tina paulson - Music Director at Notre Dame High School San Jose

ACDA enhances my life in so many ways! Professionally, ACDA is my go-to for ideas, motivation, inspiration, and repertoire. It's this incredible network of the most helpful and giving people. Personally, ACDA has been the source of SO many friendships. As a bit of an "island" in my school, like many music teachers, it is essential I find people who speak my professional language, and that I feel I can connect with personally. I also stand by my conviction that no one has as much fun as choral directors at a conference. To me, "I am ACDA" means I'm a proud member of an organization that is truly working towards creating a better world. When people sing together, the world becomes a better place, and I get to contribute to that through my work and the collective social power of ACDA. Right now, my students are excited about pops concert music- and ANY chance they have to put in K-Pop dance moves, they take advantage of it. It's super fun! Also- non-music related- I have a group of choir students who discovered how to bake cookies in the toaster-oven in the student lounge at school, so now they share recipes with each other and bring warm cookies to class to share. It's pretty awesome. ​