Louisiana American Choral Directors Association

Dear Friends,
 
Happy New Year!!!
 
The 2012 Southern Division ACDA Conference is right around the corner and going to be Fantastic!  I hope that you will all attend!  (Winston-Salem, NC   February 29 - March 3, 2012)
 
If you pre-register by January 13, the registration fee is $175.00.  If you register on January 14 or later, the fee goes up to $225.00.  Register now and save yourself $50!!!!!
 
Directions for Conference Registration:
-  Go to      acda.org
-  LOG IN  (You must log in to register)
-  Go to the Conference Link
-  After you "Log In",  on the Left Hand Side of the Conference Page it will say "ELECTIONS/REGISTRATION".  Click on the SOUTHERN DIVISION link and follow the directions to register.
 
The Southern Division website has a complete schedule and other general information about the conference.  Check it out!    acdasouthern.org
 
The election for National ACDA President is being held during the month of January.  One of the candidates is a Southern Division Past President - Sara Lynn Baird.  I hope you will all go to the national website:  acda.org  and VOTE!
 
I hope to see all of you in Winston-Salem for the ACDA Southern Division Conference!
 
Tom Shelton



 In Memoriam...

Dr. Edward Deckard

It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of Dr. Edward Deckard.
Dr. Edward Deckard, 77, entered into rest October 21, 2011 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, after a very courageous battle with leukemia.

He was a musician in the U.S. Army, and he taught choral music in Indiana, Missouri, and retired from the University of Louisiana in Monroe in 1996, where he taught for 28 years.    He was a member of American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, American Recorder Society, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. He served these organizations in various local, regional, and national capacities.

He enjoyed gardening, genealogy, and hearing from former students. He was one of the founders of the Monroe Recorder Consort, but his greatest joy was spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Mary of 44 years, 2 daughters; Amy and Sarah, 1 sister, 4 grandchildren, and a much anticipated 5th grandchild expected in 2012. He is also survived by 1 nephew, and many former students whose lives he enriched.

I would like to share you with two short tributes:
From Dr. Lynne Gackle, Associate Director of Choral Activities at Baylor University:

I was not a student of Dr. Deckard, but being raised in north Louisiana and involved in choral music, how could you NOT be influenced by him as a teacher, conductor and pedagogue? Dr. Deckard has touched many lives....he loved music; that was obvious. But the other component of the equation was that he equally loved PEOPLE! Your comments and remembrances of him are a testament to the difference that teachers like Dr. Deckard make in our lives. I used to say that "I teach music." As I've gotten older, and have done this more, I now am more convinced that "I teach PEOPLE and Music is my medium. Dr. Deckard's career is a living example of this idea. He will be missed by so many... he leaves such a legacy of beauty behind him that lives on through each of us that were touched by his life.

I close with this second tribute, taken from Dr. Deckard's eulogy last Monday:

There are a number of stories that I could tell that were funny; I can do an imitation of him that is pretty spot on, but I can only hope that as a conductor, teacher, and educator, my students think half as much of me as I do of Dr. Deckard. He got me out of Arkansas when I was sure I would work at the Paper Mill for the rest of my life; he secured an interview for me with Bill Colvin for the Ouachita Junior High School position, that eventually led to me being at West Monroe High School. He nominated me as a first year teacher, to be an officer in the District I Choral Directors Association, encouraged me right away to serve on the LA- ACDA Board for several years, and I now am also proud to serve on the board of directors for LMEA. He introduced me to my wife of 21 years, with whom I have two wonderful children that are my pride and joy. I owe Dr. Deckard so very much, and if I have had
success, it is directly proportionate to the amount of time Dr. Deckard devoted to me. I am pretty sure that the heavenly choir has had a few extra rehearsals and is a lot cleaner since his arrival.

I miss him terribly, Greg A. Oden West Monroe High School

Customary Remembrances may be sent to the charity of one’s choice.

Online condolences may be sent to www.edwardsfuneralhome.com
Edwards Funeral Home Fort Smith, AR

 
ONLINE APPLICATION

"2012 FVC Interest Session Proposal"

(click the sign below)

Congratulations to our new president elect...

Dr. Julia Thorn

Dr. Alissa Mercurio Rowe
LA-ACDA President

September 1, 2011

Congratulations on the beginning of an exciting new year! I hope that you all had a relaxing, enjoyable summer and that you are ready for a successful year.

July 1, 2011 marked the beginning of my term as President and a new term for many of the LA-ACDA board members.  It is a pleasure for me to serve as your President. I am committed to our organization, its improvement, and to including all of your ideas within our organization as we move forward. We are all busy planning for the Fall Vocal Conference and I look forward to hearing your input and ideas for our organization.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Past President, Louise LaBruyere, and current Treasurer, Natalie True, for their mentorship and assistance during the past month as I began my term as Louisiana President. The transition to President is overwhelming and thanks to your support and guidance it has made the job exciting. Also, please take time to individually thank your All State Choir Chair organizers, Cheryl Dupont and Barbara Walker (Children’s All State Choir), Lisa R. Johnson and Laurie Tannehill (Youth All State Choir), Pam Givens (Women’s All State Choir), Ric Watkins and Cedric Bridges (Men’s All State Choir), Caroline Carson and Deborah Chandler (Collegiate Honor Choir). They spend an enormous amount of time planning to create an immeasurable choral experience for our students.

The 2011 Fall Vocal Conference will be held October 27, 28, and 29 in downtown Baton Rouge. This is the first year that ALL events will be held downtown in Baton Rouge at either the Hilton or First Baptist Church. Please check the schedule carefully for the location of events when it comes out in early October. Also, all attendees, parents, and students will need use parking provided by the city of Baton Rouge (we have provided a parking map with designated parking areas on the website), Hilton parking lot, or the street during the conference. There will be NO parking allowed at the First Baptist Church on Thursday, October 27 or Friday, October 28.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions, concerns, and/or ideas concerning the Fall Vocal Conference.  There will be certain glitches that arise with moving the conference downtown, but please be patient and let us know how we can improve for 2012.

Alissa Rowe

All State Choirs for Fall 2011 will include:

Children's Choir 

Youth Choir

Women's Choir

Men's Choir

Collegiate Choir

Click on the All State Information link to the right for detailed information about each choir.