Update: OAKE National Conference High School Choirs

Update: OAKE National Conference High School Choirs

Dear OAKE Members:

We’re excited to announce that, after thorough study and thoughtful debate, OAKE will be able to continue offering conference honor choir experiences for singers in Grades 4 – 12.

I understand that perspectives within the organization may vary, and while some have been eagerly anticipating this outcome, others may have had different expectations or concerns. This was a decision the Board of Directors did not take lightly or make easily. We have known of the value of our conference choral experience in the lives of the participating singers and directors. After a thorough review of OAKE’s finances, assessing a cost/benefit analysis of offering the high school choirs, and acknowledging the advocacy benefits these groups bring to OAKE, the Board of Directors and employees see this as the most prudent way forward.

The Board of Directors originally voted in early 2023 to pause the high school choirs for the next 5 years for many reasons. The audition numbers had not been strong in the high school groups. We were losing an important staff position and knew we needed to monitor the workloads of our remaining employees. Further, OAKE’s operations are at capacity and we need to right-size our activities and keep the Strategic Plan priorities of sustaining OAKE and building community at the forefront of how we could move forward with limited resources in this difficult post-pandemic climate.

There have been many positive changes since that 2023 decision was made. Our staff and volunteers formulated a master planning process for the choirs that could work in consecutive years with few adjustments needed. Although this does not yet indicate a trend, our 2024 high school audition numbers increased moderately, particularly in the number of tenor and bass auditions. And many of you provided additional personal testament of how the choirs fill an important niche in your lives, as well as the lives of your students. Along with our data review, the board was able to look at these factors and reconsider the need to pause the high school choirs. We determined that through the choirs, we can focus our work to address our strategic priorities: community and sustainability. Through the choirs, we can also advance our other necessary priorities, such as increasing conference attendance and publicly advocating for the Kodály approach.

Your feedback and personal stories emphasized the significance of these choirs in fostering lifelong friendships and inspiring students to pursue their love for singing. Our conference choirs offer a unique experience, different from that of many other music organizations. Thus, let’s capitalize on our unique Kodály approach! In future conference choirs, we will be looking to focus even more on developing musicianship and musical fluency in playful, engaging, and interactive ways. Stay tuned for more information about this.

There is still much work to be done, by ALL of us. 

We had an outstanding year of participation in three of our four choirs! There were 700+ auditions in grades 4 – 12, which led to 524 singers, our largest group to date. But it is up to our members to sustain this success. Please keep submitting auditions this fall, especially for the Concert Treble Choir, and remember that OAKE is one of the few organizations that does not require auditions to come from your current classroom. Perhaps you have some former students who still crave this experience. Maybe you teach students in a private studio or school of music who you could invite to audition. Our singers come from a variety of educational backgrounds, and this reflects the heart of what we believe: Music is for everyone! 

We recognize that we must continue to address financial accessibility for participating singers and attendees. We will soon share the vision for the reimagined OAKE choir experience along with several specific ways to support it.

Although choirs have been part of our work, OAKE is an organization serving Kodály-inspired music educators in many more ways. We also must address lingering strategic concerns through volunteer engagement, rather than increasing staff support, particularly in the areas of:

• Building chapter health, support, and workshop participation
• Connecting members nationwide around topics of interest and support ongoing learning throughout the year
• Nurturing stronger relationships between Kodály certification programs and OAKE
• Developing specific strategies for strengthening membership numbers
• Grant-writing and other fiscal development
• Advocating for the Kodály approach throughout the field of music education

While volunteers play a crucial role, we acknowledge the necessity of additional OAKE staff support in certain areas, beyond what is already given, and we commit to exploring funding sources to meet those needs:

• Member communications (including the Kodály Envoy), external communications, and advocacy
• Fiscal operations and best practices
• National Conference event planning
• Support the work of the Board of Directors and OAKE committees
• Support for chapters to thrive and continue offering quality professional development for music educators
• Support for division events and other activities, particularly division conferences and large event contracting/planning
• Data-driven decision making and improved internal processes
• Technical needs of the office including database management, website development, software and other platforms, etc.
• Other related organizational activities

More detailed information will be provided about our choirs, how this decision has evolved, etc. at two “Town Hall Meetings”, which will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Watch for details about these meetings.

This organization is yours, and your passion drives our mission. I am honored to lead a group that feels so strongly about this work we do, in this unique way that we do it. I am thankful to work with a Board of Directors that thoughtfully and carefully considers their decisions, always with a heart for what is best for OAKE and our members. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to me ([email protected]) or your board Regional Representative and tell us how OAKE can better serve you.

Ever yours in music and joy,

Tom Michalek, OAKE President

And the OAKE Executive Committee

Dr. Leigh Ann Garner, President Elect
Kevin Pearson, Immediate Past President
Katie Robertson, Vice President
Holly Eberhardt, Secretary
Bryan Wilkins, Treasurer
Sarah Martinez, Deputy Treasurer
Lauren Hirsh, Executive Director