Congratulations to the 2025 Connecticut ACDA Award Winners!
We are thrilled to recognize three extraordinary conductors who embody excellence, artistry, and dedication in our choral community
Madison Adams is the Choir Director at Middlebrook Middle School in Wilton, Connecticut, where she inspires students to explore their voice, strengthen their confidence, and experience the joy of singing together. Before joining the Wilton Public Schools, she taught general music and chorus for grades 3–5 at G.H. Robertson Elementary School in Coventry, Connecticut, where she was honored with the Rookie of the Year Award for her outstanding dedication and impact in her first year of teaching.
A proud graduate of Western Connecticut State University, Ms. Adams earned her B.S. in Music Education, where she served as the Assistant Conductor of the University Singers under the direction of Dr. Jeremy Wiggins, and served as President of the WCSU Student Chapter of ACDA. While at Western Connecticut State University, she co-founded Bella Canto, a treble a cappella group that continues to thrive and regularly collaborates with other collegiate ensembles across Connecticut at festivals.
Michelle Horsley is the Music Director at St. James’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford, where she leads an adult choir, chorister program, and children’s ensemble. Most recently, Michelle held positions as Music Director for The Choir School of Hartford and Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Church in Hartford. In addition to her involvement with ACDA, she served as Dean of the Greater Hartford Chapter of the American Guild of Organists from 2020-2024.
Michelle has degrees in Organ Performance (BM) and Sacred Music (MM) and resides in Hartford's West End with her cat, Norman. Originally from Florida, Michelle has also lived in Spain, Germany, and Mexico. She is particularly passionate about circle-singing, unconventional musical collaborations, inclusive pedagogical approaches to music theory, and birding. She frequently composes, teaches, leads workshops, and performs around New England.
More information can be found at www.MichelleHorsley.com
Jamie Spillane is the Director of Choral Studies at the University of Connecticut, where he oversees an active program that includes eight choirs and teaches conducting and choral literature classes leading to undergraduate through doctoral degrees. UConn Choirs bi-annually tour overseas, with recent tours throughout Ireland, Germany, France, Austria, and Italy. UConn choral alumni can be seen directing collegiate programs and heard singing with some of the world’s finest vocal ensembles.
An active festival conductor and adjudicator, Dr. Spillane has directed all-state and honor choirs throughout the United States and has shared scholarship and conducted performances at state and division conventions of American Choral Directors Association and National Association for Music Education. He is regularly seen conducting honor choirs in Carnegie Hall and recently directed the Indiana All-State Vocal Jazz Choir.
For fourteen years, Dr. Spillane was chair of the Ledyard High School Music Department in Ledyard, CT, where he directed a choral program that grew to over 400 singers in ten choirs. Dr. Spillane has taught at the University of Arizona, Roberts Wesleyan College, and Iowa Wesleyan College where he was named Chadwick Teacher of the Year. Dr. Spillane has earned degrees from Ithaca College, the University of Connecticut, and the University of Arizona.
He has held numerous state, regional, and national leadership roles in ACDA and NAfME, has been named Connecticut ACDA Choral Director of the Year and is honored to be the current President-elect of the Eastern Region of ACDA.