Bland, Daniels, Figueras, and Machacon Appointed as Members of the ACDA Education and Communication National Standing Committee

After a National call for applicants and nominees, ACDA welcomes Dr. Micah Bland, Stacy Daniels, Dr. Erick J. Figueras, and Darlene Machacon as newly appointed members of the Education and Communication National Standing Committee. They will begin their official terms on July 1, 2025 and will serve two year appointments.

The Education and Communication National Standing Committee fosters educational initiatives that provide professional development and resources for emerging, mid-career, and late-career ACDA members as well as initiatives focused on inspiring the next generation of choral professionals.

Meet the new appointees:

Dr. Micah Bland is Director of Choral Activities at The University of Toledo, where he directs the Chamber Singers and University Chorus, and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in choral music education, conducting, and voice. Prior to joining the faculty at The University of Toledo, Bland served as Director of Choirs at Ranger College, James “Nikki” Rowe High School, and Gainesville Middle School. He is founder and host of the ChoralEd video podcast and currently serves as the “Student Times” column editor for the Choral Journal.

Stacy Daniels is a singer, conductor, clinician, and educator. He directs choral music at Liberty Middle School in Madison, AL, and leads the Huntsville Community Chorus Treble Chorale. A graduate of the University of Montevallo, he holds degrees in Choral Music Education and Vocal Performance, plus a Master’s in Choral Conducting from FSU. Daniels is a past president of the Madison County Choral Directors Association. His choirs have earned superior ratings and performed at prestigious festivals, including the AMEA conference.

Dr. Erick J. Figueras is the Director of Arts & Innovative Programs in Florence One Schools, SC, overseeing K-12 arts programs. He has led major expansions and facility upgrades, increasing student participation in honors ensembles. A former choral director with 20 years of experience, he has performed with prestigious ensembles at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. His career highlight was the NY Philharmonic’s 9/11 Memorial Concert. Figueras holds degrees in voice, opera, and music education and serves on multiple boards. His research focuses on teacher stress, burnout, and attrition, and he frequently presents at conferences.

Darlene Machacon (she/her) is a high school music teacher in Orange County, California. Previously an elementary music teacher, Darlene focuses her work on uplifting student-centered music education, fusing elements of social and emotional learning and culturally responsive teaching. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she is an active contributor to the music education community as a presenter, author, and social media content creator (@thedarlingmusicteacher). Darlene became a 2022 national recipient of the Music Teacher of Excellence award from the CMA Foundation. Her philosophy focuses on challenging the status quo of traditional music education to make space for marginalized voices.

These appointees join serving members John MacDonald (Chair), Grant Farmer, and Robert Sinclair.

Recently, the Committee launched a new blog called “Between the Staves: Choral Questions, Candid Answers.” Whether you’re curious about vocal technique, rehearsal tips, repertoire selection, or the administrative side of our profession (business, fundraising, scheduling, recruiting, communication, audio engineering, etc.!), Between the Staves will have you covered. To submit topics or questions to be answered on the blog, CLICK HERE.