Events and Presenters

CONFERENCE EVENTS AND SESSION INFORMATION

 

KEYNOTE    Our Journey in Authenticity
presented by JOAN LITMAN

We know where our journey began… in a far away land. Two musicians carrying unimaginably heavy equipment to gather/record jewels; hidden and endangered melodies. We may know where our personal journey began; at home—perhaps with a lullaby. OAKE’s founding visionaries worked hard to extract the beautiful, the authentic, the endangered little jewels in our young, complex land. There was always a longing for authenticity… in repertoire, in performance practice, in inclusion; in reaching out. These days, in this place, we reflect. We look back, and acknowledge with gratitude, those who have come before us. We see where we are today. Like little songbirds we perch, we sing; we consider. We always sing. Our journey in authenticity has taken many routes. This address will consider many starting points, but primarily the dimensions of our search, our journey in authenticity today- And we’ll leave singing; inspired by our strong, united, community Singing. Always singing.

MINI-CONFERENCE    Experience Choral Works and Game Songs from Southeast Asia
presented by SUSANNA SAW

Southeast Asia region is rich with musical heritage from the various ethnic groups. Over the past 20 years, many composers have collected the beautiful folk elements to include in the choral arrangements, to help introducing the wonderful tone colours to the world. Participants will have the opportunity to experience singing some of the most beautiful choral arrangements from this region during the workshop. Participants will gain the ideas of how to derive musical ideas from the folk elements, and transfer them into Musicianship exercises, for the training in music classroom or ensemble rehearsals.

The Mini-Conference is held on Thursday, March 14  @ 1:00 pm (CDT). This is a separately ticketed event: $80 for members, $125 for non-members

 

OAKE PARTICIPANT CHOIR directed by SUSANNA SAW

We need YOU! You are needed to be a member of the Participant Choir! This is a great opportunity to deepen your conference experience. We especially encourage Tenors and Basses (never can have too many of those!) to join us. Signing up is easy on your Conference Registration! When Early Bird Registration is closed, those who have signed up will receive an email with instructions and rehearsal schedule. The first rehearsal traditionally occurs on Thursday evening of the Conference and the rehearsal schedule will not conflict with sessions.

 

SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT SESSION    Partners: Past, Present, and Into the Future
presented by JO KIRK

PAST: Through video technology, participants will travel back through time as Sr. Lorna Zemke and Mrs. Jo share delightful stories of the early beginnings of the Kodaly approach in the USA.
PRESENT: Come experience Partner Games that lead to a deeper understanding of how we can support one another in our present settings.
FUTURE: Kodaly’s philosophy asserts that music education must begin early in the life of the child, instilling a musical thrust that will last a lifetime. So, COME and observe a demonstration class with 2 to 3 year olds and their guardians. They are our future!!

 

Performance Location: Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center

NATIONAL CONFERENCE CHOIRS CONCERTS

Our annual National Conference culminates in a performance of singers selected to participate in the OAKE National Honor Choirs. There are four audition-based OAKE National Conference Choirs, each led by a nationally renowned conductor. Accepted singers learn and memorize music at home with their own teachers before going to the conference city. The National Conference Choir Concerts are a beautiful expression of bringing singers from across the country to make music together.  

This year’s 50th Anniversary concerts will be held in Orchestra Hall, the home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Incredible music is made here, and we’re excited for OAKE singers to perform in this amazing place and feel what it’s like to look out from a world-class stage! We know for many of you, it will not be the last time.

We’ll share more later. For now, learn more about the history of Orchestra Hall and the CSO.

 

 

2024 NATIONAL CONFERENCE CHOIR CONDUCTORS

Children’s Choir – Judith Chan  (SSA grades 4-5
Youth Treble Choir – Sandy Knudson  (SSAA grades 6-8)
Concert Treble Choir – Tracy Wong  (SSAA grades 9-12)
Chamber Choir – Árpád Tóth  (SATB grades 9-12)


Conference Kickoff Event
Come join us as we kickoff the 2024 OAKE National Conference 


Affinity Events

D.I.V.E. In! (Diversity, Inclusion, Voice, Equity)
These events will be a space to find connections, support, and inspiration from one another, and to share your voice to peers who serve on the OAKE Equity Committee. Grab a snack from the reception and come join us to DIVE in!

BBIA Affinity Event: D.I.V.E. In! (Diversity, Inclusion, Voice, Equity)
This gathering is for conference attendees who identify as Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian or multi-racial BBIA. 

LGBTQIA+ Affinity Event: D.I.V.E. In! (Diversity, Inclusion, Voice, Equity)
This gathering is for conference attendees who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Unable to make it? Please join this mailing list to get updates on virtual events throughout the year.


A picture of various conference attendees singing from sheet music

Participants in the 2019 Morning Sing

Social Events

Morning Sing: Being Human Together: A Community Sing Experience
Led by Coty Raven Morris (Friday and Saturday)

Get each morning of the conference started right with beautiful singing with your colleagues. 

