ACDA Reverberations 2: Choirs that Really Impressed

Here are the choirs that really impressed me at the ACDA National Convention (in no particular order):

1. University of Miami. Wow--what tone, what incredible chords. Their first three pieces were incredible and I found myself wishing that they hadn't been asked to do the 18-minute Brock commission piece. Although the work was nice, I'd rather have heard what Miami had proposed to do on the concert. When you agree to do the commission work, do you have a chance to recant if the work takes up all of your performance time?

2. Millikin University. Wow--what programming and tone diversity and humor. They were pure pleasure to watch and proof (to me, anyway) that a performance can electrify an audience. I couldn't believe how exciting they were--it was a performance that I will always remember (and try to emulate).

3. University of Houston. I've already dedicated a post to their performance. To me, this was the choir that connected emotionally with the audience . . . or maybe it was just me.