The National Chair for Repertoire & Resources is an elected position by the ACDA membership. Gretchen Harrison has held this position since 2020 and her term will conclude June 30, 2028. Now it is time for ACDA to select its next National leader.
The National Chair for Repertoire & Resources serves is a voting member of the National Board, coordinates the adjudication processes for the National Conference, appoints and leads the National R & R committees and serves as an advisor for all ACDA Repertoire and Resources activities across the country. The Chair is elected to serve one, four-year term that is renewable once for a total of eight years of service.
The election will be held in January 2027. In the meantime, please meet your candidates for consideration for the National Chair for Repertoire & Resources!
Meet the candidates:
Dr. Dustin S. Cates
Dr. Dustin S. Cates (he/him) is a teacher, conductor, researcher, singer, and proud native of Kansas City, Missouri. He is passionate about building meaningful relationships through music and empowering future conductor-teachers to discover and embrace their authentic voice. Dr. Cates serves as Associate Professor of Choral Music Education at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance, part of the Center for Performing and Cinematic Arts. At Temple, he conducts the University Chorale, supervises graduate students, and teaches courses in music education, choral/vocal pedagogy, and choral methods. A frequent clinician and presenter, Dr. Cates regularly leads professional development workshops for music educators and serves as a guest conductor for honor choirs and music festivals throughout the United States. He is also editor of the Sing Out! Choral Series with MusicSpoke, a publishing initiative dedicated to amplifying diverse and underrepresented voices through innovative choral repertoire. Dr. Cates holds undergraduate and doctoral degrees in choral music education from the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory and a master’s degree from Baker University. Prior to his appointment at Temple, he served as Artistic Director and Conductor of Heartland Men’s Chorus, Associate Director of Worship Arts at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and taught high school choral music in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Dr. Cates is the former National Repertoire and Resources Chair for Tenor/Bass Choirs for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), past president of the Kansas Choral Directors Association, and currently serves on the ACDA Eastern Region conference leadership team. Dr. Cates considers his most important roles to be husband to Dr. Raymond Cattaneo (medical, not music) and father to their son, Emmaus.
Vision Statement
Throughout my career, I have been shaped by the extraordinary generosity of colleagues who freely shared their knowledge, repertoire, ideas, and encouragement. That spirit of collaboration is one of the qualities I value most about the American Choral Directors Association, and it is the spirit that would guide my leadership as National Repertoire and Resources Chair.
The Repertoire and Resources structure is one of ACDA’s greatest strengths. It brings together dedicated volunteer leaders with diverse expertise who help choir directors discover repertoire, develop their craft, and build meaningful musical experiences for singers and audiences. As National Chair, I would seek to build upon the innovative work of those who have served before me while continuing to expand opportunities for connection, learning, and resource sharing for members at every stage of their careers.
I believe that effective leadership begins with listening. Our profession is evolving rapidly, and choir directors are navigating changing educational environments, shifting community needs, emerging technologies, and expanding artistic possibilities. Repertoire and Resources can play a vital role in helping members meet these challenges by providing practical, relevant, and inspiring resources that support artistic excellence while remaining responsive to the realities of contemporary choral practice.
One of my priorities would be to strengthen collaboration among national, regional, and state R&R leaders. I envision a culture in which chairs are empowered to share ideas, identify emerging needs, and contribute to initiatives that advance ACDA’s mission. By fostering stronger communication and collaboration across the organization, we can leverage the expertise of our volunteer leaders more effectively and ensure that valuable resources reach members in meaningful ways.
I am also excited by the opportunities available through digital engagement. Webinars, podcasts, curated repertoire spotlights, online discussions, and other forms of digital content can extend the reach of Repertoire and Resources far beyond conferences and provide year-round opportunities for learning and professional growth. These platforms can help members access trusted recommendations, innovative teaching strategies, and resources that reflect the rich diversity of today’s choral community.
At its core, repertoire is about more than music selection. The repertoire we choose shapes the experiences of our singers, tells stories, builds connections, and helps communities better understand themselves and one another. By supporting thoughtful, informed, and creative repertoire decisions, Repertoire and Resources can continue to enrich our profession and strengthen the impact of choral music.
