Pro Musica Achieves Milestone Performances at ACDA Conference and Plans High-Profile Season
Washington Adventist University’s Pro Musica recently achieved significant milestones during the 2023-2024 academic year. Starting with an invitation to collaborate with MidAmerica Productions and the New England Symphonic Ensemble on the Carnegie Hall Stage in December of 2023, the ensemble anchored the collaborative endeavor in rendering the Magnificat by John Rutter. This was a beautiful continuation of the relationship between Mid America Production and university established decades ago.
The achievements of the ensemble later included a standout performance at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) regional conference in Providence, Rhode Island, earlier this spring. After being selected from dozens of their collegiate and professional peers across the region to perform, their participation in the conference marked a notable achievement for the ensemble and department. Also of significance was the request from the conference to render the commissioned and premier choral piece for the event. These efforts were generously supported by the university and department alumni in a fundraising campaign that exceeded the $12,500 goal.
The Pro Musica performance was lauded as “absolutely stunning and beautiful” by conference attendees, which included choral conductors and music educators from across the region. This event was a landmark endeavor for the ensemble, showcasing their musical excellence on a prominent stage.
In addition to their performance at the ACDA conference, Pro Musica engaged in outreach activities, visiting four academies and sharing their music and mission with students. They facilitated chapel services at Pine Forge Academy, Lake Nelson Academy, and South Lancaster Academy, spending significant time recruiting juniors and seniors for WAU. These efforts, led by the students themselves, left a positive and lasting impression, contributing to the largest incoming class of music majors in recent years.
Pro Musica also led a Friday evening worship service at Blue Mountain Academy during a regional music festival hosted by the academy, and attended by over 150 middle and elementary school students. The service included a devotional thought delivered by a Pro Musica member and WAU Student Association President, Henrique Da Silva, who is a Blue Mountain Academy alumnus and a recent WAU graduate.
Looking forward, Pro Musica is set to continue its tradition of musical excellence with several high-profile performances. Highlights for the 2024-2025 season include performances at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland, in September 2024 and April 2025, as well as a tentative performance at Carnegie Hall, New York, in June 2025. These events will feature collaborations with organizations such as the Washington Performing Arts Choirs, George Mason University Choral Ensembles and the Children’s Choir of Washington. Pro Musica will keep the community updated on their upcoming events through the university’s website and social media pages.