majestic Theater will host the Jazz Night performances, reading session, Roundtable and some interest sessions. Slide 23: As part of "coloring outside the lines", we have invited Voca People to present a concert on Friday at the Majestic that includes acappella singing, theater, staging, lighting and storytelling. The group will also present a concert for the honor choir students. Slide 24: A visual artist will create an original piece of art during the Jazz Night concerts in response to the music she/he is hearing. The art will be on display at the national office in OKC after the conference. Slide 25: Our Lady of Guadulope Cathedral will host the Music in Worship Ecumenical Service and many interest sessions. Also a Music in Worship Immersion Day is planned for Saturday. Slide 26: A theater inside the Dallas Museum of Art will feature films based on choral music throughout the conference. These films will be available to the public for viewing as well as conference attendees. Another way ACDA is working to promote choral music in society and Advocate. Slide 27: There is no designated conference headquarters hotel. Registration will take place in the new Performing Arts Center as will the College/University Conducting events. The closest hotels to the arts district are the Fairmont Hotel (near the art museum and location for interest sessions and the R & S Resource Center) and -
Slide 28: the Sheraton Hotel (about 4 or 5 blocks from the arts district) Interest sessions, reading sessions and other events will be held here. The Majestic Theater is across the street from the Sheraton. Slide 29: The Omni Hotel opened last fall and is gorgeous. The Community Youth/Boychoir Honor Choir will rehearse and be housed at the Omni as well as conference attendees. (Notice the pool, think beautiful spring warm weather in Dallas in March...) Slide 30: Near the Omni is the Hyatt Hotel and convention center (lighted globe is the landmark for this property) The Middle School/Junior High, High School Women's and High School Mixed Honor Choirs will rehearse and be housed at the Hyatt. The giant ballroom will be the location for the honor choir concerts on Saturday afternoon. Slide 31: There are many fabulous restaurants and reception locations in or near the arts district. Slide 32: The light rail system DART (notice that the word "ART" is in the word DART?) connects the Omni and Hyatt with the Sheraton Hotel (about 1.6 miles away from each other) The Sheraton stop is the closest station to the arts district. We are negotiating to include a DART pass in registration for all attendees and honor choir participants. Slide 33: Honor choir offerings. James Litton directed the American Boychoir for many years Slide 34: Anthony Trecek-King currently is a director in the Boston Children's Chorus organization. Slide 35: Sigrid Johnson teaches at St. Olaf College Slide 36: Edith Copley teaches at the University of Northern Arizona Slide 37: Inspirational speaker, Tim Lautzenheizer, will remind attendees of the important work we all do as choral music conductors and teachers. He will also speak to the high school honor choir students in a joint presentation with Rajaton. Slide 38: All of the traditional offerings are included in the conference program. The names of the auditioned choirs and interest session titles will be available on the ACDA website.
Slide 39: Steven Stucky is the Brock Commissioned composer. He is writing a special piece for the Unified Forces Military Chorus to premier based on text related to John F. Kennedy. Slide 40: The word "ART" appears right in the center of the word "PARTY" Slide 41: Fun events include bringing in food trucks to make grabbing a quick meal convenient. Slide 42: Midnight Madness will have a fiesta theme! Slide 43: Attendees might choose to venture out to find a touch of the wild west. Slide 44: Or have fun "cutting a rug" in one of the local hot spots. Slide 45: "Dallas Under Construction" - this great group of individuals have been working for over two years to bring membership a fantastic conference. This picture was taken during a site visit at the not-yet-completed Omni Hotel. Slide 46: Much more is planned, including a Tuesday pre-conference concert by the Pan-Asian Youth Choir, a virtual choir experience with Eric Whitacre on Saturday and brief performances by AGO members on the magnificent Meyerson organ. Hopefully when you see the visual poster of the Dallas conference, the ribbons, the colors, the themes and the location all make sense. This is a conference you will not want to miss!