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One of the most universally enjoyed and accessible forms of musical expression is singing. It brings joy, camaraderie and even听听without the cost of an instrument. That鈥檚 why College of Music students like Caroline Vickstrom are working hard to get more people involved in choir.

鈥淲e spend so much time as students in the practice room alone, or in the library,鈥� she says. 鈥淲ith choir, you get to make music with other people. It鈥檚 nice to make that connection.鈥�

Vickstrom is president of the听精品SM在线影片 chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, or ACDA. The group of singers鈥攎ostly choral music education majors鈥攎eets once a month for professional development and networking. But Vickstrom says the group is about more than this unique opportunity for career building.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a valuable experience to be able to talk to grad students about what they鈥檝e learned, but we鈥檙e also getting out into the community and singing for people of different backgrounds and different generations,鈥� she explains.

That outreach component is part of a new push by ACDA to be more involved in the community. And in a place like Boulder, faculty advisor听Andrea Ramsey听says the atmosphere couldn鈥檛 be more encouraging.

鈥淭he arts are so supported here,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen we meet every month, we have local high school and middle school choir teachers come talk to our students and share their experiences, and they鈥檙e always happy to do it.鈥�

Ramsey, Associate Director of Choral Studies at the College of Music, stepped up to fill the faculty advisor position for ACDA this fall. She says she was involved in ACDA as a student herself, and wanted to do what she could to promote the organization that did so much for her.

What pleased Ramsey was how little guidance her officers have needed. 鈥淥nce we set up a solid structure with our meetings, they were really able to take the format and run with it. They鈥檙e very active in recruiting and making the meetings better, and I鈥檓 proud of our leadership.鈥�

In addition to regular meetings, ACDA this year took its first step toward community involvement at the Presbyterian Manor senior community in Boulder.

鈥淪omeone from Presbyterian Manor actually came in to audition for a choir, and then we started the conversation about having our choral students visit and sing along with the residents there,鈥� Ramsey explains.

鈥淭hey had a group that met once a week called the Happy Harmonies, so we paired our group up with theirs.鈥�

Vickstrom, a double major in vocal performance and choral music education, says the experience was one she鈥檒l remember as she begins her career.

鈥淚t was really good to make that intergenerational connection,鈥� Vickstrom says. 鈥淪ome of the women were telling me about choir when they were in school, and what鈥檚 changed. They were really talented musicians.

鈥淎fterward one of our grad students told me the visit reminded her why she does what she does. It made her day and their day better, and made me feel good too.鈥�

A small group of students sang at Presbyterian Manor in November and plans to return.

The almost imperceptible way music brings people like the ACDA students and music lovers at Presbyterian Manor together, even for an afternoon, gets to the heart of one of Ramsey鈥檚 other goals for ACDA: involving more students.

鈥淭here are only a handful of things you can do your whole life, and singing is one of them,鈥� she says. 鈥淪inging in a choir is a powerful way to come together. You鈥檙e a unique thread in a big quilt of sound. And the best part is, there鈥檚 a choir for everyone at CU.鈥�

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what major you are. You can always be in choir,鈥� Vickstrom adds.

The CU-Boulder American Choral Directors Association chapter meets again Thursday, Jan. 21, in Waltz Music Library. Upcoming guests for their meetings include Janice Vlachos of Fairview High School (Feb. 18) and Emily Crile, Associate Director of the Colorado Children鈥檚 Chorale (March 17). Find more information at the group鈥檚听飞别产蝉颈迟别.