State Conference

November 14-15, 2025

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Rd, Mahtomedi, MN 55115

Wellness to Wonder

Welcome to the 2025 ACDA-Minnesota State Conference

State Conference Keynote

“Conducting Wellbeing: Reimagining Your Role in Health, Connection, and Community Impact”

Dr. Tasha Golden

Keynote presenter is sponsored by Perpich Center for Arts Education

Conference Rates & Registration

Online registration is now closed.

Members are welcome to register on site at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church throughout the State Conference weekend beginning on Friday, November 14 at 8:00 am.

Meal Options (Friday Lunch and Saturday Award Luncheon) are available through October 24. 

* New Teacher/Conductor rates will be offered to teacher/conductors with 0-2 years of teaching/conducting experience

+ Student rates will be offered to undergraduate student members or for full-time graduate students who are not otherwise employed under a full-time contract. This rate is not eligible for part-time graduate students. 

Out-of-State ACDA Members are invited to register at “member” rates.

Conference Registration Form

Registration Form

Schedule

Note: All conference concerts and sessions are located in the sanctuary building unless otherwise indicated. Schedule is subject to change. 

Friday, November 14
8:00-9:00amConference Registration & Information Gathering Space, Sanctuary Building
9:00-9:50amInterest Session One
Back to the Heart: Strategies for Elementary and Middle School Choir – Beth Egger, Michelle Gerhez, Ann Williams Rm B01
R&R: SSAA – Katelyn SawatzkeRm 201
The Neurons that Fire Together, Choir Together: Optimizing the Brain in Your Choral Rehearsals – Leah WymanRm B02
MSHSL Large Group & Solo/Ensemble Information for Choral Directors – Mark GitchRm 203
10:00-11:25amConcert Session One – School & Youth Community Spotlight
Allegro Choral Academy – Kari and Greg Douma, conductors
Shakopee Middle School West – Kathryn Gubrud, conductor
Owatonna Huskies Choir – Paula Asmus, conductor
Owatonna Concert Choir  – Paula Asmus, conductor
Sanctuary
11:35am-12:20pm Interest Session Two
R&R: Minnesota Composers* – Laura Krider and Jennifer AndersonRm B01
IDEA Grants in Action: Voices of Hope – Amanda Weber, MaryLynn Mennicke, and Eugene SandelRm 203
R&R: TTBB – Gerald GurssRm 201
We All Do Better When We All do Better:
Increasing our singer’s accountability and 
investment through community building and rehearsal methods – Matthew Olson
Rm B02
10:00am-12:45pmStudent Symposium  
Take the ‘Mid’ Out of Middle School: How Directing Middle School Choir Transforms Your Teaching and Your Life” – Shekala WanyamaThe Great Hall
Student Symposium Lunch –
Hosts: FMC Endowment Fund Committee
Narthex, The Great Hall 
12:30-1:40pmDistrict Luncheon Gatherings:
Hosts: Presidential Leadership Team and District Chairs
Fireside Room and Room 2
1:45-2:35pmInterest Session Three
R&R: Children & Community – I Have a Voice: Developing Confidence in Young Singers – Elizabeth EggerRm B01
Anchor Music: Vocal Jazz Resources – Wyatt SteinkeRm 201
Building Community: Games and Activities for Ensembles – Bri BergstromRm B02
3:00-4:35pm Concert Session Two – Youth & Community Spotlight
Farmington High School Choir – Megan Dimich, conductor
Minnetonka High School Concert Choir – Aaron Kohrs, conductor
Urban Initiatives – VocalEssence Singers of this Age (VESOTA), an urban coalition of high school choirs and singers, with TBD, clinician, and G. Phillip Shoultz, conductor
Sanctuary
4:40-6:45pmDinner Break
7:00-8:30pmConcert Session Three – A Celebration of Singing: Bella Lumina and The Apollo Club

Suffrage Cantata by Andrea Ramsey
Bella Lumina with guest choirs from Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs, Minnehaha AcademyMinnetonka High School and Mound Westonka High School
Michelle Gehrz, conductor
 
The Apollo Club
Christopher McGinley, conductor
Sanctuary
Saturday, November 15
8:00-8:30amConference Registration & Information Gathering Space,
Sanctuary Building
8:30-9:20amInterest Session Four
R&R: Vocal Jazz – Vocal Jazz Sound Systems – Ian BrekkeRm B01
En Español, por favor – José “Peppie” Calvar, G. Phillip ShoultzRm 201
Focus on the Heart – Nicole MattfeldRm B02
9:30 – 10:55amConcert Session Four – School & Community Spotlight
Winona State University – Colleen Chester, conductors
Borealis (Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus) – Gerald Gurss, conductor
Bemidji State University – Isaac Lovdahl, conductor
Sanctuary
11:10- 11:55amInterest Session Five: Keynote
Keynote Address: Dr. Tasha Golden
Sanctuary
12:15-1:30pmACDA-MN Annual Award Luncheon – (prior reservations by Oct. 24 required)Fellowship Hall
2:00-3:30pm Concert Session Five – Community Spotlight
Golden Voices – Natalie Romero Arbelaz, conductor
Borealis Chamber Artists – Richard Carrick, conductor
Great River Choral – Mary Kay Geston, conductor
Sanctuary

District Luncheon

Friday, November 14, 12:30 – 1:40pm

Fireside Room, The Great Hall Building

Hosted by ACDA-MN District Chairs

Join and meet your district colleagues for a quick and convenient luncheon gathering before the start of the afternoon concert sessions.

