Leadership 2021-2023

Scroll for headshots and bios!

Vermont ACDA Executive Board

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Lyndon Institute
president@vtacda.org

Susanne Norwood is the vocal and instrumental director at Lyndon Institute, an independent high school, in Lyndon Center, VT. She is the director of five ensembles which include concert band, jazz band, world music, chorus, and an auditioned after school select chorus. In addition to these ensembles, Susanne teaches AP Music Theory and is the musical director and accompanist for the school’s annual musical. Susanne is also the founding director of the Caledonia Children’s Chorus, an advanced choral group open to selected local students in grades 3 and above.

Before moving to Vermont, Susanne taught at Ho’okena School in South Kona, Hawaii and was also the director of the Kona Community Children’s Chorus. Susanne has performed with the Syracuse Oratorio Society, and has been a soloist in the Kona Community Chorus, Lyndon State College Community Chorus, Pumpkin Hill Singers, and in the North Country Chorus.

Susanne graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in music education. She earned her master’s degree in music education with a specialization in conducting from Colorado State University in 2020.

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Middlebury Union High School

llebeau@acsdvt.org

Elizabeth LeBeau is the vocal director at Middlebury Union High School. She directs the MUHS Camerata Singers, MUHS Concert Choir, teaches the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program General Music, Diploma Program Music, and Beginning Guitar.

Growing up in Addison County, Elizabeth is a native Vermonter. She received her Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Vermont, and recently, she received her Master’s of Arts from Castleton University. Her prior music employment has included teaching general music, beginning band, and choir at Fair Haven Grade School, Benson Elementary, and George L. Hess in Mays Landing, New Jersey.  

Elizabeth is thrilled to be stepping into the role of Vermont ACDA President-Elect. 

Mount Mansfield Union High School
calebpillsbury@comcast.net

Caleb Pillsbury is the choral director at Mount Mansfield Union High School in Jericho, Vermont where he conducts four choirs and advises on three student run a cappella ensembles. Caleb also teaches the guitar, piano and the AP Music Theory curriculums. After eleven years teaching Caleb has developed a choral program and music department regarded for its high amount of student participation and musical excellence. Under his direction the choirs perform regularly at Carnegie Hall in New York City, as well as in exchange concerts and workshops in Philadelphia and Princeton, New Jersey. Maintaining a rigorous performance schedule, the choral program focuses students on the development of musicianship and vocal technique. Caleb holds an undergraduate degree in Choral Music Education from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in Choral Conducting from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. While in Cardiff, Caleb served as the American dialect coach for the Welsh National Youth Opera 2013 production of Paul Bunyon by Benjamin Britten, which received the Royal Philharmonic Society Opera and Musical Theater Award. He also performed with the BBC National Chorus of Wales, the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, and the London Symphony Chorus. In 2010 Caleb was named the University of Vermont Outstanding Educator of the Year for the Chittenden East Supervisory Union.

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Colchester High School
Melissa.Towle@colchestersd.org

Melissa Towle is the choral music teacher at Colchester High School where she conducts the freshmen Chorus, Concert Choir, the Testostertones, and two auditioned ensembles: Chamber Singers (SATB) and Chorale (treble).  She also conducts the 5th grade chorus for her school district.  Towle is a Vermont native who grew up in Jeffersonville.  Having grown up in a musical family, she decided as a teenager that she wanted to teach music. Throughout the past twenty years she has taught elementary general music, beginner instrumental, and high school choral music.

She received her Master of Music Education from Gordon College in Wenham, MA, and received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Johnson State College.  Her students have been placed in District, All State,  New England, NAfME All-Eastern/All-National and ACDA choral festivals. 

Melissa lives in Colchester with her amazing husband and three teenage boys. 

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Montpelier High School & Main Street Middle School
mollyclark@mpsvt.org

Molly Clark is the choral teacher at Montpelier High School and Main Street Middle School. She directs the High School Honor Choir, Concert Choir, and Treble Choir, as well as two choirs at MSMS. She also teaches 6th grade general music at MSMS. Molly serves as the music director for both the MHS Masque Theater Program and the MSMS Drama Club. She is also the music director for the Chandler Music Hall Annual Youth Musical and has performed in and music directed local adult theater productions. As a performer, Molly has sung with the VSOC, the Green Mountain Monteverdi Ensemble of Vermont, the Gettysburg College Choir and Camerata, and local community choirs. As a student, she conducted the Gettysburg Children’s Choir, Gettysburg College Choir, and Bermudian Springs High School choirs. Molly received her Bachelors of Music Education from the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College. 

