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.
| 2 Day Rates | Early (By October 24) | Standard (after October 25) |
| Member | $150 | $200 |
| Non-Member | $190 | $250 |
| Retired/Guest/New Teacher* | $100 | $120 |
| Student+ | $30 (includes Fri. lunch) | $50 (does not include Fri. lunch) |
| 1 Day Rates | Early (By October 24) | Standard (after October 25) |
| Member | $100 | $150 |
| Non-Member | $140 | $180 |
| Retired/Guest/New Teacher* | $80 | $100 |
| Student+ | $30 (includes Fri. lunch) | $50 (does not include Fri. lunch) |
* 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8:00-9:00am | Conference Registration & Information | Gathering Space, Sanctuary Building |
| 9:00-9:50am | Interest 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 Sawatzke | Rm 201 | |
| The Neurons that Fire Together, Choir Together: Optimizing the Brain in Your Choral Rehearsals – Leah Wyman | Rm B02 | |
| MSHSL Large Group & Solo/Ensemble Information for Choral Directors – Mark Gitch | Rm 203 | |
| 10:00-11:25am | Concert 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 Anderson | Rm B01 | |
| IDEA Grants in Action: Voices of Hope – Amanda Weber, MaryLynn Mennicke, and Eugene Sandel | Rm 203 | |
| R&R: TTBB – Gerald Gurss | Rm 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-12:45pm | Student Symposium | |
| Take the ‘Mid’ Out of Middle School: How Directing Middle School Choir Transforms Your Teaching and Your Life” – Shekala Wanyama | The Great Hall | |
| Student Symposium Lunch – Hosts: FMC Endowment Fund Committee | Narthex, The Great Hall | |
| 12:30-1:40pm | District Luncheon Gatherings: Hosts: Presidential Leadership Team and District Chairs | Fireside Room and Room 2 |
| 1:45-2:35pm | Interest Session Three | |
| R&R: Children & Community – I Have a Voice: Developing Confidence in Young Singers – Elizabeth Egger | Rm B01 | |
| Anchor Music: Vocal Jazz Resources – Wyatt Steinke | Rm 201 | |
| Building Community: Games and Activities for Ensembles – Bri Bergstrom | Rm 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 |
| 4:40-6:45pm | Dinner Break | |
| 7:00-8:30pm | Concert 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 Academy, Minnetonka High School and Mound Westonka High School Michelle Gehrz, conductor The Apollo Club Christopher McGinley, conductor | Sanctuary |
| Saturday, November 15 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8:00-8:30am | Conference Registration & Information | Gathering Space, Sanctuary Building |
| 8:30-9:20am | Interest Session Four | |
| R&R: Vocal Jazz – Vocal Jazz Sound Systems – Ian Brekke | Rm B01 | |
| En Español, por favor – José “Peppie” Calvar, G. Phillip Shoultz | Rm 201 | |
| Focus on the Heart – Nicole Mattfeld | Rm B02 | |
| 9:30 – 10:55am | Concert 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- 11:55am | Interest Session Five: Keynote Keynote Address: Dr. Tasha Golden | Sanctuary |
| 12:15-1:30pm | ACDA-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 |
Luncheon Details
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;
- 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
- Once you have been entered into the system, you will receive information that you will need to register for the course.
- 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.
- Once you have been entered into the system, you will receive information that you will need to register for the course.
- Once you have been granted part-time, non-degree seeking status, you can register for the course
- 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
- Click the “add” button in the course information line.
- 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).
- Participants have several options they may use to pay for the course:
- 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”
- To pay by phone with a debit/credit card, call: 507-537-7117
- 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.
- 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
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

