News

Greetings, ACDA Friends,

I’ve just returned from the National ACDA Conference in Dallas, and I’m still buzzing with energy and inspiration from the experience! What an incredible few days of connection, learning, and musical excellence. It was such a joy to gather with colleagues from across the country—and around the globe—to celebrate the choral art together. From thought-provoking interest sessions to stunning performances that stirred the soul, the conference was a powerful reminder of the vibrant and passionate community we are so fortunate to be part of.

One of the most inspiring aspects of the week was seeing so many college students fully engaged in the experience—eager to learn, connect, and grow. I was deeply honored to take part in the collegiate conference events, serving on a panel discussion and working with both undergraduate and graduate students as a clinician for the conducting masterclasses. These emerging leaders are the future of our field, and their enthusiasm was nothing short of contagious.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended the New Members & First-Time Conference Attendees reception, generously sponsored by the Korean Tourism Organization. It was wonderful to welcome so many new faces into our ACDA family, and I hope you left feeling inspired, supported, and ready to dive deeper into all that our community has to offer.

The conference in Dallas was truly invigorating—a moment to pause, recharge, and remember why we do what we do. And it’s made me all the more excited for what lies ahead. Our next Midwestern ACDA Conference is just around the corner in 2026, and we’ll be gathering in the beautiful city of Milwaukee! I can confidently say that our outstanding MWACDA board and conference planning committee are already hard at work crafting a gathering that will be enriching, musically fulfilling, and reflective of the incredible diversity and talent within our region.

With that in mind, I’m thrilled to announce that the calls for performing choirs and interest session proposals for the 2026 conference are now OPEN! We warmly invite you to apply—whether you’re a seasoned presenter or bringing your choir for the first time. Every voice brings something unique and valuable to our collective experience. We encourage you to share your expertise, your artistry, and your passion with the wider community.

Our conference theme, Reflections of Us, is a celebration of who we are—as individuals, ensembles, and as a community. It’s designed to be a reunion, a space where we see our daily musical experiences reflected in one another, while also gaining new perspectives and fresh inspiration from across our region. We hope this theme will ground us, challenge us, and bring us closer together.

I can’t wait to see the amazing ideas and ensembles that will emerge as part of this next chapter. Let’s make 2026 one to remember!

Derrick Fox, Midwestern Region President

Read the full newsletter here.

Congratulations to our Midwestern choral colleagues and their choirs performing at the 2025 National ACDA Conference in Dallas!

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON CONCERT CHOIR
DR. MARIANA FARAH, CONDUCTOR

Concert Session A (Orange) Wednesday 10:30 a.m. Meyerson Symphony Center

Concert Session A (Purple) Wednesday 2:15 p.m. Meyerson Symphony Center

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY SINGERS
DR. JAMES RODDE, CONDUCTOR

Concert Session B (Orange) Wednesday 1:15 p.m. Meyerson Symphony Center

Concert Session B (Purple) Wednesday 9:30 a.m. Winspear Opera House

CANTANTI SINGERS
PHILIP BROWN, CONDUCTOR

Concert Session B (Orange) Wednesday 1:45 p.m. Meyerson Symphony Center

Concert Session B (Purple) Wednesday 10:00 a.m. Winspear Opera House

LUTHER COLLEGE NORDIC CHOIR
DR. ANDREW LAST, CONDUCTOR

Concert Session C (Orange) Wednesday 3:00 p.m. Winspear Opera House

Concert Session C (Purple) Thursday 10:45 a.m. Meyerson Symphony Center

LINN-MAR HIGH SCHOOL CHAMBER SINGERS
TRENT BUGLEWICZ, CONDUCTOR

Concert Session E (Orange) Friday 10:15 a.m. Meyerson Symphony Center

Concert Session E (Purple) Friday 2:30 p.m. Winspear Opera House

INDIANA UNIVERSITY SINGING HOOSIERS
DR. CHRIS ALBANESE, CONDUCTOR

Vocal Jazz and Show Choirs Concert
Saturday 12:45 p.m.
Winspear Opera House

Congratulations to all the Honor Choir sponsors, teachers, and their talented students who have earned a coveted spot in the 2025 National Honor Choir! Your hard work, dedication, and passion for music have truly paid off, and we are thrilled to celebrate your achievements. This prestigious opportunity is a testament to your exceptional talent and commitment to excellence. We look forward to seeing you in Dallas, where you will undoubtedly deliver inspiring performances and create unforgettable memories. Well done, and best of luck as you continue to share your musical gifts!

