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More than twenty years ago, ACDA took the initiative in international
artistic dialogue with the creation of the International Conductor
Exchange Program (ICEP). Choral Conductors from around the world visited
the U.S. where they lectured, gave master classes, rehearsed and
performed with American choral conductors and choirs, and participated
in ACDA division conferences. In return, ACDA sent American conductors
to other countries for similar experiences.
This year, in partnership with the Harmony International and the Cuban
Ministry of Culture, ACDA has revived the ICEP and division chapters of
ACDA will host a visiting conductor from Cuba, and, in turn, each
division will send an American conductor to Cuba. The Cuban choral
tradition is renowned worldwide but has been kept from most choral
conductors in the U.S. due to the political climate between the two
countries.
In this inaugural year of the “new” ICEP, the Eastern Division will host
Cuban conductor and pedagogue, Maestra Carmen Collado Lopez.
During her stay in America, Maestra Lopez will attend our divisional
conference in Providence, RI and will present an interest session on the
music of Cuba and on the choral traditions of her country.
Maestra Lopez completed her musical education at the Conservatorio
Amadeo Roldán de la Habana, where she majored in piano and choral
conducting. She completed additional studies in Choral Conducting and
Pedagogy at the Franz Liszt Music Academy at Weimar. Maestra Lopez
enjoys a wide array of artistic activity through her various
professional engagements in Latin America and Europe. She has been
integral in the design and implementation of music education and choral
programs at all levels in Cuba and also founded the Departamento
Coral de la Dirección de Escuelas de Arte de Cuba. In 1976 she
founded the Coro de la Facultad de Música at the Instituto
Superior de Arte (ISA). Maestra Lopez currently directs Coro
Amantis, and Coro Polifonico de la Habana. She is an
Associate Professor of Choral Conducting and the Head of the Department
that specialty teachers Singers and Choir, in the music faculty of the
ISA. She is a member of the Cuban Committee of the International Music
Council of UNESCO and board member of the Cuban Association of Choirs.
Her outstanding contributions to music education and Cuban choral music
of more than forty years has been recognized with many awards and
honors.
The ICEP selection committee has chosen Michael Kershner
of the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus. Mr. Kerschner is a respected educator
who is dedicated to uniting the roles of teacher and working artist.
This is his 6th season with YNYC, and for three years he served as
conductor of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra Chorale, which performed
at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Michael received a degree in Music
Education from Duquesne University, where he studied conducting with
Brady Allred, and he received his Master of Music in Choral Conducting
from the University of North Texas where he was a student of Jerry
McCoy.
He has taught at the NYSSSA choral studies program and at the National
High School Music Institute at Northwestern University as choral
director and Music Education specialist. Choirs under his direction have
performed the National Convention of the American Choral Director’s
Association, the Command Performance at the Nevada All -State
Conference, the Western Division ACDA Student Symposium, and with the
New Amsterdam Orchestra, Ensemble 212, Las Vegas Philharmonic and the
Long Island Pops Orchestra. He has recently been invited to represent
the Eastern Division of ACDA for the International Conductor’s Exchange
program to take place in South Africa in 2014. Michael was previously
the Director of Choirs at Durango High School in Las Vegas Nevada, where
his choirs consistently received the highest possible ratings at local
and national festivals.
He currently is Director of the Choral Department at North Shore High
School in Long Island, where his ensembles have received gold with
distinction honors at NYSSMA festivals, and completed performance tours
through Italy, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Uruguay, Argentina,
Canada, and will travel to Spain this February. As a choral singer he
has performed in 9 European countries and at regional and national
conferences. Michael is also a visual artist and teacher of the AP Art
History course.
We congratulate Michael Kerschner for this wonderful honor and we look
forward to sharing our American choral traditions with Maestra Lopez.
For more information about the ICEP and to find out more about future
exchange programs, visit choralnet.org/view/280632 or contact Dr. T. J.
Harper, ICEP Steering Committee member at
harper.tj@gmail.com.
Many thanks to Dr. Amanda Quist of Westminster Choir College, Dr. John
Warren of Syracuse University, Mr. Michael Kerschner of the Young New
Yorker’s Chorus, Dr. T. J. Harper of Providence College, and Dr. Bob
Eaton, Eastern Division President, for hosting Carmen Collado Lopez
during her visit to America.
T.J Harper
Eastern Division Coordinator ICEP
T. J. Harper, DMA
Director of Choral Activities/Music Education
Providence College
ACDA Rhode Island President
ACDA International Conductor Exchange Program, Steering Committee
NCCO National Board Member for the state of Rhode Island
Last revised
December 20, 2011