After an extensive application and nomination process, Breeze, Dame, Flores, Lercher, Leuthi, Meeker, and Thomasson Smith have been appointed as Chairs to the National Repertoire & Resources Committee. Their terms begin July 1, 2025. They have been appointed to the following positions:
Garrett Breeze–Show Choirs
Nathan Dame–Tenor Bass Choirs
Carolina Flores–2-Year Colleges
Jami Lercher–Student Activities Co-Chair
Dean Luethi–4-Year Colleges & Universities
Troy Meeker–Children and Community Youth Choirs
Donna Thomasson Smith–Youth Choirs Coordinator
Let’s meet your new leaders:
Garrett Breeze is a Nashville-based composer best known for his catalog of more than 1,500 choral arrangements of popular music, including more than 1,000 written for competitive show choirs. For the past 15 years, Garrett has been actively involved in the show choir community as an arranger, show designer, clinician, and adjudicator, working with hundreds of choirs across the country. His music is published by Breeze Tunes and Shawnee Press and regularly appears on J.W. Pepper’s Editor’s Choice and other recommended lists.
As a skilled freelance orchestrator and music preparer, Garrett has contributed to a wide range of media projects, including 12 large-format films, Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir, and popular video games like World of Warcraft and Overwatch. He has also worked with renowned artists such as Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jordan Smith, Kristin Chenoweth, Michael W. Smith, Santino Fontana, Sutton Foster, and Tauren Wells. His original production music has been featured globally in commercials on all major television networks and in well-known TV shows such as Access Hollywood, Judge Judy, and Lego Masters.
Garrett holds a Bachelor’s degree in Media Music from Brigham Young University and a Master’s degree in Commercial Composition and Arranging from Belmont University.
Dr. Nathan Dame is thrilled to join the ACDA Repertoire & Resources team as National Chair for Tenor-Bass Choirs. He serves as Director of Choral Activities and Fine Arts Coordinator at Wylie East High School in Texas, where he conducts the A Cappella Choir and four leveled tenor-bass choirs, overseeing a thriving program of 420 singers in twelve performing ensembles.
A veteran educator, Dr. Dame has taught choral ensembles from elementary to collegiate levels in Texas public schools and at the University of Kansas. His philosophy is simple: keep the student first and everything else will take care of itself. He has served as ACDA National R&R Chair for both Senior High and Junior High/Middle School Choirs, as a two-time Texas MEA Region Vocal Chair, and Kansas MEA State Collegiate President. A sought-after conductor, clinician, and presenter, he has led sessions at ACDA and NAfME national conventions and multiple regional and state conferences. Recent engagements include conducting the Arkansas All-State Tenor-Bass Choir, Colorado All-State Middle-Level Tenor-Bass Choir, and festivals in Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. His newest choral resource, Finding Middle Ground, is published through BriLee.
Choral programs under his direction have been featured at the Texas MEA Convention (2022), Southwestern ACDA Convention (2024, 2014), National Tenor-Bass Choir Seminar (2025), have been named two-time winners in the National Choral Honors Contest, and consistently receive the highest designations for choral performance at regional and state festivals. He has received numerous awards for outstanding teaching and leadership, including being named as a National Finalist for the Dale Warland American Prize in Choral Conducting and induction into the Yamaha Class of 40 Under 40 Top Music Educators.
Dr. Dame attributes his success to his students, who commonly go on to be named as members of honor choirs, conduct and shape the next generation of choral singers, and serve their community as servant-leaders. He is honored to serve ACDA and looks forward to championing tenor-bass choirs nationwide.
Carolina Flores is Associate Professor of Choral Music and Director of Choral Activities at The Hartt School, University of Hartford, CT. A native of Spain, Dr. Flores is a frequent lecturer, adjudicator, and clinician, with extensive experience leading choral tours across Europe. She has held teaching positions at the University of Rhode Island, and Choate Rosemary Hill and Notre Dame High Schools (CT). From 2010 until 2024, she was a Professor of Music at CT State Community College Manchester (formerly MCC), the only nationally accredited two-year music program in CT. Currently, she is the Artistic Chorale director of the Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale (CT).
Dr. Flores has held leadership positions within the Connecticut chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (CT-ACDA), including president from 2013 to 2015, and served on the board of Choral Arts New England (2021-2024). She is an active member of the National Collegiate Choral Organization’s national board and a professional singer with CONCORA.
She has received multiple accolades, including the 2015 Excellence in Teaching Award at MCC, the 2016 National NISOD Excellence in Teaching Award, and the 2018 State of Connecticut National Hispanic Heritage Employee Award. A prize-winner in several international and national piano competitions, Dr. Flores has also held church music positions for over 30 years, directing choirs of all ages in New York and Connecticut. Additionally, she has taught piano and chamber music in Spain, New York, and Connecticut.
Dr. Flores holds degrees equivalent to a BM and MM in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy from the Superior Conservatory of Music in Zaragoza and the Royal Superior Conservatory of Music in Madrid, respectively. She earned BM and MM degrees in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music and a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from The Hartt School, University of Hartford, CT.
Dr. Jami Lercher (she/her) is Associate Professor of Choral Music Education at Baldwin Wallace University. She conducts the Treble Choir and teaches courses in choral methods, conducting, and vocal techniques. Jami spent 14 years iteaching public elementary and secondary music in Iowa and Minnesota, and now enjoys visiting NE Ohio classrooms to supervise pre-service music educators. An advocate for affirming diverse musical traditions, she served as the Artistic Director of the South Florida Jewish Chorale for two seasons. She currently sings with SINGergy and the Cleveland Chamber Choir, and considers herself a lifelong learner.
