From March 5 through March 8, a group of students and faculty from UT's School of Music attended the American Choral Directors Association conference for the Southern Division in Louisville, Ky., but music wasn't the only thing they experienced.

Students and faculty at the conference experienced a winter storm that produced more than a foot of snow during their stay in Louisville, Ky.

 Angela Batey, associate director of choral activities at the School of Music and director of the UT Concert Choir, said she was not expecting the massive amount of snow. 

Students and faculty reacted to the snow "with both delight and concern" according to Batey.  "It was beautiful, but we were a bit worried about getting everybody home safely."  The students and faculty arrived back in Knoxville on Sunday, March 9 when the roads were safe.

According to their Web site, ACDA was founded in 1959 as a nonprofit music-education organization.  Director of Choral Activities at UT and Coordinator of Conducting David Stutzenberger said, "ACDA promotes the betterment of the choral art throughout the United States."  According to their Web site, ACDA promotes choral music through performance, composition, publication, research and teaching.

Stutzenberger said the Southern Division of ACDA brings members together from Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, George, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

ACDA convention programs include numerous performances by outstanding choirs that have been selected to perform by an audition process. David Stutzenberger, UT's director of choral activities

ACDA benefits the attendees by granting them a chance "to hear outstanding choirs and gain new ideas and insights into work with choirs," Stutzenberger said.

Stutzenberger said ACDA includes choirs from different levels of education ranging from children's choirs to professional choral ensembles.

"ACDA convention programs include numerous performances by outstanding choirs that have been selected to perform by an audition process," Stutzenberger said.  The choirs that performed sang a variety of music, "ranging from Renaissance motets to vocal jazz."

Some of the choirs that performed at ACDA this year were Seymour Junior High Eagle Ensemble, Seymour High School Concert Choir and various choirs from the University of Kentucky among others.  The headlining ensemble at ACDA was Anonymous Four.

Faculty, staff and students attend ACDA every year, Batey said.  "Next year will be the 50^th anniversary year of ACDA, and our conference will be in Oklahoma City, Okla., where our national headquarters are located," Batey said.  In 2010 ACDA will be held in Memphis, Tenn.

Students and faculty alike enjoyed the trip and found it to be beneficial.  "It is an opportunity for our students to hear fantastic choirs of all age levels and backgrounds, as well as attend sessions about teaching and research in the field," said Batey.

Lance Lloyd, a sophomore aspiring to become a music education major, said the ACDA conference allowed him to "experience the world of choral music."  "The snow was a nice addition, too," he added.

Lloyd also enjoyed the different varieties of choral music performed.  "It was the best part of the conference," he said.

According to their Web site , the School of Music is a part of the College of Arts and Sciences and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.  The UT Concert Choir performed at Carnegie Hall in June of 2007 as a part of MidAmerica Productions.