Dr. Justin Nelson, Director of Choral Activities at Southern Arkansas University, was honored with the Trailblazer Award at the Arkansas Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association Conference. Dr. Nelson was one of three to receive the inaugural award, along with Sarah Gwatney-Dunbar, an Oklahoma City University Graduate Student with an appointment at Greenbriar schools, and Craig Jones of Harding Academy.
“The trail is made, but I’ll come help pave it,” Dr. Nelson says with humor about being called a trailblazer for the state. “It was profoundly surprising and humbling because you look around the room and see what everyone else has done–there’s a lot of great things going on in our state.”
According to the ACDA Arkansas Chapter’s website, the “Trailblazer Awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication in advancing choral excellence within the state. … These individuals serve as exemplary advocates for the choral arts, embodying innovation, mentorship, and a commitment to nurturing artistic growth among their peers and within their communities.”
For over 50 years, the ACDA has been the largest professional organization for choral musicians, representing over one million singers, including students, teachers, and directors.
Dr. Nelson’s membership with ACDA began in 1998 when he was a student at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee, where he graduated magna cum laude with a BM in Music Education. His membership remained active while he taught for 13 years at Cherokee High School in Rogersville, TN; received an MM in Choral Conducting with honors from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN; and completed his DMA studies at Texas Tech University. Dr. Nelson has retained a professional membership ever since.
Originally from Rockwood, Tennessee, Dr. Nelson joined the SAU faculty in 2019 and subsequently the Arkansas Chapter of ACDA.
“As someone who’s not from Arkansas, ACDA membership has given me an opportunity to meet other choral directors from across the state,” says Dr. Nelson, who serves as the current State Collegiate ACDA Activities Chair. “The Arkansas members are the most giving and supportive people I’ve ever met. That’s a special thing about our state.”
As the director of SAU’s choral programs as well as the Southwest Arkansas Chamber Singers, a community choir, Dr. Nelson prides himself on selecting challenging music while also providing opportunities for his students to perform and work with community and industry musicians. It’s important to Dr. Nelson that his choral programs reflect his belief in the transformational power of music to shape individuals, their communities, and the world.
“We try to program music that reflects our student body–I want to pick composers that remind the students of themselves,” Dr. Nelson says. “We don’t just sing to make pretty sounds but to change the world and make a difference in our community.”
To students interested in SAU’s choral programs, Dr. Nelson believes that music is a pathway to finding your community: “Choir is open to everyone, not just music majors. It’s a great way to find your group at college.” To learn more, please visit: www.saumag.edu/choirs
