Minnesota Choral Mentorship Program
HANNAH JOHNSON
“I feel like I’ve experienced the most growth in my three years of teaching after having the meetings with a choral mentor.”
Get Involved
Learn More
Our Mission
The Minnesota Choral Mentoring Program is dedicated to advancing the art of choral music education by providing structured mentoring support for early career conductors. By fostering the personal and professional development of music educators, we aim to build on the foundation of their collegiate education, enhancing their teaching efficiency and cultivating professional belonging. This initiative seeks to retain and nurture promising early-career choral professionals, ultimately benefiting their local communities and the broader choral landscape.
Our Goals
To promote the personal and professional well-being of early and mid-career choral directors.
To support choral directors through conversations, in-person and virtual visits, and camaraderie.
To build on the educational foundation received in college, enhancing teaching efficiency and effectiveness.
To create a network of support and practical resources applicable in all teaching settings.
Intended Outcomes
New choral conductors will thrive in their professional environments with the guidance and support of experienced mentors.
Mentors and mentees will develop a close professional relationship grounded in positive feedback and the reflection of best practices.
Mentees will gain confidence and proficiency in their teaching, conducting, and administrative skills under the mentorship of seasoned conductors.
Singers will benefit by having conductors who are confident and effective in their role as leaders.
-
Zack Carlson-Giving
Co-Chair
Zack Carlson-Giving is the Vocal Music Director at Buffalo High School where he directs the curricular and extracurricular choirs, music directs the musicals, and leads Unified Music. He conducted the 7-8 ACDA-MN CTB Honor Choir in 2024 and enjoys an active schedule of adjudication, curriculum consultation, and mentoring. The Buffalo High School Concert Choir was selected to perform at the Minnesota Music Educators Midwinter Clinic in February 2020 and participates in a variety of collaborative concerts, festivals, and honor choirs. The Unified Music program is frequently invited to perform at Special Olympics of Minnesota State Tournaments and legislative sessions at the State Capitol. As a singer Carlson-Giving has performed with the National Lutheran Choir, VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, The Singers Minnesota Choral Artists, Twin Ports Choral Project, and imPulse. He has presented sessions focused on supporting early career choral directors at both State and Regional ACDA Conferences and was selected to present a session entitled “Unified Music: Music for All, Advocacy, and Curriculum Writing” at the 2023 MMEA Midwinter Clinic and the 2024 ACDA-MN Summer Dialogue. In 2021 he was awarded the ACDA-MN Emerging Choral Conductor Award. He currently serves ACDA-MN as Repertoire & Resource Chair for Senior High Choirs and co-chairs the Minnesota Choral Mentorship Program. Carlson-Giving studied Vocal Music Education at the University of Minnesota Duluth and earned a Master’s of Music in Music Education at Michigan State University.
-
Diane Heaney
Co-Chair
Diane Heaney retired in 2023 after 40 years as a vocal music director spending the last 30 years in Albert Lea High School. She previously taught junior high and high school music in Hull, IA, Montevideo, MN, and Menomonie, WI. In addition to her regular daily choral ensembles she also directed show choirs, the annual fall musical and talent show, and gave private voice lessons. Diane has a BME degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa and an MME degree from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Diane served six years on the presidential team for the ACDA-MN and continues to be involved in mentoring young conductors and the IDEA Committee. She also served a term as Choral Vice President for MMEA.
Diane is an organist, singer, and actress. She plays regularly for church services and has been on stage or behind the scenes as director for more than 75 dramatic productions. She currently is a voice instructor for MacPhail at their site in Austin. She lives in Albert Lea with her husband, Clyde, and has two wonderful adult children.
-
Mike Walsh
Co-Chair
Bio Coming Soon!