I believe deeply in ACDA and in the power of choral music. Our organization has the unique ability to inspire artistic excellence, foster meaningful human connection, and shape the future of singing communities everywhere. If given the opportunity to serve as National R&R Chair, I will lead with humility, joy, collaboration, and a commitment to service, working alongside our volunteer leaders to ensure that Repertoire and Resources remains a trusted, innovative, and vibrant force for empowering and advancing choral music for generations to come.
Dr. Jenny Bent
Dr. Jenny Bent is Professor of Music and Director of Choral and Vocal Activities at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California, and Choral Director of the Santa Rosa Symphony. She holds degrees from Boston University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with expertise in voice performance, choral conducting, and choral literature.
Praised by the San Francisco Classical Voice as “superb” with “excellent diction and well-controlled dynamics,” Dr. Bent’s choirs have earned unanimous superior ratings and command performances at festivals throughout California. Under her direction, her ensembles have performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall in New York City, Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Her ensemble SonoVoce was recently honored to perform at the California All-State Music Education Conference (CASMEC).
Dr. Bent received the 2019 California Music Educators Association Bay Section Outstanding Choral Educator Award and the 2023 CMEA Pearson/Scott Foresman/Silver Burdett Choral Educator Award. Before joining the faculty at Sonoma State University, she spent more than a decade teaching high school, including at the Marin School of the Arts. This summer, she served as Choral Director at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, where she previously served on the voice faculty.
As an active guest conductor, adjudicator, and conference presenter, Dr. Bent has worked with organizations including CMEA, ACDA, Golden State, and NATS. She served on the board of the California Choral Directors Association (CCDA) from 2016-2023 and currently serves as Repertoire & Resources Collegiate Choirs Coordinator for National ACDA and Treasurer for the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO). From 2007-2014, Dr. Bent enjoyed sharing her passion for choral music as a host of “The Choir Loft” on KRCB-FM, Sonoma County’s NPR affiliate.
Outside of music, she is a proud (and semi-obnoxious) sports and robotics mom whose favorite moments are watching her two sons do what they love.
Vision Statement
I am excited to be considered for the position of Repertoire & Resources Chair for ACDA. My years of service to the organization, most recently as Collegiate Choirs Coordinator, have given me a deep appreciation for the work of our R&R chairs and for the important role they play in connecting ACDA’s mission to the everyday work of choral musicians.
I have been fortunate to work closely with colleagues throughout ACDA on conference planning, professional development, student initiatives, surveys, and resources for collegiate conductors and faculty advisors. Through this work, I have learned a great deal about how our national, regional, and state structures intersect and about the importance of communication and follow-through in an organization as large and varied as ours. I have also had the benefit of watching Gretchen Harrison lead the R&R structure with consistency, organization, and genuine care for the people doing the work. She leaves big shoes to fill!
My vision for Repertoire & Resources begins with supporting our chairs. These individuals bring extraordinary knowledge and experience to ACDA, and I believe the coordinator’s responsibility is to help them succeed by communicating regularly, providing clear expectations and timelines, facilitating connections, and making sure their ideas and expertise reach our membership. I would also encourage greater collaboration among R&R areas. Some of our most useful conversations happen when we move beyond our individual specialties and discover the challenges and interests we share.
I also see tremendous potential for R&R to contribute to membership growth and retention. Repertoire may be what initially draws many conductors to ACDA, but the resources, relationships, and professional community can keep them connected. We should continue asking what our members need at different stages of their careers and how R&R can respond in practical ways.
I am especially committed to creating stronger connections with students and emerging professionals. My work in Collegiate Activities has reinforced how important it is that students see a place for themselves within ACDA before they graduate and that we provide a clear bridge from student membership into professional involvement. R&R can be an important part of that bridge through mentoring, resources, conference opportunities, and meaningful ways to participate in the organization.
I would bring to this role a strong work ethic, organization, reliability, and a willingness to listen. I show up, I follow through, and I enjoy bringing people together to get things done. Most importantly, I care deeply about ACDA and the people who make it what it is. I would be honored to help our R&R chairs do their best work and to ensure that Repertoire & Resources remains one of the most useful and engaging parts of ACDA membership.
Elections will take place January 20th through February 3rd, 2027. Want to hear more from our candidates? Check out the latest ACDA podcast featuring Jenny and Dustin. In separate interviews, they share their experiences with ACDA, discuss their visions for the future of R&R, and explore ways to help members discover repertoire, access meaningful resources, and connect across the choral profession.
Click below to listen:
