ACDA Podcast

Summer may be a quieter season for many choirs, but the joy of singing doesn't take a vacation! In this episode, Steve continues the Why We Sing series by exploring what it means to remain a singer throughout life—from high school graduation to community ensembles and beyond. Along the way, you'll hear practical ideas for keeping singers engaged, recommendations for outstanding repertoire, and the latest ACDA news and opportunities.
This month's Why We Sing conversations focus on a simple but profound idea: singing isn't just something we do in school—it can become a lifelong part of who we are.
Steve is joined by Philip Brown, ACDA National R&R Chair for Senior High Choirs, to discuss how choir directors can cultivate lifelong singers before students ever graduate.
Their conversation explores:
Why students need to see singing as a lifelong activity—not just a school class
The growing popularity of pop-up choirs and flexible community singing experiences
How directors can prepare students to continue singing after high school
Why removing barriers to participation matters
Practical ways schools can partner with community ensembles
Philip's own answer to the question: Why do we sing?
Steve also speaks with Matt Hill, ACDA National R&R Chair for Community Choirs, about the unique role community ensembles play in helping adults continue making music throughout every stage of life.
Together they discuss:
Why community choirs provide more than just music—they create belonging
How community ensembles welcome singers of all backgrounds and experience levels
The many hats community choir directors wear behind the scenes
Why community choirs should be viewed as a natural continuation of school and collegiate singing
How lifelong singing benefits individuals, communities, and the choral profession
Matt's thoughtful reflection on Why We Sing
This month's repertoire recommendations come directly from two National R&R Chairs.
Philip Brown recommends:
Known by Grace Becker
Matt Hill recommends:
I Thank You God for Most This Amazing Day by Christopher Aspaas
Both selections demonstrate meaningful text setting and are excellent additions to your repertoire library.
This month's ACDA updates include:
State and regional ACDA events happening throughout the summer and fall
Congratulations to ACDA's newly elected Regional Presidents
Auditions for the 2027 National Honor Choirs—including the first-ever National Show Choir Honor Choir—open September 1
Applications for the 2027 Student Conducting Masterclass open September 1
Call for proposals for the 2027 National Conference Research Poster Session
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Castbox, iHeartRadio, and more.
Have feedback, future guest ideas, or your own answer to Why We Sing? Email acdapodcast@acda.org.
Join the ACDA Podcast Listeners Facebook group to continue the conversation.

LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:
ACDA website: https://acda.org
Choral Journal: https://acda.org/publications/choral-journal
Repertoire and Resources page: https://acda.org/repertoire/
Archive Collections: https://acda.org/archive-collections
R&R Quick Pick: Known, by Grace Becker - https://graphitepublishing.com/product/known/and i thank You God for most this amazing day, by Christopher Aspaas - https://www.jwpepper.com/i-thank-you-god-for-most-this-amazing-day-11514213/p?srsltid=AfmBOor_Viimuker1Ml4uANyDH5LONunSxie6VZG2h5-e-wkfh6VkayG
Calendar of Summer Events: https://airtable.com/appTAbtGdY1UraTyD/shr4OOKoWm1y1AMcJ
Apply for honor choir, conducting masterclass, orposter sessions: https://acda.org/archives/events/2027-national-conference

Episode #23 – June 2026
Welcome to the June 2026 episode of the ACDA Podcast! Steve begins this month’s episode with a reminder to reconnect with the reasons we first chose this profession and the impact we continue to have through music. Along the way, we celebrate the joy of singing, explore ACDA history, and continue our ongoing journey to answer one of choral music’s most enduring questions: Why do we sing?
🎤 Why We Sing – Greg Gilpin
As part of the Why Do We Sing? series, Steve sits down withcomposer, arranger, conductor, and educator Greg Gilpin, whose beloved anthem Why We Sing has inspired generations of singers around the world. Greg reflects on the origins of the piece, why its message continues to resonate with singers of all ages, and how his experiences workingwith young musicians have shaped his understanding of music’s purpose. The conversation explores singing not simply as performance, but as a meaningful human experience that helps us connect, communicate, and navigate life.
🎵 R&R Quick Pick
This month’s R&R Quick Pick features the obviouscompanion to our featured interview: Why We Sing by Greg Gilpin. Performed by the Northern Lights Chorale under the direction of Bruce Phelps, this enduring choral favorite continues to remind singers and audiences alike of the profound reasons we gather together in song.
📚 Check It Out in the Choral Journal
Steve highlights Kaitlin DeSpain’s article, “From Principleto Practice: Woman-to-Woman Mentorship in Choral Conducting,” from the June/July 2026 issue of Choral Journal. The article examines the role mentorship can play in supporting women conductors as they navigate leadership opportunities, professional networks, visibility, and career advancement. Steve discusses the article’s key findings, explores five characteristics of effective mentorship,and reflects on how mentorship can contribute to a stronger and more inclusive profession.
🗂️ Into the Archives – ACDA Trivia Challenge
This month’s Into the Archives segment takes a playful turnas Steve quizzes listeners on their ACDA knowledge.
How well do you know the history of the organization? Testyourself with questions about ACDA’s founding, first president, first national conference, regional structure, and more. No prizes are awarded—but bragging rights are definitely on the line.
📢 Did You Know?
This month’s ACDA updates include:
• Applications for the 2027 National Honor Choirs openSeptember 1, including the first-ever National Show Choir Honor Choir
• Applications open September 1 for the 2027 StudentConducting Masterclass
• ACDA is seeking proposals for the 2027 National ConferenceResearch Poster Session
• Researchers are currently seeking participants for anational study on the use of practice tracks in choral education
🎧 Stay Connected
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more.
Have feedback, future guest ideas, or an answer to the question Why Do We Sing? Email Steve at acdapodcast@acda.org.
Follow the podcast on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562971310243⁠
Follow us on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/acdapodcast/⁠
Join or log in to your ACDA profile: https://acda.org/login
 
LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:
ACDA website: https://acda.org
Choral Journal: https://acda.org/publications/choral-journal
Repertoire and Resources page: https://acda.org/repertoire/
R&R Quick Pick: Why We Sing by Greg Gilpin- https://www.jwpepper.com/why-we-sing-3303113/p?srsltid=AfmBOoqY_dioqkcS7zoN8kS__Fqo2YjDeUYBEHcEAmJnXVjJDUvGKH8J
Calendar of Summer Events: https://airtable.com/appTAbtGdY1UraTyD/shr4OOKoWm1y1AMcJ
Apply for honor choir, conducting masterclass, orposter sessions: https://acda.org/archives/events/2027-national-conference
Request for Scores for National Conference: https://choralnet.org/archives/acda-news/national-repertoire-resources-call-for-scores
Practice Tracks in Choral Education: https://acda.org/resources/research-and-publications-committee

🎙️ ACDA Podcast – May 13, 2026
Welcome to the May 2026 episode of the ACDA Podcast! Steve reflects on the difference between exhaustion and burnout following a massive spring concert featuring nearly 30 pieces and five student-composed world premieres. Building on last month’s conversation with Dr. Peter Steenblik, this episode explores how meaningful musical work can energize us even in seasons of fatigue—and how reconnecting with purpose can reshape the way we experience our profession.
🎤 Why We Sing – Zach Haas
As part of the ongoing Why Do We Sing? series, Steve speaks with Zach Haas, a senior at Sandusky High School in Ohio, whose experience with physical tics has given him a uniquely personal understanding of music’s impact on the body and mind.
🎵 R&R Quick Pick
This month’s selection from the 2025 National R&R Virtual Reading Sessions comes from Philip Brown, R&R Chair for Senior High Choirs.
Featured piece:
Tuli Tuli arranged by Alex Gartner

📚 Check It Out in the Choral Journal
Steve welcomes Michael Gutierrez to discuss his article:
“Fostering Connection: Fifteen Social-Emotional Learning Strategies for Building Community in the Choral Classroom” from the May 2026 issue of the Choral Journal.
Topics include:
Student Spotlight / “We Are Family” projects

Student-led warm-ups and conducting

Wellness Days in the choir classroom

Affirmation circles

Cultural and family-centered choir events

The conversation explores how social-emotional learning can become an integrated part of rehearsal culture rather than an “extra” added onto teaching.
🗂️ Into the Archives – The Origins of ACDA Honor Choirs
This month’s archival segment explores the beginnings of ACDA Honor Choirs, which first appeared at ACDA conferences in 1983.
Steve traces:
how conferences evolved beyond conductor-centered events,

why Honor Choirs became transformational experiences for young singers,

the growth of children’s, collegiate, and regional honor choirs,

and how these ensembles continue shaping repertoire, pedagogy, and the future of choral music.

Plus: a brief tribute to the ancient art of mailing cassette tape auditions.
📢 Did You Know?
This month’s updates include:
Applications for the International Conductors Exchange Program (ICEP) with New Zealand

ACDA’s new Music Industry Task Force

A research study on concert choir attire policies and gender diversity

Additional opportunities and announcements from the ACDA weekly newsletter

🎧 Stay Connected
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Castbox, iHeartRadio, and more.
Have thoughts about burnout, connection, or the question “Why do we sing?”
Send your reflections or voice memos to acdapodcast@acda.org.

