The Eastern Region of the American Choral Directors Association is proud to announce the election of Libby Gopal as our next President-Elect Designate. With a distinguished career spanning two decades as a high school director and a proven record of visionary leadership within NJ-ACDA, Libby brings an unwavering commitment to choral excellence and inclusive advocacy to this regional role. We look forward to the energy and expertise she will bring to our board as we continue to support our vibrant choral community.
We also wish to extend our deepest gratitude to Regina McAdam for her candidacy and her continued, invaluable service to the choral profession.
Libby Gopal graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Music Education, her masters in music education from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and a masters in school administration from Rowan University.
During her twenty year tenure as a high school choir director, Mrs. Gopal’s students were invited to perform in state and regional conferences, All-Eastern ACDA, the Kimmel Center and Carnegie Hall. She has been a New Brunswick Education Foundation (NBEF) mini grant recipient and two time recipient of the American Choral Directors Association Fund For Tomorrow Grant. Mrs. Gopal was awarded the 2019 NJ Governor’s Educator of the Year Award for East Orange. She received the 2022 National Federation of State High School Association Outstanding Music Educator Award for New Jersey. In 2024, Mrs. Gopal was inducted into the Westminster Choir College Music Education Hall of Fame.
Mrs. Gopal served as a teacher trainer for the East Orange School District, was the 2021-2023 NJMEA Advocacy Chair, and served as NJ-ACDA Inclusivity Chair from 2017 until 2021 when she became NJ-ACDA President-Elect. As NJ-ACDA Inclusivity Chair, Ms. Gopal piloted and established the Voices United Choral Festival to create an inclusive choral space where all students felt welcome, valued, and challenged within a meaningful, high-quality choral festival experience. She served on the ChorTeach editorial board from 2021-2023. In 2023, she served as one of the contributing authors for GIA’s publication of A Music Pedagogy for Our Time.
As the NJ-ACDA President (2023-2025), Mrs. Gopal started the Summer Honors Choir Festival to provide a low-cost, low-pressure opportunity for advanced choir students to perform in a large non-auditioned ensemble with peers from across the region. Now entering its third year, she serves as the Summer Honors Choir Coordinator for the 7th-9th grade SSA Choir and the 10th-12th grade SATB Choir. Mrs. Gopal currently serves as the K-12 Visual & Performing Arts Supervisor for the East Windsor Regional School District.