  • Luncheon cost is $17 per person and includes your choice of standard box lunch which includes a sub sandwich, chips, fruit, cookie and beverage OR, salad with breadstick, cookie, and beverage.
  • Box lunches also offer vegetarian and gluten-free options (indicate option on registration form).

 

AWARD LUNCHEON

Saturday, November 15, 12:15-1:30pm

Fellowship Hall — St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church

Note: Reservations are required in advance by October 24, cost is $32 per person. Use online registration form to purchase.

Menu selected and professionally catered and served by Donatelli’s, White Bear Lake

Luncheon Menu

  • Fresh Spinach Salad with with Italian Dressing (gluten free, dairy free, vegan)
  • Tuscan Chicken (gluten free, dairy free)
  • Roasted Vegetables (gluten free, dairy free, vegan)
  • Assorted Dinner Rolls
  • Raspberry Sorbet (gluten & dairy free), or Salted Caramel or Strawberry Cheesecake Gelato
  • Beverage

Our 2025 Award Honorees

Creative Programming Award 

James Borsky

Tartan High School 

Co-Sponsored with VocalEssence

Minnesota Choral Director of the Year Award

Daryl Timmer

Woodbury High School, retired

Valley Chamber Chorale

Emerging Choral Director Award 

Aaron Kohrs

Minnetonka High School

F. Melius Christiansen Lifetime Achievement Award

Greg Aune

Gustavus Adolphus College, retired

CEU’s & Graduate Credit

One semester hour of graduate credit will be offered by the Graduate School of Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.  The cost of course registration is $150.  Registrants must participate in all presentations scheduled throughout the Fall Conference. No partial credit offered for partial attendance.  Written journal of session observations and application towards your teaching situation are required in order to receive credit.  Please indicate your intention to register for Graduate Credit on the Fall Conference registration site.  Registration will be available until the end of the first day of the conference, but may be done online prior to the conference as well.  

In order to register, please complete the following steps;

  1. Participants will first need to register as part-time, non-degree seeking students at the university.  If you have not registered previously, you can do so at:  https://www.smsu.edu/campuslife/registrationrecords/forms/form166.html
    1. Once you have been entered into the system, you will receive information that you will need to register for the course.
      1. Please note: there may be a bit of a time lag between the time a participant registers as a student and when they are sent the information necessary for them to register for the course.  
  2. Once you have been granted part-time, non-degree seeking status, you can register for the course 
    1. Click on the following link: https://eservices.minnstate.edu/registration/search/detail.html?campusid=075&courseid=001210&yrtr=20263&rcid=0075&localrcid=0075&partnered=false&parent=search
    2. Click the “add” button in the course information line.
    3. You will then be directed to a screen that asks for your login and password.  Use your StarID and password to log in (you will receive this information once you have registered as a student).  
  3. Participants have several options they may use to pay for the course:
    1. To pay online, go to www.smsu.edu; Click on the Menu button on the upper left side of the screen.  Log into E-Services with your StarID and password (You will receive this information once you have registered as a student).  Go to the Bills and Payments tab, click on Make a Payment and pay with a bank account or debit/credit card. You can also choose the option to “Give Someone Access to Pay My Bill”
    2. To pay by phone with a debit/credit card, call: 507-537-7117 
    3. To pay by mail, checks can be sent to SMSU Business Services, IL 139, 1501 State Street, Marshall, MN  56258. Checks should be made payable to Southwest Minnesota State University. 
    4. Please note that payment cannot be accepted onsite at the Fall Conference other than online or by phone.

Continuing Education

A total of 14 hours of CEU’s will be available for licensure recertification during the State Conference weekend. No fees are required.

Registrants will have the option of selecting CEU’s for each day:

  • 8 hours/CEU’s on Friday
  • 6 hours/CEU’s on Saturday
  • Or 14 hours/CEU’s for the entire weekend

Continuing Ed forms will be available at the registration desk throughout the weekend.

Hotel Information

Comfort Inn & Suites

3505 Vadnais Center Drive

Vadnais Heights MN  55110

Phone:  651.483.1625

Hotel Website

Map

Special Discount Conference Rate

Room rates available for Thursday, November 13, and Friday, November 14 @ $105 plus tax

Make your reservations here.

Cut off date to reserve rooms: Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Mention group name “ACDA-MN” for discounted reservation rate

Address & Map

St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church

900 Stillwater Road

Mahtomedi MN  55115

Map