Jami is an Iowa native, and earned the undergraduate degree in music education at Iowa State University under Dr. James Rodde. Through a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, she completed the Master of Music degree from the University of Wales where she studied Celtic music, writing her thesis on teaching singing to students with hearing loss. She was awarded the DMA in Choral Conducting under Dr. Amanda Quist from the University of Miami, Frost School of Music where she researched the choral works of Welsh composer, Morfydd Owen (1891-1918). Jami’s research interests include the music of historically excluded composers and engaging creativity and critical thinking in the choral rehearsal. She is an active member of ACDA, NAfME, and NCCO and has been invited to present on music by women, increasing representation in choral programming, and developing engaging choral warm-ups. Recent and upcoming opportunities include Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York, Hawai’i, and Portugal. Jami is also part of the American Music Abroad conducting team wand will co-lead the inaugural European collegiate tour. She has edited historical works by Aleotti, available through Walton and Gentry Music Publishing. When not making music, Jami enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her family.
Dr. Dean Luethi joined Washington State University in 2010 and serves as the Director of Choral Activities, Professor, and former Director of the School of Music. He directs the WSU Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and teaches graduate conducting lessons and undergraduate choral conducting.
Dean’s WSU ensembles have performed at state and regional conferences of NAfME and ACDA. Known for his work as a choral pedagogue, Dean has presented research, workshops, or conducted choirs at regional and national festivals, conferences, and competitions in the US, India, China, Korea, Cuba, Canada, Austria, Poland, and Germany. He is published in the Choral Journal and Music Educators Journal and his books, A Quick Start Guide to Choral Singing (co-authored)and Aligning Voices: Exercises to Build Choral Musicianship, are available through GIA.
Through a fellowship from the David G. Pollart Center for Arts and Humanities, Dean brought together singers from the Pacific Northwest for his performing/recording project “Washington Sings!” highlighting the choral composers of Washington state including commissions by John Muehleisen and Jacob Malpocker. This peer-reviewed album is available on all streaming platforms beginning March 3, 2025.
Dean is the former chair of the NAfME Council for Choral Education and held state and regional offices for ACDA. He is a WSU LIFT Faculty Fellow, member of the WSU Provost Leadership Academy, and received the WSU College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Professional Service Award.
As co-host of the Choirfam Podcast, Dean has enjoyed working with his colleague Matthew Myers in raising up voices of choral conductors, educators, and composers. He received degrees from UW-Green Bay, University of South Florida-Tampa, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Dean lives with his wife and their dog, Dexter, in Pullman, WA.
Troy Meeker is the Artistic & Executive Director of Phoenix Children’s Chorus (PCC) and has been with the organization since 2011. Under his leadership, PCC has grown to serve over 300 choristers, expanded its neighborhood choir program, created Tutti, an adaptive choir for children of all abilities, and launched professional development workshops for music educators.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Master’s degrees in Educational Technology and Choral Conducting from Northern Arizona University, where he studied with Dr. Edith Copley and Dr. Ryan Holder. Before his work with PCC, Mr. Meeker spent 15 years teaching middle and high school choir.
Mr. Meeker is an active clinician and presenter, having spoken at the Western Division and Arizona ACDA conferences, as well as the Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA) Convention, on topics including rehearsal techniques and technology in the choral classroom. He has also presented reading sessions and facilitated roundtable discussions at various ACDA Children’s and Youth Choir Retreats. In addition, he frequently serves as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor for honor choirs and festivals across the Southwest. He also mentors young educators, guest lectures, and provides professional development workshops for school districts throughout Arizona.
He has been recognized with the O.M. Hartsell Excellence in Teaching Music Award from AMEA and was named Arts Educator of the Year by the Arizona Department of Education. Under his direction, PCC’s Encore ensemble has performed at the AMEA Convention, the ACDA Community & Children’s Youth Choir Retreat, and internationally at festivals and concert tours.
In addition to his work with PCC, Mr. Meeker has served as the Arizona ACDA Youth Repertoire and Resources Coordinator and the Children’s and Youth R&R Chair. He is also a member of the Artistic Advisory Council for Choirs of America.
Donna Thomasson Smith is a life member of the American Choral Directors Association, bringing expertise in choral music education across diverse settings, including public and private schools, universities, churches, community and professional organizations. Her leadership as Repertoire and Resources Chair for Children’s Choirs, along with her role chairing Children’s Honor Choirs at state and regional conferences, highlights her dedication to nurturing young talent. Donna’s students and choirs have performed at ACDA Southern Region and state conferences, in major US cities, Carnegie Hall, and abroad. She is sought after as a guest conductor for Children’s and Jr. High/Middle School Honor Choirs and All-State Choirs.
As an active member of the National Association for Music Education, Donna has made significant contributions in leadership roles, participated on conference planning committees, and as an engaging presenter in various interest sessions. Her students and choirs have performed at state, regional, and national conferences. Donna;s research on choral music education has been presented at ACDA, NAfME, and ISME conferences.
Dedicated to expanding the choral repertoire, Donna has participated in numerous commissioning projects and premieres, an endeavor she prioritizes in her professional journey. Many of her commissioned works are published by Boosey & Hawkes. She holds the Choral Music Experience (CME) Institute Artist Teacher and Master Teacher certificates and serves on faculty at CME satellite courses.
Donna earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Florida and her Master of Music Degree from the University of Kentucky. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Choral Music Education at the University of Alabama. Donna and her husband, Alex, live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where they are active members of the community
These leaders start their appointments on July 1, 2025 and will serve a two-year term that is renewable twice for a total of six years.
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