Grand Opening Reception (Thursday)
Grab a snack and say hello to all your friends at the Grand Opening Reception! After a morning of travel, let’s re-fuel and get reacquainted. Our exhibitors will be officially open and ready to show what they’ve brought especially for our Kodály educators.

Newcomer Event (Thursday)
Is this your first conference? Come learn about OAKE and get the inside scoop on the conference by attending the Newcomer Event!

Retired But Not Retiring (Thursday)
The best is yet to come from our friends who are out of the classroom but not out of touch! Let’s get together to share ideas and pool our many talents to support and encourage OAKE for its next 50 years!

Community Dance (Thursday)
Dance the night away with friends new and old as singers, families, and teachers gather together to kick off the first night of conference with laughter and community!

Friday Night Social Event: “Glitter and Glam”
Come dressed to sparkle and shine as we socialize, dance and celebrate OAKE’s 50th together on Friday Night!

Saturday Night Social Event
Socialize, rekindle Kodály friendships or make new ones, at the Friday and Saturday night social events.


Special Sessions and Offerings

Join the Participant Choir led by Susanna Saw
We need YOU! You are needed to be a member of the Participant Choir! This is a great opportunity to deepen your conference experience. We especially encourage Tenors and Basses (never can have too many of those!) to join us. When Early Bird Registration is closed, those who have signed up will receive an email with instructions and rehearsal schedule. The first rehearsal traditionally occurs on Thursday evening of the Conference and the rehearsal schedule will not conflict with sessions.

Administrators and Choir Family Event 
The clinician will give an overview of the Kodály philosophy and approach for choir parents/families and administrators. The presentation will give the audience a chance to experience some music making together. Attendees will gain insight into the teaching that students/singers receive in their local music classrooms.

Choir Rehearsals Are Open to Observation
A bonus opportunity for more professional learning!

Choral Reading Session led by Sandra Mathias
Find fresh repertoire for your classroom, community, and performing treble groups! Join us in singing through literature appropriate for your beginners through advanced elementary and middle-level ensembles.

Educating the Teachers of Teachers Track (ETT)
The ETT (Educating Teachers of Teachers) Track is a time for program instructors to learn from each other and hear new developments from the Teacher Education Committee.

Instrumental Track (IT)
Designed for instrumental educators of all levels, this track explores the application of the Kodály-approach and philosophy to band and string instruments, in the hopes of fostering greater literacy and learning.

OAKE President’s Forum
The OAKE President curates a session on a topic of their choice.

Secondary Choral Track (SCT)
These sessions are designed for Middle and/or High School choral educators to explore a Kodály-inspired, skills based, approach to music literacy, rehearsal techniques and repertoire.

Research Poster Session 
Come speak with OAKE members as they share current research projects related to aspects of Kodaly-inspired pedagogy.


OAKE Business

Advisory Council
Advisory Council Luncheon for Chapter and Division Leaders, or their proxies.

Division Membership Meetings
Meet up with your OAKE Division leadership at the Division Membership meetings. 

General Assembly Meeting for OAKE Membership
During our general assembly, we meet as a membership to learn about OAKE’s latest developments, celebrate scholarships and awards, and unveil the next OAKE conference!


Conference Breakout Sessions

Session Descriptions

Click the link above to see a full list of breakout session descriptions

Dynamic Developments

Sarah Bartolome, Christopher Roberts
World Music Pedagogy in the General Music Classroom

Jonathan Dillon
Scoring a Video Game: Broadening Conceptions of Music Literacy

Melissa Fuller Flores
Our Folk Dance is Poppin’: Folk Dances with a Twist

Kristin Marchilena
Embracing the Now: Using Popular Music to Unleash Student Creativity

Andra Vaughn
You “Canva” Do It: Creating Engaging Visuals and Manipulatives

Educating Teachers of Teachers Track

Rebecca Lakes
ETT: This is Our Space: Culturally Responsive Teaching in the Pedagogy/Materials Classroom

Georgia Newlin
ETT: Reflecting on Repertoire

Michele Paynter Paise, Becky Halliday
ETT: Andragogy vs. Pedagogy: Balancing the Two in Kodály Certification Programs

Jill Trinka
ETT: Refining Folk Song Research: Contemporary Balladry and George Floyd

Embracing & Evolving

Alicia Brown
Demonstration: Exploring ELL Strategies through Spanish-Language Folk Music

Cordara Harper, Ramon Jackson
Intentionally Engaging Kodály and Orff Strategies with Urban Learners

Jason Jones
I Can Move, Too: Movement for Young Musicians with Mobility Differences

