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 Raymond W. Brock Prize for Student Composition, and Alex Canovas, co-chair of the competition, who shares how young composers can submit their work. Ethan talks about his winning piece, his passion for choral writing, and the power of mentorship.
Our R&R Quick Pick spotlights Oseh Shalom by Sarah Riskind, a tango-flavored setting for SATB, piano, and violin. In the Choral Journal, Steve highlights Project: Encore, a searchable catalog of post-premiere choral works. We also review recent summer events, from Schmidt Vocal Institute and Zephyr Point to MCDA Missouri and the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and many more.
In “Did You Know?”, Steve shares important reminders about membership renewal, regional conferences, virtual reading sessions, and a call for research proposals for the 2026 Symposium on Choral Research.
The episode closes with a moving “Influence” story from John Byun, honoring the late Joe Huszti, a legendary conductor who taught generations to bring music off the page and into the soul.
Do you have astory, event, or musical influence you’d like to share? Email Steve at acdapodcast@acda.org.
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LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:
ACDA website: https://acda.org
Repertoire and Resources page: https://acda.org/repertoire/college-and-university-choirs-repertoire
Virtual Reading Sessions: https://acda.org/archives/events/2025-national-rr-virtual-reading-sessions
Choral Journal: https://acda.org/publications/choral-journal
R&R Quick Pick: Oseh Shalom, by SarahRiskind https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNyliu94K90
List of State Events: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SALL8kh_EkKydSdxjJEl0f0kFchLTtJrpMAxaqCsij4/edit?gid=893148961#gid=893148961
Regional Conference Info: https://acda.org/region-conferences
Children and Community Youth Retreat: https://acda.org/conferences/childrens-community-youth-choir-conductors-retreat
Symposium for Research in Choral Singing: https://acda.org/conferences/symposium-for-research-in-choral-singing