Follow the podcast on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562971310243⁠
Follow us on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/acdapodcast/⁠
Website: https://acda.org
Join or log in to your ACDA profile: https://acda.org/login
 
LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:
ACDA website: https://acda.org
Choral Journal: https://acda.org/publications/choral-journal
Repertoire and Resources page: https://acda.org/repertoire/
Virtual Reading Sessions: https://acda.org/archives/events/2025-national-rr-virtual-reading-sessions
R&R Quick Pick: Tuli Tulli, arr. Alex Gartner- https://sbmp.com/SR2.php?CatalogNumber=1477
International Conductors Exchange Program: https://acda.org/resources/icep
ACDA Music Industry Task Force: Call for Expressionsof Interest: https://choralnet.org/archives/acda-news/acda-music-industry-task-force-call-for-expressions-of-interest
Concert Choir Attire Policies Research Request: https://acda.org/resources/research-and-publications-committee

🎙️ACDA Podcast – April 2026
This month, Steve reflects on the realities of fatigue in the choral profession—especially in the wake of a busy performance season—and opens an honest, thoughtful conversation about burnout, identity, and sustainability in our work.
🧠Burnout & the Choral Director Identity
Steve is joined by Dr. Peter Steenblik for a deeper exploration of burnout—not just as a problem to solve, but as a signal worth understanding. Moving beyond practical strategies, this conversation examines how passion, expectations, andprofessional identity intersect, and what it means to pursue sustainable joy in a demanding field.
🎶 Why Do We Sing? – Community & Humanity
Continuing the Why Do We Sing? series, Steve speaks with composer and author Jack Curtis Dubowsky about singing as a deeply human, embodied, and communal act. Their discussion explores singing as a vehicle for identity, connection, and even social change—broadening the question beyond music into the shared human experience.
🎵R&R Quick Pick
This month’s selection comes from the Junior High/Middle School Choirs R&R Chair, featuring Crossroads by Reginal Wright—an engaging and meaningful work for developing ensembles.
📚Into the Archives
This segment explores ACDA’s long-standing partnership with Hinshaw Music and the evolution of its publishing efforts—from the practical ACDA Monograph Series to today’s scholarly and historical resources that continue to shape the choral profession.
📢Did You Know?
Updates include:
A new "Between the Staves" advice column on managing springtime workload
Final days to apply for performing and insight choirs for the 2027 National Conference
Applications open for the International Conductors Exchange Program (New Zealand)
🎧Stay Connected
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more.
Have thoughts on burnout or Why Do We Sing? Send your reflections or voice memos to acdapodcast@acda.org.
Follow the podcast on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562971310243⁠
Follow us on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/acdapodcast/⁠
Website: https://acda.org
Join or log in to your ACDA profile: https://acda.org/login
 
LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:
ACDA website: https://acda.org
Choral Journal: https://acda.org/publications/choral-journal
Choral Journal Article from Peter Steenblik: https://acda.org/archives/6586
Repertoire and Resources page: https://acda.org/repertoire/
Virtual Reading Sessions: https://acda.org/archives/events/2025-national-rr-virtual-reading-sessions
R&R Quick Pick: Crossroad by ReginalWright - https://global.oup.com/academic/product/crossroad-9780193433502?cc=us&lang=en&
Jack Curtis Dubowsky: https://www.jackcurtisdubowsky.com/
Hinshaw Music Series: https://acda.org/publications/hinshaw-music-series
Between the Staves: https://choralnet.org/archives/812170
Insight Choir or Performing Choir Application forNational Conference: https://acda.org/archives/events/2027-national-conference
Symposium for Research in Choral Singing: https://acda.org/conferences/symposium-for-research-in-choral-singing
International Conductors Exchange Program: https://acda.org/resources/icep

In the March 2026 episode of the ACDA Podcast, host Steve Danielson reflects on the recent regional conferences and shares insights from across the choral community. As part of the ongoing Why Do We Sing? series, Steve speaks with conductor, composer, and researcher Raphael Fusco about the science and psychology behind singing, exploring how empathy, physiology, and human connection shape our musical experiences.
This episode also features a conversation with composer Dan Forrest, who recently received ACDA’s Raymond W. Brock Memorial Commission—becoming the first composer to have previously won the Brock Prize for Student Composers. Dan reflects on his compositional journey, creative process, and what this full-circle moment means for his work.
Plus, Steve travels Into the Archives to explore the origins of ChoralNet and its early predecessor, Choralist, highlighting how early internet technology helped connect choral conductors long before modern social media.
Follow the podcast on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562971310243 ⁠ 
Follow us on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/acdapodcast/ ⁠ 
Website: https://acda.org  
Join or log in to your ACDA profile: https://acda.org/login  
 
LINKS FROM THE EPISODE: 
ACDA website: https://acda.org  
Raphael Fusco: https://raphaelfusco.com   
ChoralNet article: https://choralnet.org/archives/471001  
Repertoire and Resources page: https://acda.org/repertoire/ 
Virtual Reading Sessions: https://acda.org/archives/events/2025-national-rr-virtual-reading-sessions  
R&R Quick Pick: Celebration by Kate Crellin - https://www.katecrellin.com/product-page/celebration-satb  
Dan Forrest: https://danforrest.com  
Choral Journal: https://acda.org/publications/choral-journal  
Symposium for Research in Choral Singing: https://acda.org/conferences/symposium-for-research-in-choral-singing  
Insight Choir or Performing Choir Application for National Conference: https://acda.org/archives/events/2027-national-conference