Jana Martin
Demonstration: High Five Choir: An Affirming Choir For All Students

Liza Meyers
Implicit and Instructional Bias in the Music Classroom

Sarah Reyes
Music of India: Embracing the Universal Human Experience

Finely-Tuned Musicians

Mandy Algate
All Together Now: Cooperative Learning in Elementary Music

Susan Brumfield
From Classroom to Chorus: Building on the K-5 Foundation

Darla Eshelman, Suzanne Morrison
Choral Development vs. Willy-Nilly Warm-Ups

Leigh Ann Garner
Totally Tuned In: Cultivating Musicianship in the K-5 Music Classroom

Matthew Hanne
Musicianship Activities from “Classical Harmony”

Instrumental Track

John Crever, Chris Anne Powers
IT: An Ear-First Approach to Teaching Ensemble Harmony and Improvisation

Rebecca Knox, Tristi Wren
IT: How Vowels Can Help You Find Your Voice (Literally)

Legacy / History

Cathy Dietsch
Mark A Williams: Teacher, Father, Friend and Founding Member of IKS and OAKE

Mary A Epstein, Judith Kramer Koret, Virginia Pohlmeier, Jill Trinka
The New Haven Kodály Group, 1968-2024: Past, Present, and Future

Matthew Hanne
The Golden Jubilee: Celebrating 50 Years of OAKE

Katherine Hickey
The Original Music Lessons of Jenő Ádám and Zoltán Kodály: Grades 3-5

Sandra Mathias
After Kodály: Reflections on Music Education

Refining Folk Song Research

Juliana Cantarelli
Vita Vamos! Music Traditions from Northeast Brazil

Miriam Factora
Creative Music Making through Multicultural Games

Nicholas Flott
From Bomba to Bad Bunny: Folk and Popular Music of Puerto Rico

Crystal Henricks
A Conversation with Culture Bearers

Mary Ellen Junda
Work Songs

Erasmia Voukelatos
Demonstration: Mediterranean Delights: Songs and Dances of Greece and its Neighbors

Reflective Practices

Judy Bond, Crystal Henricks, Victor Lozada, Herbert Marshall
Reflections On Collaboration Between Diverse Active Music Making Approaches

Sarah Burns
To Invent is to Understand: Creativity in the Kodály-Inspired Classroom

David Thaxton, Crystal Pridmore, Lisa Sempsey
Exploring Elemental Instruments with ACEMM

Sarah Tullock
Playful Presentation of Expressive Elements through Song

Nichole Witman
Stepping Stones for Orff Instrument Integration

Regroup, Refocus & Renew

Madolyn Accola
Creating Community as a Classroom Ensemble

Susan Brumfield
Come and Sing! Songs and Games to Bring Us Back Together

Beth Duhon
Happier Music Teacher: Like A Regular Music Teacher, Only Happier

Cecile Johnson
Demonstration: Revisiting Singing Games Promoting Cooperative Spirits Post-Pandemic

Kendall Mencio
You’ll Be Back: Preparing for the Long-Term Substitute

Mary Neeley Stevens
Mentoring Music Educators: Components of Instructional Coaching

Coty Raven Morris
Taking the CODA: Cultivating Opportunities and Discovering Artistry

Coty Raven Morris
When I Grow Up: Finding Strength in Self-Acceptance and Community Care

Megan Sheridan
Reducing Teacher Talk for Improved Vocal Health

Secondary Choral Track

Emily Evans
SCT: Start the Year Strong: Building Literacy from Rehearsal Number One

Bethany Houff, Georgia Newlin
SCT: They Wanna Play, Too: Games for MS/HS Choirs

Niké St. Clair
SCT: Advancing Music Literacy in Secondary Choirs: Modes and Chromaticism

Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy
SCT Demonstration: From Swiss to Gouda: Sound Before Symbol Approach for Upper-Level Choirs

Demonstrations

Alicia Brown
Demonstration: Exploring ELL Strategies through Spanish-Language Folk Music

Cecile Johnson
Demonstration: Revisiting Singing Games Promoting Cooperative Spirits Post-Pandemic

Jana Martin
Demonstration: High Five Choir: An Affirming Choir For All Students

Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy
Demonstration (SCT): From Swiss to Gouda: Sound Before Symbol Approach for Upper-Level Choirs

Erasmia Voukelatos
Demonstration: Mediterranean Delights: Songs and Dances of Greece and its Neighbors

 


For Presenters:

To find instructions for your session, including the following important links, please find an email titled “2024 OAKE – Congratulations! [take action by June 15 to present at Chicago conference]”

Commitment to Equity | due by November 1

Equipment Request | due by November 1 

Session Notes | due by January 15, 2024

Proposals:

2024 Research Poster Session Proposals | Deadline November 1 | Click Here To Submit Your Proposal


Important Contacts and FAQ

For concerns and inquiries, please contact the OAKE National Office. 

Equipment inquiries should be addressed to the Equipment Coordinator, Nick Mercier.

Materials inquiries (pictures, biographies, agreements, handouts) should be addressed to the Administrative Coordinator, Colleen Graves.