Batchvarova appointed chair of national choral association committee
Professor Madlen Batchvarova has been appointed world musics and cultures chair for the American Choral Directors Association’s Repertoire and Resources Committee. The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) is one of the largest professional organizations for choral directors in the world. The association’s mission is to inspire excellence in choral music through education, performance, composition and advocacy.
Batchvarova, director of Hanover’s choral programs, is an experienced conductor, pianist, singer, clinician, adjudicator and Grammy Award recipient. A native of Sofia, Bulgaria, she has directed festival, honor and all-state choirs in the U.S., Canada, Austria and Bulgaria. She has also presented scholarly lectures and publications in the U.S., Canada, Austria, Spain, Portugal and Bulgaria.
“I am looking forward to sharing my expertise and experience with the choral colleagues around the world,” stated Batchvarova. “I feel deeply humbled to be the first Bulgarian-born woman appointed to this position at the national ACDA leadership.”
ACDA’s membership includes more than 20,000 conductors representing one million vocalists. Members conduct and teach a range of choirs, including school- and college-based choirs, community choral groups, professional ensembles and music in worship.
“I am joining a team of national repertoire and resources chairs who have experience and expertise in a variety of areas,” added Batchvarova. “I am particularly excited about this appointment as it is a testament of the high level of music instruction at Hanover and that the Hanover Choral Program belongs in the ‘big leagues.’”
The ACDA’s Repertoire and Resources Committee aims to foster and promote the performance of quality historical and contemporary repertoire. Committee members also serve as a resource for choral pedagogy and instructional strategies. Among her duties as world musics and cultures chair, Batchvarova will present interest sessions and lead roundtable discussions at the ACDA National Conference next February in Cincinnati.