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Castleton University
Sherrill.Blodget@castleton.edu

Sherrill Blodget is the Director of Choral Activities at Castleton University where she directs the Collegiate Chorale and The Castleton Chamber Singers, and teaches voice, conducting, vocal pedagogy, music appreciation, and global music. Dr. Blodget has directed university, community, church, and high school choirs across the United States, working with a wide spectrum of abilities and ages. She is in demand as an adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor, and serves as the Vermont representative on the National Board of the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO). She actively pursues research on the music of viceroyal Mexico, and has presented her work at the 2006 and 2008 International Symposiums on Latin American Choral Music held at the University of Arizona. She will present on her edition of Los Maitines de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (1768) by Ignacio de Jerusalem at the research forum of the 2010 Eastern Division ACDA. Blodget holds a DMA from the University of Arizona, MM in Choral Conducting from the University of Oregon, and MM in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University. She was appointed to the Castleton faculty in 2008.

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Megan Hunt is a junior music education major with a vocal concentration at Castleton University. She is originally from Albany, New York and is an active ACDA and NAFME member.  Megan has participated in numerous concerts, musicals, talent shows, piano recitals, and music camps throughout her time in school.  She is currently President of the Castleton ACDA group and librarian of the chorale.  Ensembles such as chamber singers and university chorale have given her the opportunity to travel, meet new people, and to sing a wide variety of repertoire.  Megan is ecstatic to be a part of helping ACDA grow! 

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Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
llmrmusic@vermontel.net

Lori Routhier has been an active musician in Vermont for many years now, having been involved in the music ministry of late at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Rutland, Vermont. Lori is a gifted choral director, music educator and spiritual director and has shared her very special talents with numerous students and adults over the years. Lori has an engaging style that puts everyone at ease, and her dedication to the music ministry is contagious. For several years Lori was the choral director at Mill River Union High School in North Clarendon, Vermont where she conducted the school choral program and taught other music courses. She was responsible for teaching many students there and imparting her love of the choral art to them. Additionally Lori has been involved in many events in the church over the years, and is consistently called upon for special events that require her expertise.llmrmusic@vermontel.netImmaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

Lori Routhier has been an active musician in Vermont for many years now, having been involved in the music ministry of late at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Rutland, Vermont. Lori is a gifted choral director, music educator and spiritual director and has shared her very special talents with numerous students and adults over the years. Lori has an engaging style that puts everyone at ease, and her dedication to the music ministry is contagious. For several years Lori was the choral director at Mill River Union High School in North Clarendon, Vermont where she conducted the school choral program and taught other music courses. She was responsible for teaching many students there and imparting her love of the choral art to them. Additionally Lori has been involved in many events in the church over the years, and is consistently called upon for special events that require her expertise.

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Festival, Award, and Scholarship Coordinators

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Festival Coordinator – Children’s Honor Choir Festival (Grades 6-9)

Heather Schoppmann
schoppmah@gmail.com

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Festival Coordinator – Madrigal Festival (High School)

Aimee Bushey
South Burlington High School
abushey@sbschools.net

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Voting for a President-Elect…

Every two years (January of odd-numbered years), Vermont elects a president-elect, who serves two years on the board in that capacity, then two as president, followed by two years as past (vice)-president. A nominating committee is charged with assembling the ballot every two years, but here are some basic guidelines in preparing statements for the ballot:

Personal statement (ca. 250-350 words is appropriate)
What should your state ACDA members know about you, in terms of your interest in the ACDA board? Our board works together, and the president is responsible largely for organization, for idea development, and any matters related to the national office. It is useful to share your ideas of what is important to you in choral music, what you appreciate about ACDA and what attracts you to a board position. You might include ideas that you would like to see happen with ACDA Vermont, or dream scenarios that you feel are in fact realistic for Vermont choral musicians.

Biography (150-250 words is sufficient)
This allows your colleagues to see a snapshot of your experience, and remind them of what you are doing presently.

Headshot
A recent photo of professional nature is best; there are not specific guidelines and professional photography is not necessary but a clear, up close and relatively formal photo is best.