National Honor Choir Sponsors and Teachers

Diane Heaney – Albert Lea High School (Minnesota)
Adam Wurst – Allendale Middle School (Michigan)
Gage Fenton – Bishop Heelan Catholic High School (Iowa)
Nicholas Engbers – Bishop O’Gorman High School (South Dakota)
Brian Saylor – Bismarck High School (North Dakota)
Michael Seil – Bismarck Legacy High School (North Dakota)
Christopher Boveroux – Bloomington High School North (Indiana)
Lauren Melillo – Brandon Valley High School (South Dakota)
Rachael Fode – Brandon Valley High School (South Dakota)
Shawn Stemsrud – Brookings High School (South Dakota)
Denise Perry – Brookings High School Choir (South Dakota)
Marianna Kosaya – Campanella Children’s Choir (Illinois)
Beth Hall Central – Decatur School High School (Iowa)
Sara Cowan – Central High School (Nebraska)
Kathryn Lee – Central High School (Indiana)
Andrea Solya – Central Illinois Youth Chorus (Illinois)
Diane Skrobis – Children’s Choir of Waukesha (Wisconsin)
Gregor King – Clinton Rosette Middle School (Illinois)
Travis Erikson – DeKalb High School (Illinois)
Eric Cadena – East Lansing High School (Michigan)
Stacy Cunningham – East Leyden High School (Illinois)
Elizabeth Gullick – East Ridge High School (Minnesota)
Iwona Lewter – Freeman Junior and Senior H.S. (South Dakota)
Stephen LaCroix – Geneseo High School (Illinois)
Jessica Heinrich – Geneva Community High School (Illinois)
Brandon Catt – Glenbard East High School (Illinois)
Laura Johnson – Glenbard North High School (Illinois)
Andy Jeffrey – Glenbard West High School (Illinois)
Ann Johnson – Grove City High School (Ohio)
Taysia Aasen – Harrisburg East Middle School (South Dakota)
Molly Augspurger – Harrisburg Freshmen Academy (South Dakota)
Megan Heezen – Harrisburg North Middle School (South Dakota)
Connie Stordalen – Horizon Middle School (North Dakota)
Brian Holloway – Inola High School (Oklahoma)
Bill Gordon – Joseph Sears School (Illinois)
Bradley Staker – Kaneland Harter Middle School (Illinois)
Bryan Kunstman – Kaneland High School (Illinois)
Jacob Noordermeer – Lincoln High School (South Dakota)
Chad Garrels – Mahtomedi Senior High School (Minnesota)
Matthew Hanes – Maine South High School (Illinois)
PJ Uhazie – Mukwonago High School (Wisconsin)
Luke McGinnis – Munster High School (Indiana)
Nicole Thietje – New Prague High School (Minnesota)
Amy Branahl – New Trier High School (Illinois)
Kyle Eastman – Northfield High School (Minnesota)
Lori Wildeman – Park View Middle School (Wisconsin)
Todd Krier – Pius X Catholic High School (Nebraska)
Alexandria Kordelewski – Plainfield East High School (Illinois)
Meg Byrne – Pleasant Valley High School (Iowa)
Jordan Dollins – Portage High School (Indiana)
Lindsey Torgerson – Rapid City Central High School (South Dakota)
Karen Blair – Richard Ira Jones Middle School (Illinois)
Curtis Fischer-Oelschlaeger – Rockridge High School (Illinois)
Laura Sandham – Rosemount High School (Minnesota)
Steven Albaugh – Rosemount High School (Minnesota)
Kellen McMillen – Roseville Area High School (Minnesota)
Michael Molloy – Saint Charles North High School (Illinois)
Carrie Hill-Leech – Sandusky High School (Ohio)
Peter Schleif – Shattuck-St. Mary’s School (Minnesota)
James McMahon – Simle Middle School (North Dakota)
Christopher Jacobson – Sioux Falls Washington H.S. (South Dakota)
Shirley Neugebauer Luebke – Siouxland Youth Chorus (Iowa)
Vicky Boechler – St. Mary’s Academy (North Dakota)
Vicky Boechler – St. Mary’s Central High School (North Dakota)
Angela Weber – St. Thomas More High School (South Dakota)
Ann Deckert – Stevens High School (South Dakota)
Drayton Eggleson – Sycamore Middle School and High School (Illinois)
Janice Gilbert – Tea Area High School (South Dakota)
Elizabeth Whitehead – Tea Area Middle School (South Dakota)
John Boonenberg – The Boychoir of Ann Arbor (Michigan)
Renee DeJager – Timothy Christian Schools (Illinois)
Wendy McNiven – Tippecanoe Youth Choir (Indiana)

Hello, MWACDA Choral Directors!

