Northwest MN Region News

By Isaac Lovedahl

Greetings from the Northwest ACDA-MN district! We’ve had lots of exciting developments and appointments in our region recently – please join me in celebrating a few of the latest updates from our neck of the woods:

• Dr. Stephanie Tubiolo was recently appointed to the choral music faculty at Concordia College, where she directs the Chapel Choir and first year ensemble, Kantorei. Additionally, she collaborates with her colleague, Dr. Michael Culloton, in the planning and execution of the annual Concordia Christmas Concerts. Dr. Tubiolo is delighted to join the rich Concordia choral tradition and hopes to be of service however possible to the ACDA-MN community. Welcome, Dr. Tubiolo!
  
• The Bemidji High School A Cappella Choir under the direction of Mr. Gunnar Aas has been selected to perform at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Convention, which will be held February 12-14, 2026 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
  

Dr. Isaac Lovdahl was recently appointed to the tenure-track Director of Choral Activities position at Bemidji State University, where he directs the university’s premier auditioned concert choir, the auditioned chamber singers, the tenor/bass choir, and teaches courses in choral music. He has also been named as Artistic Director of the Bemidji Chorale, a community ensemble that serves the greater Bemidji area. Dr. Lovdahl’s university concert choir, The Bemidji Choir, has been invited by audition to perform at the ACDA-MN Fall 2025 State Conference. The Bemidji Choir will perform during the conference on Saturday, November 15^th at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi.

About the Author

Dr. Isaac Lovdahl is an award-winning composer, conductor, educator, and bass-baritone vocalist who serves as the Director of Choral Activities at Bemidji State University. His music has been described as “a revelation” and “remarkable” (The American Prize), and is increasingly gaining traction throughout the choral music world. Over the past 5 years, Isaac has received award recognition, commissions, and premieres from: Cantus, the Yale Glee Club, The Singers – Minnesota Choral Artists, the Young New Yorkers’ Chorus, the Cambridge Chamber Singers, the Bellevue Chamber Chorus, The American Prize, the Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota, the Festival of New American Music, the North Dakota State University choirs, the Ithaca College Choral Composition Festival, Minneapolis SongSLAM, and the North Dakota Music Teachers Association in conjunction with the Music Teachers National Association. To learn more, please visit isaaclovdahl.com.