During my undergraduate years at Elmhurst University, I was deeply passionate about pursuing a degree in Music with a focus in Choral Conducting. The art of conducting and being a part of a choir captivated me, and I immersed myself in every aspect of it. As graduation approached, I experienced a bittersweet moment. While I was thrilled to be earning a degree I had worked so hard for, I realized that I would soon be separated from the community that had become so meaningful to me—the community of singers I had shared so much with. I wanted to find a way to keep that connection alive in my life.

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      One day, while walking around campus with my partner, Ben, we began discussing life after graduation. Neither of us knew exactly what the future held, but we knew we didn’t want to lose the sense of togetherness and joy that comes from singing in a choir. That conversation sparked an idea: what if we gathered a group of our friends and started a community choir? This would not only allow us to continue singing together but also give me an opportunity to continue practicing the art of conducting. This is where the vision for Emerging Conductors was born.

As I reflected on how to bring this vision to life, I realized I wanted to combine my love for choir and conducting in a meaningful way. I reached out to my close friend, Hannah Ceaser, and together we began brainstorming how we could turn this idea into something larger than a simple summer choir. Our discussions led to the realization that there was a unique need for a program that could offer guidance and experience to aspiring conductors—those who were just starting to explore their own conducting style but didn’t yet have the opportunity to lead a choir of their own. We saw a gap: most conductors develop their style only after a few years in the professional field, and we wanted to provide a space where emerging conductors could begin to experiment with their craft before they were thrust into leading a full choir.

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      With the support of friends and colleagues, our humble idea evolved from a casual sing-along into a full-fledged clinic, featuring renowned clinicians who could offer valuable insights. We held auditions, and were amazed by the overwhelming interest from aspiring conductors, who were eager to participate in the workshop. This response confirmed to us that Emerging Conductors had the potential to become something truly impactful.

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      Emerging Conductors is dedicated to helping individuals find their unique conducting style in an ever-evolving field. Our mission is to provide aspiring conductors with opportunities to grow and develop their skills while pursuing their passion for music. We are incredibly grateful for the support and enthusiasm we've received from our peers, and we are excited to continue expanding and offering valuable experiences for conductors in the years to come.