We are embarking on an exciting project to showcase the rich talent of choral composers from the Midwest. Our goal is to create a YouTube playlist featuring new and inspiring choral works from our region, and we need your help!

Do you know a talented choral composer from the Midwest? Perhaps you’ve come across a beautiful piece of choral music written by a composer from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, or Wisconsin. We want to hear about it!

How You Can Contribute:

1. Submit a Composer: If you know a composer or a piece of choral music that deserves to be featured, please share their name and any relevant information (e.g., links to their work, brief bio, etc.).
2. Share Your Favorites: Let us know about your favorite choral works by Midwestern composers. If you have any recordings or performances, we’d love to include them in our playlist.
3. Spread the Word: Encourage others to contribute by sharing this call for submissions with your friends, family, and fellow choir members.

Submission Details:

• Email: Please send your submissions to [email protected] with the subject line “Midwest Choral Composers.”
• Deadline: Submissions will be accepted until [insert deadline date here].

Once we have gathered enough submissions, we will compile them into a YouTube playlist that will be shared with our congregation and beyond. This playlist will not only celebrate the creativity and artistry of Midwestern composers but also provide an inspiring resource for our community.

Thank you for helping us bring this project to life. We look forward to discovering and sharing the beautiful choral music from our talented Midwestern composers!

Dr. Jo Ann Miller

North Dakota State University: Director of Choral Activities; University Distinguished Professor

Since 1989, Jo Ann Miller has been director of choral activities at North Dakota State University. She conducts the Concert Choir and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting and choral literature.

Her involvement in the American Choral Director’s Association includes North Dakota state president, newsletter editor, repertoire and standards chair for the university level, audition chair for the 2006 North Central convention, program chair for the 2008 North Central convention, and search committee member for the national executive director. She served as North Central division president from 2006 through 2008 and is currently the national treasurer and member of the Executive Board from 2009-2017.

As director of choral activities at NDSU, her choirs tour regularly overseas and throughout the United States. The Concert Choir has been invited to perform at national, regional, and state music conventions, including the 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016. North Central American Choral Directors Association conventions and the 2001 national ACDA convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Miller is the artistic director of the NDSU Baroque Festival and the chorus master of the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. She was named a University Distinguished Professor in 2009, the highest honor awarded to faculty at NDSU, and in 2013 was awarded the Faculty Lectureship. She earned her degrees from NDSU, the University of North Dakota, and the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music.

She is an active clinician and guest conductor throughout the United States.

The NDSU Concert Choir tours regionally during spring break every year and internationally every three years. In 2012 they were awarded the first prize Golden Cross at the Zadar, Croatia International Choir Competition. They also record more than 30 compact discs annually. Since 2000 the Concert Choir has participated in the NDSU Baroque Festival with annual performances of Handel’s Messiah.

The Weston H. Noble Award for Lifetime Achievement in Choral Arts is given every two years to an outstanding choral conductor within the Midwest ACDA, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Mark Lehmann, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church & Choir: Chancel Choir Director

Mark Lehmann’s music education career has taken him all over the state of Iowa since his first school teaching job in 1974. In the past 41 years, Lehmann has taught at both the high school and college levels. He retired from high school teaching in 2010 to take an adjunct professor position at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

Before teaching at Wartburg, Lehmann worked as a vocal music instructor at Waverly-Shell Rock High School in Waverly, Iowa, from 1996 to 2010. Prior to that, Lehmann held the same position at Hampton-Dumont Community Schools in Hampton, Iowa from 1979 to 1996.

Lehmann had 172 students chosen for Iowa All-State Choir while at Waverly-Shell Rock, and five students were selected for national American Choir Directors Association (ACDA) Honor Choirs. He instructed 69 students who were chosen for Iowa All-State Choir while he worked at Hampton-Dumont.

Lehmann has been heavily involved with the Iowa High School Music Association as well as the ACDA North Central Division. He was executive board president of the former in 2007-08 and 2009-10.

Lehmann was a founding member of Comprehensive Musicianship Project in Iowa, and has served on its steering committee all but one summer when he toured Europe.  Through this program, thousands of music educators across the Midwest have been inspired to approach music education with a holistic view.

The award was established in 2003 in memory of Stace N. Stegman (1946-2003) from Sandusky, OH, who exemplified passion, knowledge, and integrity in his ongoing volunteer work with ACDA. It is now presented at each ACDA Midwestern Regional Conference to a member who has demonstrated similar professional dedication.