no
Six young female choral conducting students and ACDA members came to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Music to workshop with faculty and guest artists before conducting University of Illinois ensembles. “Lift Every Voice,” sponsored by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), is an all-expenses-paid mentor program for talented young choral conductors from under-represented groups. The six student participants were Jamie Gonzalez from the University of Texas at Arlington, Laney Mitchell from Bowling Green State University, Molly Perrin from Western Michigan University, Rachel Somers from Ithaca College, Milena Sousa from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Rebecca Smith from Florida State University. Guest mentors included Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt from the University of Toronto, Dr. Felicia Barber from Yale University, Dr. Cory Boulton from Bradley University, and Dr. Marcela Molina from the Tucson Girls Chorus. University of Illinois faculty mentors included Dr. Ollie Watts Davis, Associate Dean and Director of Black Chorus, Dr. Andrew Major, Director of Men’s Glee Club & Oratorio Society, Dr. Linda Moorhouse, Director of the School of Music, and Dr. Andrea Solya, Director of Choral Activities, Meredith Chamber Singers & Women’s Glee Club.