Thank you Des Moines Vocal Arts Ensemble and Norwalk High School Choir for the invitation to be a part of the “United in Song” collaboration. Returning to Iowa to be a part of great choral music continues to be a highlight for me. These programs and the people in them raised me as a music educator and I will forever be grateful for the influence from so many musicians and friends. It was a career moment to be sharing the stage with a former classmate from Simpson College (and Michigan State University alum), Tim McMillin, a former graduate student from Simpson’s Master’s in Conducting Program, Nathanael Smale, and two former Waukee High School alumni, Emma LeValley Krull and Adrian Horras! Having spent over 15 years sharing music in the Des Moines metro, it’s wonderful to see it all come full circle. Thank you all for cultivating the art and giving me a reason to come home. Choral music is alive and well in IOWA! 💛🌽🎶