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,...

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: W...

🎙️ 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 o...

🎙️ 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 pr...

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 musi...

ACDA Podcast – February 2026 | Why We Sing Welcome to the February 2026 episode of the ACDA Podcast! As regional conference season approaches, Steve continues the year-long exploration of Why We Sing with a conversation that examines the connection between body awareness, personality, and choral music-making. The episode also looks ahead to the 2027 ACDA National Conference , revisits ACDA history...

Welcome to the January 2026 episode of the ACDA Podcast! Steve kicks off the new year by launching a new recurring segment centered on a timeless and deeply personal question: Why do we sing? Through two vulnerable personal stories—one rooted in artistic renewal and the other in perseverance during the pandemic—Steve reflects on the power of singing to sustain, heal, and connect us. Listeners are...

🎙️ ACDA Podcast – December 2025 | Why We Sing In the December 2025 episode of the ACDA Podcast, Steve reflects on the timeless question, “Why do we sing?” Inspired by Greg Gilpin’s beloved song, Steve invites listeners to share what singing means to them—emotionally, physically, spiritually, and communally—as we head into a season full of performances and reflection. 🎶 Featured Interview: Jeffrey...

🎙️ November 2025 – Uplifting Voices and Honoring Legacies This month on the ACDA Podcast, Steve begins with a heartfelt reminder about the power of encouragement—how a few kind words can make all the difference in a colleague’s day. From there, we travel across the country and through choral history in another inspiring episode celebrating connection, creativity, and community. 🗽 Summer Institute...

October 2025 – Play, Purpose, and Powerful Legacies We’re in the thick of the choral season, and Steve is right there with you! This month on the ACDA Podcast, we celebrate connection, creativity, and inspiration fromevery corner of the choral world. Steve starts with one last Summer Institute recap from right in his home state of Idaho and an open invitation to host your state’s event next year....

September 2025 – New Beginnings, Global Connections, and Future Visions September means fresh starts, full choirs, and a new season of possibilities! This month, Steve brings us highlights from summer conferences around the country, including reports from UMKC’s Choral Conducting Symposium , the New Jersey ACDA Summer Conference , and the 27th Annual Voices United Conference in Virginia. We then l...

As summer winds down, the ACDA Podcast dives into new beginnings and lasting legacies. This month, Steve introduces a new member of the ACDA Podcast team and welcomes Dean Luethi , National R&R Chair for 4-Year College and University Choirs. Dean shares his vision, background, and what he's learned through his own podcasting work with ChoirFam . We also hear from Ethan Soledad , winner of the...

It’s July, which means big transitions across ACDA! This month, Steve welcomes two new national leaders: Garrett Breeze, newly appointed National R&R Chair for Show Choirs, and Robert Natter, ACDA’s new National Treasurer. We get to know their backgrounds, their visions for their roles, and how they hope to serve our choral community. We highlight an insightful Choral Journal article from Gret...

Episode #11 - June 2025 This month, Steve explores the vital role of composers in the choral world. He highlights the growing support for composers within ACDA and shares valuable resources available on the ACDA website, including composition contests and online communities. The R&R Quick Pick features Jennifer Lucy Cook’s piece Time . Steve also takes us behind the mic of his sister podcast,...

Episode #10 – May 2025 This month, Steve steps us through the May edition of the Choral Journal. He explains what’s there and has in-depth interviews with several of the article authors. KarenGraffius talks about working with tone with middle school voices and then Kyra Stahr and McKenna Stenson call us all to action to promote women in the field of conducting. This month’s R&R Quick pick come...

Episode #9 – April 2025 For April, Steve starts out with a recap of his experience attending the National Conference in Dallas. Then, he sits down with Dr. Marshell Lombard to discuss the influence ofthe Drakensberg Boy’s Choir on diversity in South Africa. The R&R Quick pick this month is a stirring arrangement by Zanaida Robles of Lift Ev’ryVoice and Sing that you won’t want to miss. And in...

Episode #8 – March 2025 To start out this month, Steve talks about an article that caught his attention in the Choral Journal. Then, he interviews Arreon Harley-Emerson , our ACDA Chair for National Diversity Initiatives about what we need to know about DEI policies. A special R&R Quick Pick includes one of Steve’s compositions. We get an interview with the ACDA Executive Director Robyn Hilger...

In “It All Happens in Dallas,” Steve previews some of the exciting interest sessions that we can look forward to in March. Steve sits down with Director of Development Karen Klegelman and two of our conference sponsors, Stephen Carroll and Vincenzo D’Amore , host of the Daily Choirs Instagram page. The R&R Quick Pick highlights The Lantern in You by Jocelyn Hagen . We get to listen in to an in...

Welcome to ACDA 2025! In “It All Happens in Dallas,” Steve previews the two insight choir sessions that will be happening at the National Conference. The R&R Quick Pick highlights the New Canon Project, a commission through Rising Tide Music & Arts. After a reminder about our upcoming President-Elect elections, Steve takes a journey of influences . Who has been your greatest musical influe...

Steve wraps up the year with a festive sendoff in the December ACDA Podcast! This month, he introduces a new segment, “It All Happens in Dallas,” previewing the exciting events at the upcoming National Conference. In “Check it Out in the Choral Journal,” he highlights the January issue, a must-read for conference details. The episode features an engaging interview with Vincent (Vic) Oakes , candid...

Steve starts off with an entry of the Composer Challenge from Corbin Montenegro . In “Check in Out in the Choral Journal,” he highlights how to maintain our health through the “Sick Season.” He then interviews Dr. Jessica Nápoles, one of our two candidates for ACDA President-Elect. (Tune in to the December episode to hear an interview with the second candidate). We talk about her leadership experi...

This month, Steve gives a brief recap of the Idaho-ACDA Fall Conference . Then, he interviews Erin Plisco about the annual SA Composition Consortium. In “Check in Out in the Choral Journal,” Steve highlights the Advocacy and Collaborations articles and statement. He then interviews Dr. Edie Copley who is planning the National Conference in Dallas in March. We then turn to Children and Youth with o...

Episode #2 – September 2024  This month, Steve starts with “Check It Out in the Choral Journal” where he discusses the featured articles about composer William L Dawson . He visits with the foremost expert on Dawson, Mark Hugh Malone. Steve talks about the Composition/Conducting Challenge to improve upon the ACDA jingle. Next, we have an interview with composer Jake Runestad who talks about his Ea...

Episode #1 – August 2024 In this episode, Steve takes on a coast-to-coast review of summer institutes and symposiums: Washington, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. Then, he interviews Dr. Dustin Cates, the ACDA R&R Chair for Tenor/Bass Choirs about three music picks that he wants to recommend (see links below). Steve announces a new Composition/Conducting Challenge to improve upon the ACDA jingle. Lastl...

Welcome to the ACDA Podcast - the home for all things ACDA! Join our new host, Dr. Steve Danielson, as we explore news from all regions of ACDA. Do you have news to share from your region? Email Steve at sdanielson@acda.org or 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/...