Summer Dialogue
Reconnect with colleagues, refine your skills, and renew your spirit!
Welcome to Summer Dialogue 2026
Back to Basics: Nuts and Bolts
July 29-31, Concordia College
Online registration is now closed.
Onsite registration will begin Wed, July 29 at 8am.
Summer Dialogue is fast approaching and we’re excited to extend an invitation to you. This year, the theme is Back to Basics: Nuts and Bolts, and will feature a wide array of engaging speakers and session topics that will motivate and inspire you. Highlights include:
- Robyn Hilger – Keynote Address: Someone Has Your Voice in Their Head: Connecting Impact to What Comes Next
- Michael Johnson – Director’s Chorus Conductor
- All-State Conductor’s Panel Discussion
- Student Conducting Workshop
- Rehearsal Revolution: Intentional Strategies for Engaging and Energizing Your Ensemble with Colleen Chester
- Musical Literacy in the Choral Classroom with Michael Culloton
- Guidelines & Resources to Explore the Contributions of MN American Indians in the Secondary Music Ensembles (Relicensure session) – Micheal Buck, Perpich Center
- Real Dialogue with Bryan Fisher
- *Pre-Conference Workshop: Choral Mentorship Summit with Diane Heaney and Zack Carlson-Giving
- *Pre-Conference Workshop: Fully Present at the Podium: Engaging your whole person with Dwight Jilek
Repertoire and Resource Sessions:
- World Music with Natalia Romero Arbeláez
- Sacred Music with Adam Giebner
- SSAA with Jaclyn Schmeichel
- TTBB with Scott Perau
- Children and Community with Elizabeth Egger
- High School with Paula Asmus
Conference Chair
ACDA-MN Vice President
Keynote
Someone Has Your Voice in Their Head: Connecting Impact to What Comes Next
Robyn Hilger
What if the most important part of our work isn’t what we see on stage, but what walks out of our classrooms and into the world? We’ll reflect on the quiet, lasting impact music educators have in the lives of singers. Through personal story and shared experience, this session invites you to reconnect with the heart of why we do this work, even in challenging times. From that place, we’ll look ahead—considering how we can more intentionally help singers see what’s possible for their lives through music. This is a moment to be reminded: what you do matters, and where it leads can last a lifetime.
Directors’ Chorus
Michael Johnson
The Directors’ Chorus 2026 returns with guest conductor Michael Johnson leading registrants in an engaging series of rehearsals culminating in a performance for the All-State Choir students on Thursday afternoon.
Thursday, July 30
3:45 – 5:00pm: Performance for All-State Choir Students (4:30pm)
ACE Award Deadline
Contact your district chairs to nominate someone in your ACDA-MN district the annual Advocate for Choral Excellence (ACE) Award.
Past recipients have been administrators, accompanists, parent booster organizations, church and community choir conductors, civic leaders who promote the choral arts, etc.
High School Choir Night at Target Field
Purchase a ticket through this promotion and join other high school choirs on the field prior to the game to perform the National Anthem.
To purchase tickets:
For groups of 20+, reach out to Peter Farley at 612-659-3583 or PeterFarley@twins.com to purchase $16 upper-level or $34 lower-level tickets.
For groups of fewer than 20 tickets, $21.75 upper-level and $39.75 lower-level tickets are available at the link below:
https://www.gofevo.com/event/HighSchoolChoir26
Rehearsal will be starting at 1:30 PM prior to entering the stadium. The arrangement being used will be provided to all group organizers ahead of time.
9-10 Audition Deadline
9-10 Honor Choir auditions are due!